The Mental Healness Podcast

Latest Episodes:

He Set Her on Fire Then Tried to Play the Hero | Tonya's Survival Story (@burnedbeauty2018) Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

In one of the most powerful and emotional episodes of the Mental Healness Podcast, host Lee Hammock sits down with survivor and creator Tonya, widely known as Burned Beauty 2018. Tonya shares her deeply moving story of surviving a 15-year toxic relationship that escalated to the unthinkable: being intentionally doused in lighter fluid and set on fire by her husband.

Tonya opens up about enduring 3rd and 4th-degree burns over 35% of her body, surviving a two-month coma, and waking up to immediate manipulation and calculated cover-ups. She walks us through the hidden warning signs that preceded the attack, how toxic partners weaponize empathy and isolation, and the reality of reactive abuse and smear campaigns.

Today, Tonya is a living testament to resilience, inner strength, and true transformation. From extensive reconstructive surgeries to building a thriving online platform that inspires survivors worldwide, her journey proves that your past does not define your future.

"I've seen a monster, and he didn't have any scars. You don't need closure, it wasn't physical until it was."

Instagram: @burnedbeauty2018
TikTok: @burnedbeauty2018
YouTube: @burnedbeauty2018
Facebook: Burned Beauty 2018

The early red flags and gradual escalation inside a 15-year toxic marriage
The night of the fire pit incident and surviving critical burns
Waking from a 2-month coma to immediate love-bombing and false narratives
How emotional manipulators play the victim and stage cover-ups
Understanding reactive abuse and overcoming legal manipulation
Rebuilding identity, self-worth, and finding true empowerment after trauma

🔗 Connect with Tonya (Burned Beauty 2018):💬

Healing While Living With a Narcissist: Is It Possible? Aug 13, 2026

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Can you heal while you are still in a relationship with a narcissist, toxic partner, or emotionally unsafe person? In this video, Lee Hammock explains the difference between surviving, coping, and genuinely healing while the harmful relationship dynamic is still active. Learn how trauma bonds, manipulation, gaslighting, broken boundaries, and constant emotional stress can interfere with recovery.

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Why Narcissists Will Never Change (And It’s Not About You) Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Diagnosed narcissist Lee Hammock explains why narcissistic, toxic, or abusive partners rarely change, even when they promise therapy, growth, or a fresh start. I break down front-loading and love bombing, why rewarded behavior never stops, and why hoping they'll improve keeps survivors stuck in narcissistic paralysis. I also share my own rock-bottom story and explains why change only happens when someone is internally motivated, not for another person.

This video is meant to empower survivors to release false hope and focus on their own healing journey. Find more resources and coaching at Lee’s website linked in the description.

Book a Coaching Session: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]🔥

My Books: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

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Why Narcissists Hate Seeing You Happy Without Them Aug 09, 2026

Show notes

Why do narcissists get angry when you move on even if they cheated, left, or appear happy in a new relationship? In this video, Lee Hammock explains how ego, jealousy, control, narcissistic rage, and the need to maintain the upper hand can fuel that reaction. You’ll learn why some toxic exes lash out, interfere with new relationships, or suddenly love-bomb a new partner after seeing you happy.

This discussion also makes an important distinction: legitimate concerns about a new partner’s safety are different from controlling, jealous behavior. If you are healing from narcissistic abuse, protecting your peace and moving forward matters.

Book a Coaching Session: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]🔥

My Books: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

🎙 Listen to the Mental Healness Podcast: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@mentalhealnesspodcast?si=AVcJfHa16HZReqHL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

Narcissists Love When You’re Trauma Bonded To Them! Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

What does a narcissist really think when you are trauma bonded to them and cannot let them go? As a clinically diagnosed, self-aware narcissist, I explain why they may not care about your trauma bond, but can still take full advantage of it through repeated forgiveness, access, attention, sex, money, and control. We’ll talk about why asking them to block you usually does not work, why they may intentionally deepen the attachment, and how they can use your desperate reactions to make you look like the problem. If you know logically that this toxic person is hurting you but still feel addicted to them, you are not alone, but breaking the trauma bond is a step you have to take for yourself. The narcissist may love that you’re stuck, but that does not mean they love you.

Book a Coaching Session: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]🔥

My Books: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

🎙 Listen to the Mental Healness Podcast: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@mentalhealnesspodcast?si=AVcJfHa16HZReqHL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

Surviving a Narcissistic Gambling Addict: Taylor’s 14-Year Escape Story Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful Mental Healness Podcast interview, Taylor Stevens shares how she survived 14 years with a narcissistic gambling addict and reclaimed her life through no contact. She opens up about love bombing, financial abuse, gambling debts, alcoholism, isolation, gaslighting, physical abuse, stalking, and being pushed to doubt her own reality.

