Tag Archives: christie brinkley today show

May16

Promoting Awareness: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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Promoting Awareness: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Tomorrow I will be heading to Los Angeles to see the amazingly beautiful Christie Brinkley perform at the Pantages Theatre.  Growing up in California, I have encountered a few famous people along the way and there was always the usual “star struck” feeling.  The feeling that this person operates on a level that I could never relate to.  You have to admit, there is something mysterious about the stars–they seem untouchable.  I along with many others have this naive impression that the lives of the rich and famous are so easy– they have personal trainers, huge wardrobes and luxury homes.  They could never relate to my world and I could never relate to theirs.

Christie Brinkley’s appeared on the Today Show changed my opinion of celebrities in many ways.  For the first time, I didn’t see a famous person but I saw a person who I could relate to.  She had been victimized in the same ways that I had been victimized.  The square footage of her home and her designer shoes didn’t protect her from a Narcissist.  I sat with tears in my eyes as I watched her being re-victimized by Matt Lauer in the same way I am re-victimized in Starbucks by the person who just doesn’t understand.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say,  “Why can’t you guys just focus on the children instead of your hatred for each other?”.  It’s difficult enough to have that questions asked in Starbucks but to be put on the spot in front of millions was excruciating to watch.

Last week I had my monthly IVig infusion for Multiple Sclerosis and I was sharing my exciting news about seeing Chicago at the Pantages with my longtime nurse, Holly.  Another patient chimed in about her opinion of Christie Brinkley on the Today Show and was extremely unkind in her portrayal of the situation.  She was another person who just doesn’t get it.  I felt incredibly defensive as she berated Christie for appearing on the Today Show to “discuss her divorce” and I found myself defending her.  “She was NOT going on the show to discuss her divorce nor did she partake in the media circus”, I explained.  “No, but she should keep her private issues private“, she stated firmly.  “Many would say the same thing about my blog”, I went on to explain.  “I think by providing education and support, people aren’t left to suffer in silence”.

The conversation ended but I left furious.  Christie Brinkley broke the silence and has provided public education on this disorder that leaves so many women (and men) suffering in silence.  Not only did she break the silence but she did it with an amazing amount of class and grace.  She set an example for many of us and brought the spotlight onto a subject that greatly affects my children, her children and your children.  She has given me a larger audience in my fight to bring attention to Narcissistic Personality Disorder and eventually, I hope to use that larger voice to bring education where it matters most: The Family Court System.

I am extremely excited about my adventure to Los Angeles tomorrow because of the deep amount of respect and gratitude that I have for this person.  I will share pictures on my Facebook page so “like” me if you haven’t already :)

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: “I just want peace”- Christie Brinkley, 2012

 

Apr9

Trying to Find Balance Amidst the Chaos

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Trying to Find Balance Amidst the Chaos

It is difficult to find balance when you are operating in survival mode.  For three years, this (court battle) is all I’ve known.  In many ways, it feels like a blur.  One thing that I struggle with is trying to maintain a support system but walking the very fine line of not overwhelming those in my corner.  There is only so much “divorce talk” and “X references” that a person can handle.

Being in a high-conflict divorce is hard for most people to understand.  While divorce in general isn’t pretty, there is a difference.  Most people are mature enough and emotionally sound enough to put the needs of the children first.  When you are dealing with a narcissistic personality, all common sense and rationale goes out the window.  The healthy parent is forced into a battle zone to protect the children.  The battle leaves scars.  Most people can’t understand why two parents can’t just put their differences aside for the sake of the children.

I think back to Christie Brinkley on the Today Show and I sympathize so much with where she was in that exact moment.  I’ve been there.  How do you summarize the sheer insanity of this situation in a few sentences?  Where do you even start?  How do you brief someone on the amount of craziness that can transpire in one month let alone sum the whole thing up?  It seems never ending.  Sometimes I feel like a tennis player with the automatic ball-thrower-thingy (technical terms, I know) pitching ball after ball at me.  I can keep swinging but after a while, it gets to be too much.

The people that I love have also been beaten down by this battle and for that, I feel horrible.  No matter how much love there is, hearing about it and living it daily (or almost daily) wears everyone down.  There are good days and bad days.  There are so many people in this battle who deserve credit for being in my corner.  I appreciate them tremendously but at the same time, I wish there was a way to shelter them from the reality of it all.  It’s my life and my reality.  I hope and pray that it calms down someday– for everyone’s sake.