Fake Love and Flying Monkeys
A Toxic relationship and Fake love looks real—until it destroys you.
Welcome to Fake Love and Flying Monkeys, the podcast that exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships, narcissistic abuse, and emotional manipulation. Hosted by Nova Gibson, leading trauma-informed counsellor and Director of Brighter Outlook Narcissistic Abuse Counselling, this podcast is your guide to breaking free from the confusion, fear, and self-doubt that come with being entangled with a narcissist.
In every episode, Nova draws from years of experience working with survivors to explore the complex, often covert tactics used in emotionally abusive relationships—from gaslighting, triangulation, and the silent treatment to smear campaigns and intermittent reinforcement.
Whether you're struggling with a narcissistic partner, parent, boss, or friend, Fake Love and Flying Monkeys gives you the tools and knowledge to understand the abuse, trust your instincts, and reclaim your power—even if the narcissist has never been formally diagnosed.
This is more than a podcast—it’s a lifeline.
You’ll get:
Clear explanations of narcissistic behaviour patterns
Practical strategies for setting boundaries and detaching
Real talk about the emotional rollercoaster of trauma bonding
Validation, clarity, and a path toward healing from narcissistic abuse
If you've ever felt trapped in a relationship that chips away at your self-worth, this podcast will help you name it, face it, and finally break free.
You’re not alone, and you’re not crazy. You’re in the fog of narcissistic abuse—and Nova is here to help guide you out.
Visit https://www.brighteroutlooknarcissisticabusecounselling.com.au/
for more support and resources.
It’s time to expose the fake love, silence the flying monkeys, and rewrite your story.
Fake Love and Flying Monkeys
Why does Narcissistic Abuse get worse each time you go back?
Narcissists thrive on control, and each time you come back, they feel like they’ve won—so they push the boundaries even further. In this episode, we dive into why narcissists become more abusive each time you go back. I explain how the cycle of love-bombing, gaslighting, and control escalates with every return. We’ll talk about why narcissists push boundaries even further, how emotional abuse intensifies, and why it becomes harder to break free.
We’ll explore the emotional rollercoaster they put you through, why they up the ante with every reunion, and how their behaviour becomes more intense and damaging over time.
This episode offers insight into the toxic dynamics of a narcissistic relationship and why leaving for good is crucial for your healing journey.
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Please remember the information in this episode is not intended to substitute for therapy is general and strictly the opinions of the host.
Nova xx
Why It Always Gets Worse When You Go Back to a Narcissist
Ever feel like things just get worse every time you go back to a narcissist? Whether it's a romantic partner, a parent, or even a colleague, the outcome never changes. Instead of improvement, it only deepens the emotional pain and confusion. In today’s episode, we’ll break down exactly why it feels worse when you go back and how narcissists use manipulation tactics to draw you in again.
Why Narcissists Make Things Worse When You Return
If you’re asking yourself, why does it always get worse when I return to a narcissist?, the answer lies in control. Narcissists don’t return to repair the relationship or change—they return to regain dominance. They want to punish you for leaving, even if they were the ones who initially discarded you. When you decide to return, they see it as a personal victory and ramp up their abusive behavior to ensure you don’t try to leave again.
A narcissist views you as property. In their minds, they’ve invested time in love-bombing you, manipulating you, and breaking down your sense of self. If you dare to live without them, it challenges their inflated ego, and their goal becomes to make you pay for thinking you could be free.
Hoovering: The Narcissist’s Key Tactic
One major tactic that narcissists use to pull you back is called hoovering. Just like a vacuum cleaner, they “suck” you back into the relationship, often using fake apologies or dramatic gestures. Even if you’ve gone no-contact, cut off flying monkeys (the people they use to monitor or manipulate you), and started healing, they’ll find a way to sneak back into your life.
They might pop up at places they know you frequent or create new social media profiles to get your attention. These tactics are designed to make you believe they’ve changed, but in reality, they’re just resetting the cycle of narcissistic abuse. The moment they regain control, the abusive behavior resumes—and this time, it’s usually worse.
Why Do Narcissists Come Back?
Narcissists come back because they can’t stand losing control over you. To them, you're not a person with your own needs and desires; you're a source of narcissistic supply—someone who provides them with validation, attention, and emotional energy. They don’t want you to move on because your independence threatens their sense of superiority.
When they feel you slipping away, they’ll employ tactics like hoovering to suck you back in. They might offer what seems like a sincere apology, promise to change, or suddenly act loving and attentive. But make no mistake—these are all temporary acts designed to lure you back into their web of control. Once they’ve got you again, the abuse starts up even stronger than before.
Punishment for Leaving: Why It Gets Worse
Here’s the brutal truth: every time you go back, the narcissist feels the need to punish you for ever thinking you could leave. To them, leaving is a direct challenge to their authority. Even if they were the ones who ended the relationship, they see your healing as a personal affront. So, when you return, they’ll ensure that you pay the price.
The abuse intensifies because the narcissist believes you deserve punishment for “betraying” them. Their gaslighting, manipulation, and cruelty reach new levels, and the cycle of narcissistic abuse becomes even more toxic. Every time you go back, the relationship becomes more dangerous for your emotional and mental health.
The Illusion of Change
Narcissists are experts at pretending to change. After a breakup, they might seem more considerate, attentive, or loving. This is part of their manipulation. They know exactly how to act to get you back, and it often looks like the love-bombing phase at the beginning of your relationship.
But once they’ve secured your return, the mask quickly falls off. The love and affection you thought were real vanish, and the same old abusive patterns re-emerge. You’ll find yourself back in the same toxic cycle—only this time, it feels worse because you went back knowing nothing had really changed.
The Trauma Bond: Why It’s So Hard to Break Free
One of the main reasons it’s so difficult to stay away from a narcissist is the trauma bond. Narcissistic relationships are filled with extreme highs and lows, which create an emotional addiction. The brief moments of kindness or relief in between the abuse can make you feel like you need them, even though they’re the ones causing you pain.
The more you go back, the stronger this trauma bond becomes. It tightens its grip, making it harder to break free the next time. Narcissists know this, and they exploit your vulnerability. Each time you return, they gain more control over you, making it even more challenging to leave.
Why You Should Never Go Back to a Narcissist
If you’re struggling with the temptation to go back to a narcissist, take a moment to ask yourself: What has really changed? The answer is, almost always, nothing. Narcissists are incapable of real, lasting change because they don’t care about your needs or well-being. Their goal is control, and returning to them only gives them more power.
Going back will never lead to happiness. Instead, it will only drag you further into the cycle of emotional abuse. Narcissists feed off your pain and use your love against you. Each time you return, it gets harder to leave because you’ll feel more ashamed and more broken than before.
The Final Word: Resist the Urge
Resisting the urge to go back to a narcissist can be incredibly difficult, especially when the trauma bond is strong. But remember, nothing good ever comes from returning. Narcissists don’t change, and they don’t care about your healing or happiness. Their only concern is keeping control over you and ensuring you never find freedom.
If you’re feeling tempted, reach out to friends, family, or a support network that understands narcissistic abuse. Block the narcissist on all platforms, and do everything in your power to protect your peace. Healing is possible, but it requires you to stay strong and never return to the narcissist’s grasp.
Key Takeaways:
- Narcissists return to regain control and punish you for leaving.
- The abuse intensifies each time you go back, making it harder to escape.
- Narcissists don’t change; they use hoovering to reset the cycle of abuse.
- Breaking free from a narcissist means resisting the trauma bond and staying strong in your decision to leave.
- You deserve a life free from narcissistic abuse, but it starts with never going back.