Many adults who grew up with a narcissistic parent ask this question. They may appear successful, capable, and high-functioning on the outside, yet privately struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, self-doubt, perfectionism, or difficulty trusting themselves. For years, they may believe something is wrong with them. But what if the better question is: What happened, and how has it shaped me?

What if the reason you keep ending up in the same relationships has less to do with attraction and more to do with familiarity?

Missing them is not evidence that the relationship was healthy. It is evidence that the bond was strong.