Ladies, We Need To Talk

Love bombing. Gaslighting. Coercive control. Narcissists can crash into your life on the charm offensive. They begin with intense affection, compliments and grand gestures. But behind that charm can be manipulation and intense criticism. In the worst cases, they control every aspect of their partner's life. 
It’s disorienting to be with a narcissist, and often people with narcissistic traits have very little insight into their behaviour. Yumi Stynes chats to women who’ve been in love with narcissists to understand what got them under their spell and why they're so difficult to leave. Plus, clinical Tamara Cavenett explores what you can do to protect your emotional state within a narcissistic relationship, and how to get out safely. 
If you need help:
1800 Respect national helpline1800 737 732
Women's Crisis Line1800 811 811
Lifeline131 114
Relationships Australia1300 364 277
This episode will answer questions like:  
Am I in a relationship with a narcissist? 
How do narcissists behave in romantic relationships? 
How can you find out if your partner is a narcissist? 
What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 
How can you prepare to leave a coercive relationship? 
What to listen to next: 
Are you mum or grandma? Having a baby at 47
I love you but I hate your politics
Is your attachment style messing with your love life?
One true love or many: Monogamy vs. open relationships 
What to read next:
Why these women have never had a partner 
The joys of having babies in your 40s
Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went
This episode contains references to dating, marriage, sex, narcissist, control, coercive relationships, empathy, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, mental illness.
This episode was originally broadcast in October, 2023. (R).

For all her life, Chloe Hayden, star of Heartbreak High, has struggled to get doctors to take her health complaints seriously. And she’s not alone.  
Autistic women have poorer physical and mental health than neurotypical people. From shorter life expectancy to higher rates of suicide, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. In this episode Grace speaks to autistic women about being misunderstood and misdiagnosed and the toll this has taken on her health. She also investigates the root causes behind these co-occurring conditions and how medical and social systems can better support autistic women and girls to be healthier and live their best lives.  
Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:
Either I'm autistic, or I'm a cat
Girls don't get autism
The relationship spectrum
Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

"It can be difficult…when your approach to socialising and relationships doesn't look like what other people might expect."
There's a long-held stereotype that autistic people are not empathetic and aren't interested in relationships. The reality is that, like everyone, autistic women and girls want connection, they may just come to it in different ways. In this episode, Grace looks at how autism and relationships intersect, from friendships and partnerships to parenthood. She also explores what autistic women bring to relationships and what becomes possible when they stop pretending to be "normal"?
Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:
Either I'm autistic, or I'm a cat
Girls don't get autism
The health gap no one talks about
Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

For decades autism was thought of as a "boy thing" and girls were overlooked by science. According to research, three boys are diagnosed with autism for every girl. While experts point to genetic differences, there are other reasons why girls often go undiagnosed, including their ability to mask their autistic traits, leading to what's referred to as the "female autism invisibility cloak". In this episode, Grace meets women and gender diverse people who have been diagnosed with autism later in life or are still waiting. She also speaks to neuroscientist Dr Gina Rippon about what the latest research has to say.
Featuring The Assembly's Bethany Woodman.
Listen to more from the Autistic AF with Grace Tame series:
Either I'm autistic, or I'm a cat
The relationship spectrum
The health gap no one talks about
Watch the first episode on ABC Australia YouTube.

"It's only been in recent years that I've had a public platform and people have asked me specifically about being autistic."
In the first episode of this special four-part series, Grace Tame speaks candidly with Yumi Stynes about her experiences as an autistic woman, from feeling on the outer and being labelled "weird" to experiencing the world in "high definition".
In this exclusive interview, Grace opens up about the ways that she fought her own brain, using alcohol and masking to try and fit in. She also reveals how exploring relationships with women has been a "profound shift".
After sharing her own story, Grace takes over hosting duties for the rest of the series, speaking with experts and other autistic women to find out why so many women are misunderstood and diagnosed late.
Watch on ABC Australia YouTube