Johnny Sage breaks down a surprising and disturbing rift happening inside the narcissism awareness community. A quiet war has erupted between “self-aware narcissists” and narcissistic abuse coaches, creating confusion, division, and renewed concern about whether narcissists can truly change.
Johnny shares what led to the conflict, why it matters, and what it reveals about the true limitations of “self-aware” narcissists, even those who have spent years in therapy.
Summary:
Johnny shares how a recent conflict between several high-profile self-aware narcissists and narcissistic abuse coaches has upended what many hoped could be a collaborative effort toward healing and understanding.
Key insights include:
● A Breaking Point Inside the Community
A smear campaign, online threats, and public callouts triggered a sudden divide between creators who once worked together. What began as professional disagreements morphed into classic narcissistic behavior, manipulation, coercion, and attempts to control the narrative.
● Why the Fallout Is So Concerning
Many survivors hoped self-aware narcissists could offer honest insights and maybe even proof that narcissists can improve. But recent events reveal something troubling:
Even narcissists in therapy for years still revert to old patterns, grandiosity, defensiveness, competition, and emotional attacks.
● Can Narcissists Truly Change?
Johnny admits he once held onto hope. His background in healing made him open to the idea that change is possible. But this public meltdown suggests the limits of self-awareness when true empathy and accountability are missing.
● The Bigger Issue: Narcissism Is Rising
Narcissism is becoming more common, more normalized, and more quietly encouraged by society. Yet research, treatment, and public conversations about healing remain limited, despite the growing need.
Main Message:
The rift between self-aware narcissists and narcissistic abuse coaches is more than drama. It’s a revealing insight into the nature of narcissism itself. Even when narcissists are self-aware, in therapy, and publicly claiming growth, their behavior may still default to manipulation and self-protection. Johnny remains committed to sharing firsthand knowledge so you can stay safe, informed, empowered, and ensure you are missed by the narcissist.
Timestamps:
[00:21] The rise of self-aware narcissists and initial hope for collaboration
[02:01] Why survivors want to believe narcissists can heal
[03:39] Narcissism as a societal pandemic and why solutions are scarce
[05:42] The rise of narcissism and why society enables it
[06:54] How self-aware narcissists present themselves
[11:31] How skepticism grew as narcissists gained influence
[13:14] The smear campaign that exposed hidden motives
[14:44] A narcissistic abuse coach is threatened for “working with the wrong therapist”
[15:44] Does narcissism always come from trauma?
[17:23] When narcissists “don’t like your conclusions”
[19:17] Why even years of therapy may not undo narcissistic patterns
Notable Quotes:
● (03:39) “It's crazy to me how prevalent narcissism is becoming, yet they're not considering more research into it.”
● (11:49) “We're getting a pure perspective of what narcissism is from a narcissist. However, along the way, there were some skeptical people because that's a problem with narcissists. They don't do anything unless it serves their own best interests.”
● (12:48) “Narcissists are addicted to narcissism.”
● (15:49) “Narcissism doesn't always have to come from abuse. It certainly can, but it doesn't always have to come from it. And whether you agree or not with that, that's fine.”
● (19:17) “It appears that even self-aware narcissists who've been in therapy for years aren’t going to be much help in the end.”
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