Love & Relationships

Personal and Pinterest-curated content on all things love and relationships.

109 Pins

2mo

Dr. Nadine Macaluso, LMFT

Teach your sons that love isn’t a license to abuse—it’s an opportunity to cherish and respect.

Start with these core relational skills:

🩷 Respect Boundaries: Always honor personal space and emotional limits.
🩷 Communicate Openly: Share feelings and listen actively without judgment.
🩷 Value Equality: Ensure both partners contribute equally and support each other. Jordan Belfort, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Break The Stigma, Daily Wisdom, Wolf Of Wall Street, Support Each Other, Personal Space, Print Book, That's Love

Jordan Belfort

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Teach Your Son

Teach your sons that love isn’t a license to abuse—it’s an opportunity to cherish and respect. Start with these core relational skills: 🩷 Respect Boundaries: Always honor personal space and emotional limits. 🩷 Communicate Openly: Share feelings and listen actively without judgment. 🩷 Value Equality: Ensure both partners contribute equally and support each other.

an image of a man and woman playing with each other on the floor in front of a poster that says, this is my story of resilince

Surthrivers

I met Jordan and I quickly fell harder than I had ever fallen. I found myself in the midst of a trauma bond, with a stockbroker who abused me for eight years. One day I said enough was enough. I stood up, and I left. After earning my PhD at 39, I've transformed my pain into purpose. Now, as Dr. Nae, I help others break free. From the Wolf's ex-wife to a healer of wolves' victims - this is my story of resilience. Thank you to @shusaku1977 for this fantastic artwork!

The "Pet Effect" - the notion that having pets improves our well-being - isn't just a theory; it's a profound reality I experienced firsthand during my journey of rebuilding my life.

The impact of my dogs' unconditional love and companionship was immeasurable. They offered silent support, free from judgment or probing questions. The decision to bring a pet into your life should be carefully considered. For me, however, it made a world of difference.❤️ Probing Questions, The Wolf, Wall Street, Inspirational Story

The "Pet Effect"

The "Pet Effect" - the notion that having pets improves our well-being - isn't just a theory; it's a profound reality I experienced firsthand during my journey of rebuilding my life. The impact of my dogs' unconditional love and companionship was immeasurable. They offered silent support, free from judgment or probing questions. The decision to bring a pet into your life should be carefully considered. For me, however, it made a world of difference.❤️

It's okay to leave to save yourself.

Dear younger Nae, I need to tell you some things you need to know. If you listen carefully, it will save you SO MUCH pain. ➡️ You must sacrifice all your needs and desires when you love a pathological person. People-pleasing for a moment seems an effective way to stop or avoid arguments with this psychopath.⁠ ➡️ Yet, no matter what you do, it will never be enough; he will never change.⁠ ➡️ It's okay to leave to save yourself.

Traditional Family

Madly In Love

Divorce isn't failure; living unhappily is.

When I first imagined building a family of my own, I saw a ‘normal’ or ‘traditional’ family that looked like the movies... In my case, I decided it was essential to prioritize my truth and the long-term well-being of my children over the facade of an intact family. I made it easier to leave in my mind to say it was “for the children”. Ultimately, divorce isn't failure; living unhappily is. Children can adapt to divorce if handled maturely and respectfully. ❤️❤️

Me And Who

Divorced Parents

Love You Very Much

Seperation and Children

I recognized that my children were spending time with someone who had a negative view of me, and who might even speak ill of me in their presence. ➡️ If my children brought it up, I would simply ask them, How does that make you feel? ➡️ Then I would simply listen and validate what they were feeling. ➡️ Then explain that often between divorced parents there can be hurt feelings. But that our divorce had nothing to do with them and that we both love you very much.

Reading Patricia Fersch's article, ‘Why Doesn’t The Severe Harm And Costs Of Domestic Violence Result In More Women Going To Court? in Forbes about the serious harm and costs of domestic violence hit me hard.

The numbers are shocking. Domestic violence costs billions of dollars each year, and that's not even counting the emotional toll on the people involved.
It's not going to be easy, but we have to try.

Keep surthriving❤️ Stock Broker, Inspire Others

Stock Broker

Inspire Others

Domestic Violence

Reading Patricia Fersch's article, ‘Why Doesn’t The Severe Harm And Costs Of Domestic Violence Result In More Women Going To Court? in Forbes about the serious harm and costs of domestic violence hit me hard. The numbers are shocking. Domestic violence costs billions of dollars each year, and that's not even counting the emotional toll on the people involved. It's not going to be easy, but we have to try. Keep surthriving❤️

It flies in the face of romantic ideals, but unfortunately, it’s true.

Adults give children unconditional love. But if we love another adult unconditionally, we can end up tolerating bad and even abusive behavior.

