Anxiety can show up in many ways… racing thoughts, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or feeling like you’re always “on edge.” For many adults, these patterns started long before adulthood. They often began in childhood within family systems that were emotionally unpredictable or centered around a narcissistic parent.

Growing up with a narcissistic mother often means learning to survive in a home where love feels conditional, emotions are unsafe, and your worth depends on how well you meet someone else’s needs. Many women raised in this environment don’t realize the impact until adulthood, when relationships feel confusing, boundaries feel impossible, and their inner world feels shaped more by fear, guilt, or self-doubt than by a sense of safety.