I Am Free: Raw New Book Calls Attention to Nation’s Ignored “Public Health Concern” – Narcissistic Abuse.
Written from the heart of survivors of narcissistic abuse and experiences of Psychotherapist, Bree Bonchay, ‘I Am Free: Healing Stories About Surviving Toxic Relationships With Narcissists and Sociopaths is the market’s only anthology of 100% true stories about narcissistic abuse. It’s an often shunned and under-publicized form of abuse, robbing victims of their self-worth, identity and resulting in millions of dollars in lost wages from coast to coast. Bonchay’s anthology may be a tough read – but it’s vital solace to those caught in the web of a sociopath, and a vital wake-up call to those who thought narcissists only appeared in the movies.
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Los Angeles, CA – Over the past eighteen years as a Licensed Psychotherapist, California’s Bree Bonchay has met victims of every form of abuse imaginable. But one has struck her as more destructive, insidious and prevalent than she could have ever expected – the damage caused by narcissists and sociopaths. Victims’ stories simply need to be told, and narcissistic abuse needs to be recognized as the legitimate public health concern it is, leading Bonchay to write one of the most shocking yet potentially life-saving non-fiction books to hit the shelves this year. ‘I Am Free: Healing Stories About Surviving Toxic Relationships With Narcissists and Sociopaths’ has a two-fold goal; to provide hope to those currently living under the demeaning wrath of a narcissist, as well as raise public awareness about the signs of narcissistic abuse and its snowballing knock-on effects that seep into every facet of society. Synopsis: This collection of stories and poems will empower readers dealing with the aftermath of a toxic relationship and serve as a wake-up call to those who are in—or think they may be in—an abusive relationship with a narcissist or sociopath. While it’s easy to find information about narcissistic abuse on the Internet, people usually find it when they’re looking for answers about the confusing behavior of their partner, spouse, or relative. There is little education or public awareness about this type of abuse, and survivors always say they wish they had known the signs before. When they do come across articles or stories about it, they’re relieved to finally have a term to describe what they formerly did not have words to express. I Am Free validates and inspires the victims of toxic relationships with the experiences of people from all walks of life—featuring both women and men who have found the courage to survive abusive relationships either as adults or as children raised by narcissists and sociopaths. These vignettes are heavy, raw, and painful, but the ultimate message is one of hope—that it is possible to gain happiness and freedom after narcissistic abuse. “Believe it or not, approximately 5% of the world’s population has a mental disorder associated with no conscience or a lack of empathy. If each one of those people negatively affects just five people over their lifetime, the tally of potential destruction totals a staggering 360 million people. Many of which are crippled by the effects of narcissistic abuse exacted by those with ‘Cluster B’ personality disorder. Yes, it has a real name and it’s a very real problem,” explains Bonchay. “A narcissist’s pathology not only undermines the sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and identity of those close to them, their pathology negatively impacts society. The problem is that the abuse is covert and can be so subtle that victims are unaware they’re dealing with a legitimate form of abuse. Or at best, if they do know it, the abuse is so hard to put the finger on that they have a difficult time describing it to others.” Continuing, “But let’s take this a step further – the effects of exposure to the long-term stress of emotional and psychological abuse characteristic of narcissistic abuse can lead to depression, anxiety, heart attacks, hair loss, cancer and autoimmune disorders not to mention the millions of dollars lost- in wages that result from time missed at work or increased utilization of government and state-funded programs like disability, General Relief and subsidized housing. If the abuse does get recognized, narcissists and sociopaths are often able to skillfully manipulate their way around the legal system, clog the family courts with frivolous litigation and ignore court orders without any consequences. The bottom line is that we need to make more people aware of this problem – and it all starts with the stories shared in this book.” Bonchay’s passion for raising awareness transcends literature, with the recent announcement that she has dedicated June 1st ‘Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day’. “I want people from around the globe to get involved with my cause, show support and raise the profile of narcissistic abuse. We’re going to be kicking things off this June, on the 1st, with a series of events and media campaigns to provide comfort and encouragement to those currently living their darkest days. More information is to follow”, she adds. ‘I Am Free: Healing Stories About Surviving Toxic Relationships With Narcissists and Sociopaths’ is due for release April 30, 2016. Further resources and a growing online community can also be found on Facebook. Bree Bonchay, LCSW, is a psychotherapist with over 18 years of experience working in the field of mental health and trauma recovery. She specializes in helping people recover from toxic relationships and shares her insights about Narcissistic Personality Disorder and psychopathy in her blog FreeFromToxic. Her articles have been featured in major online magazines and she has appeared on radio as a guest expert. In addition, she is a dedicated advocate, educator and facilitates survivor supports groups and workshops. Her book, I Am Free, is the first non-fiction anthology raising awareness about the damaging effects of pathological relationships.
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About the Author:
Free From Toxic 