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Is that feeling in your gut your intuition, or your trauma talking? LCSW and narcissistic abuse recovery specialist Barbara Duchnowski joins Virginia to break down how to tell the difference, and why insight alone isn’t enough to heal.

In this episode

• How to tell a panicky trauma response from steady intuition
• A simple body scan you can do anywhere
• Why a “pit in the stomach” can mean two very different things
• Gentle breathing resets for hypervigilance (5 minutes a day)
• How an intuition log helps you rebuild self-trust
• Why survivors stop trusting their gut, and why seeing the pattern isn’t always enough to leave
• How triangulation and charming partners make you doubt what you see
• Why survivors are not weak. They’re often high in empathy, loyalty, and openness.

About the guest
Barbara Duchnowski is a licensed clinical social worker, narcissistic abuse recovery specialist, EMDR therapist, and clinical hypnosis practitioner. She is also a survivor herself.
🔗 Website: https://newleafpsychotherapyllc.com/
▶️ YouTube: Barbara Duchnowski LCSW -

Support the show

Red Flags & Real Love is a Break the Patterns podcast, hosted by Virginia McConnell — Dating and Relationship Pattern Coach, specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery.

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🔗 Website: breakthepatterns.net
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New episodes every week.