Emotionally dangerous and manipulative people don't look like monsters. They're charming, persuasive, charismatic, and incredibly good at gaining your trust. However, spend some time in one of these relationships, and soon you begin to doubt yourself. Things are different, and something feels wrong. But you can't really pinpoint what it is. Or perhaps something bad has happened, and you have been made to feel responsible. Your anxiety, self-doubt, confusion, and insecurity begin to build. Where is this person who seemed too good to be true in the beginning?

 

"Pathological love relationship" is a term coined by Sandra Brown, a psychotherapist and researcher who works with survivors of narcissistic abuse. The term refers to a relationship in which one person is narcissistic, psychopathic, or has other traits of Cluster B personality disorders (anti-social, borderline, histrionic). Additionally, the relationship itself and the victim have specific characteristics that all fit together like puzzle pieces to form a "PLR." This is a specific type of relationship dynamic that can result in serious harm to the victim, even if no physical abuse is present.

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Make no mistake, a pathological love relationship is a very dangerous type of "toxic relationship." I have advanced training in identifying these relationships and helping survivors heal and even thrive after this type of abuse. If you want to learn more about the general dynamics of a toxic relationship, click the link below.