CW: This episode contains descriptions of abuse & animal death.

Surviving Munchausen by Proxy, a form of abuse where caregivers fabricate or induce illnesses in others, demands immense resilience and courage. Victims, often children, endure a complex web of manipulation and deception. Emerging from such a traumatic ordeal entails untangling the emotional and psychological knots, as they grapple with shattered trust and identity. Healing involves rebuilding selfesteem and learning to differentiate between genuine care and harmful intentions. Support networks of friends, family, and professionals play a pivotal role in guiding survivors towards recovery. By reclaiming autonomy, setting boundaries, and seeking therapy, survivors gradually dismantle the insidious effects of Munchausen by Proxy. Each step toward healing marks a triumph of the human spirit over adversity, nurturing newfound strength and a sense of agency to shape their own narratives.

Resource:
www.munchausensupport.com

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00:00 Introduction & Terminology
3:00 Eldest sibling is first target of mother’s behavior
7:00 Mother’s mental health struggles
15:00 Diagnostics & mother’s role
25:30 Later impacts
30:00 Living with a sick parent
33:10 Health as a young child
35:00 Mother burns herself
37:50 Mother gives her Benadryl unnecessarily
40:10 Concussion
41:20 Liking medical attention
43:45 Taught her to give injections
48:00 Lack of stability, father’s health
51:10 Mother meets another man online, leaves father
54:00 Mother’s addiction worsens
58:15 Social workers didn’t help
1:00:00 Forced to collect cigarette butts
1:02:45 Getting stuck with a needle
1:05:15 Fentanyl addiction
1:07:00 Mother euthanizes brother’s cat at home
1:08:45 Stabs herself by accident
1:13:00 Brother moves out, acknowledges that their home life isn’t healthy
1:17:00 Mother severely breaks ankle
1:19:20 New Years, something is wrong with her mom
1:24:45 Mother is brain dead, passes away
1:29:00 Moving back in with dad, struggles
1:31:40 CPS called, kicked out of the apartment
1:33:30 Finally gaining some stability
1:35:20 PTSD & sorting through her emotions
1:40:20 Concluding thoughts