Taylor describes spending more than half a million dollars covering debts, being manipulated into protecting his reputation, and discovering that her partner and his bookie were working together to take more money from her. She also shares the breaking point that led her to change the locks, contact police, protect her dogs, and choose herself just before her birthday. Three years later, Taylor is rebuilding her confidence, learning to trust herself again, and reminding survivors that they are not broken, alone, or trapped forever. This is a raw survivor story about narcissistic abuse recovery, financial abuse, trauma bonding, and finding freedom after toxic relationships

Taylor's Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thetaylorstevens

Taylor's Twitter/X - https://x.com/TAYSTEVENS

Narcissists Are Toxic No Matter Who They’re With (It’s NOT You) Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In this video, I break down why narcissists are going to be toxic no matter who they’re with and why their abuse is not proof that you weren’t “enough.” Research shows that narcissistic people repeat the same relationship patterns over and over, cycling through love bombing, devaluation and discard with each new partner instead of actually changing. I’ll explain how they adapt their mask to different people but keep the same core traits: entitlement, lack of empathy, objectification and a need for control. If you’re watching them treat the new person “better” and blaming yourself, this video will help you see that it’s the pattern and the personality, not your worth. You’ll leave with language to remind yourself “It’s not me, it’s them” and practical steps to stop comparing yourself to the next supply and focus on healing.

Book a Coaching Session: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]🔥

My Books: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

🎙 Listen to the Mental Healness Podcast: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@mentalhealnesspodcast?si=AVcJfHa16HZReqHL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

Why I Feel Bad For People Who Stay With Narcissists Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

In this video, I talk from the heart about why I genuinely feel bad for people stuck with narcissists who will likely never experience real happiness while they stay in these toxic, parasitic relationships. As a clinically diagnosed, self‑aware narcissist, I explain how your mind and body adapt to constant abuse, how struggle starts to feel “normal,” and why you can end up losing friends, family and even your sense of self while you keep choosing someone who is draining you.

We’ll look at how people who love you protect their peace by stepping back, how you become a “dark cloud,” and how the story you keep telling yourself (“I’m not good enough, they’ll change”) quietly ruins your entire life. I’ll break down the difference between symbiotic relationships (mutual giving) and parasitic ones (they take, you suffer), and challenge you to choose yourself, your kids and your future instead of staying trauma bonded to a loser. This video is a wake‑up call meant to push you toward real, long‑term joy, not temporary comfort

Book a Coaching Session: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]🔥

My Books: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

🎙 Listen to the Mental Healness Podcast: [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@mentalhealnesspodcast?si=AVcJfHa16HZReqHL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]

When Narcissists WANT You To Leave Them (The Reverse Discard Explained) Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

In this video, I explain the “reverse discard”. When a narcissist emotionally gets rid of you, treats you horribly, and pushes you to end the relationship so they can play the victim and move on fast. As a clinically diagnosed, self‑aware narcissist, I walk through how they disconnect from you, rage, nitpick everything you do, and then say “You broke up with me” to justify a new partner, a fairytale romance, or an affair that’s already been waiting in the wings. You’ll learn why they still try to control you after you leave, refuse to let you move on, and expect you to stay single while they start a whole new relationship. If you’re wondering whether you should “go along” with a reverse discard, I’ll talk about when leaving is healthy and why you shouldn’t stay where you’re clearly not wanted—while still protecting your legal and safety rights. Go where you’re wanted, not where you’re merely tolerated, and protect yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.All My Links (Coaching, Courses, Merch): https://link.me/mentalhealness

Book a Coaching Session Here - ⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness

Covert vs Overt Narcissism Explained By a Diagnosed Narcissist Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

In this video, I break down the main differences between an overt narcissist and a covert narcissist, two faces of the same disorder that show up very differently in relationships. Overt (grandiose) narcissists are loud, attention‑seeking and openly entitled, while covert (vulnerable) narcissists are more introverted, sensitive, passive‑aggressive and often hide their self‑importance behind fake humility or a victim mentality. Drawing on clinical research about grandiose vs vulnerable narcissism and my own perspective as a diagnosed narcissist, we’ll compare how each type rages, manipulates, plays the victim and reacts to criticism. If you’ve ever wondered why one narcissist brags nonstop and another seems shy, anxious or “too sensitive,” this video will help you see the shared core and the surface differences. You’ll leave with clear red flags and language to describe which type you’re dealing with and why both can be equally damaging.

Book a Coaching Session Here - https://link.me/mentalhealness

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