Caring Causes - Supporting Victims of Narcissistic Abuse

I recently had a chance to interview Samantha Karagianis, advocate for women with narcissistic family members. She shared some tips about how it affects families and what others can do to help.

• What are some traits of narcissistic abuse, and how can it affect children and adults?

 

Narcissistic people all have similar traits; the most common being the need for control, lack of empathy, and emotional manipulation. Children and adults with close ties to those with narcissism regularly have their feelings dismissed and are labeled by the abuser as “overly-emotional." This can lead to a lack of self-esteem, which can lead to people losing their identity.

 

• How can long-lasting custody battles take a toll on children?

 

A long-lasting custody battle can lead to children experiencing emotional and psychological harm. Children have to speak with different authorities, DCF, GAL, Play Therapists, and Detectives, at the same time being manipulated and used as pawns by the abuser. This can cause children to act out during school hours, inflict physical harm to themselves, or suffer physically from chronic stress. 

 

• How can people support friends who are dealing with abusive relationships?

 

Just by being there, and offering unwavering support. Someone from the outside can't fully understand what is going on-and they may offer advice to leave an abuser, but they have no idea the mental battles occurring in the abused. So, even if someone thinks they are not helping, or their advice isn't being listened to, to simply stay by their side and remind them of the amazing, strong person they are because they will need it to finally say, no more.

 

• How are you working to break the cycle of family trauma?

 

Through therapy and much support from my husband, I've been able to acknowledge and better understand my family trauma so that now I don't always react as my family would in stressful situations. My healing journey has been anything but easy but after deep self-reflection and setting firm boundaries with my father, I'm well on my way to breaking the cycle.

Samantha Karagianis is a passionate advocate for women enduring narcissistic family members and raising awareness about the damaging effects of such dynamics. Born in Sabetha, Kansas, she grew up in an emotionally challenging environment shaped by her father, Lynn, whose narcissism and absence as a father figure deeply impacted her life. His lack of empathy, constant negativity, and absence led Samantha to face struggles such as fear of rejection, abandonment, and low self-worth. Despite these challenges, Samantha has been committed to her journey of healing and self-discovery.

Samantha earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Kansas and graduated with top honors from Dental Hygiene School in 2013. She is now married to Mario, the founder of Perfect Hands Golf, and they are raising their sons, Kashton and Laken. However, her father’s narcissistic behavior continues to cause turmoil, from Lynn trying to steal Mario’s Intellectual Property (which makes up Perfect Hands Golf ) to even worse,  egregiously using Laken as a pawn in legal battles to discredit Mario and burden the family with additional legal fees.

Samantha has launched a GoFundMe to help with the mounting legal fees and support her family. Through it all, she remains determined to break the cycle of trauma, provide a safe environment for her children, and use her experiences to empower others. Samantha’s story is one of resilience, healing, and hope, inspiring those facing similar hardships to find their own path forward.