Ep. 116 Scapegoat Perfectionism: Surviving Narcissistic Family Expectations

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Podcast · Jan 9, 2026 · 10m

You've spent years obsessing over every mistake, convinced that if you could just be perfect enough, the criticism would finally stop. But what if that relentless drive for flawlessness isn't actually about excellence—it's a trauma response you developed to survive in a narcissistic family system? In this episode, we expose the dangerous cycle that keeps scapegoats trapped in exhausting perfectionism, and reveal why no amount of achievement will ever satisfy an abusive system designed to keep you striving.• The hidden reason perfectionism feels like strength but operates like a prison—and why…