Believing Me

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Complex Trauma

By: Ingrid Clayton

Narrated by: Ingrid Clayton PhD

"Why don’t you come sit on my lap, so you don’t have to crank your neck?"

I didn’t have bruises.

She never left him.

He didn’t actually rape me.

Maybe I wasn’t worth believing.

Maybe it wasn’t that bad.

What if emotional abuse is so hidden that its effects remain unchallenged for decades, masquerading as personal failings?

Believing Me is an emotionally gripping memoir that gives language to the hidden and ineffable nature of childhood trauma and how it can imprint on a person, resulting in fractured self-esteem, addictions, perfectionism, and a string of abusive relationships.

Ingrid Clayton had been in the pursuit of healing for a lifetime including becoming a clinical psychologist and trauma therapist, but she never fully understood what she was healing from. Growing up in a fog of gaslighting made her question her reality. It wasn’t until she sat next to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score) as he shared a case study so similar to her life that a seed was planted. “Trauma” might be a word that was personal to her.

When her stepfather died, Ingrid felt a calling to write her story, and these were the truths reflected in her words. By recounting vivid childhood memories, she wrote her way through patterns of lies and denial that had infected her entire family. She came to face the feelings she had minimized for so long.

By reclaiming her story, Ingrid transcended the role of healer into someone becoming healed, showing us what real healing looks like in the process.

©2022 Ingrid Clayton, PhD (P)2022 Ingrid Clayton, PhD

Thank You

I am so grateful to you for sharing your experiences. You gave me a name for what I have experienced which is childhood trauma.

Thank you for your voice!!!

Ingrid thank you for your voice! My childhood was my siblings and I constantly walking on egg shells. Your story truly spoke to my heart. I have been in therapy on and off my entire life (I’m 47). I’ve definitely come to realize that my healing from my abusive stepfather and my mother who never protected me is a lifetime project.
You gave me the words and definitions that I needed and I intend on doing some more work on myself.
Thank you Ingrid!

Life changing, validating and inspiring

This book changed my life for the better. Thank you for helping me on my healing journey. I will be recommending this book to others for the rest of my life.

Should be Required Listening for every human!!

Beautifully written and read!! I finished in 2 days… I couldn’t stop listening!
As a survivor and fellow Overcomer of chronic complex trauma and narcissistic abuse- I FELT every emotion and physical sensation in my body as the author told her story… or was she telling My story….? While circumstances differed - the results were the same. What a relief, comfort, sense of true freedom I experienced while listening to Believing Me.
Thank You Ingrid Clayton for taking the risks and going thru the battle to tell your story and share it with the world. I am more my Self as a result of your work.

enlightening

through her personal story, Ingrid sheds light on the inner workings of complex developmental trauma and narcissistic abuse with it's slurry of gas lighting, scapegoating, denial, and avoidance.

Very informative book covering the issue of covert and overt narcissistic abuse.

Gut wrenching story. I loved her honesty and willingness to tell her truth. Very hope inspiring. Bravo!!!

It's time to believe myself.

Staying in a relationship with someone who thinks that you are broken will make you think that you really are broken. This is paraphrased, but to be honest, I had to rewind this section about seven times. It literally felt like I was in an intense therapy session listening to this book. It is well written, well thought out, and thoroughly researched. I felt like I was listening to a one woman show and I loved it! What a beautiful voice you have a blessed with! Thank you for using it to heal yourself, to be the best mother that you can be for your own child, and to validate those of us lucky enough to have found your book. I appreciate you and your work. Thank you.

Thank you!!

Ever indebted to you Ingrid for sharing your story, and thus explaining my own to me.

A Vivid Portrait of Healing

Ingrid tells her story with clarity, vulnerability, and humor to give listeners a lived-in experience of her journey on the road to healing from the point of view of a survivor and clinical psychologist. If you or someone you know has experienced narcissistic abuse and/or complex trauma, this is a must listen!

Amazing!

This book was so affirming for my own journey. So many similarities. Very motivating to keep reaching for truth and healing. Thank you 🤗