Unconditional love means there are no conditions, and that’s not healthy.
We need to stop romanticizing the term ‘unconditional love’ when it is not healthy in adult relationships. Place clear boundaries on what you will and won’t tolerate! Stop Romanticizing, Unconditional Love Meaning, Adult Relationships, Clear Boundaries, Love Means

Stop Romanticizing

Unconditional Love Meaning

Adult Relationships

Clear Boundaries

Love Means

unconditional love

It flies in the face of romantic ideals, but unfortunately, it’s true. Adults give children unconditional love. But if we love another adult unconditionally, we can end up tolerating bad and even abusive behavior. Unconditional love means there are no conditions, and that’s not healthy. We need to stop romanticizing the term ‘unconditional love’ when it is not healthy in adult relationships. Place clear boundaries on what you will and won’t tolerate!

If conversations in your relationship always lead to confusion or fear when speaking up, it's time to pause.

What you think, how you feel, and what you have to say are valid and important. If your communication does not EVER produce any resolution or help you take positive steps forward - that is NOT normal. Feeling constantly confused or scared is NOT normal.

You deserve respect, clarity, and safety in your relationships. 💪 Quotes Deep Feelings, Toxic Relationships, Narcissism

Quotes Deep Feelings

Toxic Relationships

Narcissism

Dr. Nae | Trauma Bond Expert

If conversations in your relationship always lead to confusion or fear when speaking up, it's time to pause. What you think, how you feel, and what you have to say are valid and important. If your communication does not EVER produce any resolution or help you take positive steps forward - that is NOT normal. Feeling constantly confused or scared is NOT normal. You deserve respect, clarity, and safety in your relationships. 💪

a man and woman sitting in the back of a car with text that reads, don't you hate it when a narciss tells stories about you that aren't true?

See Yourself

Dr. Nae | Trauma Bond Expert

Many scenes in "The Wolf of Wall Street" were exaggerated or untrue. The point of controlling the narrative is to make you see YOURSELF like that. You are not a free and independent character, but someone who can be manipulated. Recognizing these tactics is essential for protecting one's mental and emotional well-being. Seeking support from trusted friends or professionals can help individuals reclaim their truth and break free from the narcissist's manipulative grip.

Related searches

Dr. Nae | Trauma Bond Expert

🚨Let's get crystal clear on what healthy self-care looks like. 🚨 Spending sprees, compulsively working, filling all your free time with friends, or Netflix, or overexercising give you strong hits of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, yet they don’t support your recovery. Learning to be with your feelings and manage them is crucial for healing. Instead of turning toward options that offer immediate relief, seek support from therapists or support groups to address underlying issues.

I have been thinking a lot about just how incredibly resilient my clients are and how much strength they have gained.

We do not give ourselves enough credit for all the strength we show every day.

I am SO incredibly proud of you. Your determination to take action and educate yourself on the signs of trauma bonding deserves recognition! It takes an extraordinary level of courage, strength, and bravery to leave. You did it.

You are a surthriver. You CAN do this. 🩷 Proud Of You

Proud Of You

You Survived Lethal Love

I have been thinking a lot about just how incredibly resilient my clients are and how much strength they have gained. We do not give ourselves enough credit for all the strength we show every day. I am SO incredibly proud of you. Your determination to take action and educate yourself on the signs of trauma bonding deserves recognition! It takes an extraordinary level of courage, strength, and bravery to leave. You did it. You are a surthriver. You CAN do this. 🩷

In a trauma bond, there is no INTIMACY because the relationship is created in a house of lies

The saddest thing is that your pathological lover initially promises, "You can trust me."

Then, you discover his betrayal.

He lives with you, lying beside you every night, telling you he loves you.

Nothing can fix it or take it away; betrayal changes you.

Remember, honesty is what builds trust and true love.

Get my book Run Like Hell to start healing your heart. Best Self

Best Self

Intimacy is the only truth

In a trauma bond, there is no INTIMACY because the relationship is created in a house of lies The saddest thing is that your pathological lover initially promises, "You can trust me." Then, you discover his betrayal. He lives with you, lying beside you every night, telling you he loves you. Nothing can fix it or take it away; betrayal changes you. Remember, honesty is what builds trust and true love. Get my book Run Like Hell to start healing your heart.

two people sitting in a pink and white bench

Building Love After Abuse

It takes time to rebuild trust in yourself after experiencing narcissistic abuse. But trust me, you will get there. And when you do, you will find love again—real, healthy, and fulfilling love. It might feel strange to have so much joy and FUN come back into your life. But slowly and surely, it returns. Seeing John and me together, I hope, serves as a reminder of hope for you. Love is waiting for you on the other side, and you deserve every ounce of it. 💖

two women and three children posing for a photo

Biggest Fears

New Normal

The New Normal

The new "normal" family

One of the biggest fears for survivors of narcissistic abuse is the question of what family and normalcy will look like after such a traumatic experience. John and I, decided to blend our families after we found each other. We had our doubts, our fears, our moments of uncertainty. But we also had love, resilience, and a shared vision of what family could be. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and there's no one-size-fits-all definition of what it means to be a family. ❤️