Stop Diagnosing Me! Part 2: Narcissism, Borderline, PTSD & the Labels We Throw AroundStop Diagnosing Me! Part 2: Narcissism, Borderline, PTSD & the Labels We Throw Around
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
Part 2 of our two-part Recovery Recharged special: "He's a narcissist." "She traumatized me." "I have PTSD." These are serious psychological terms that have become part of everyday conversation—but what do they actually mean? Ellen Stewart and Nelson...
28:20•26 Aug 2026
Stop Diagnosing Me: Narcissism, Trauma, PTSD and What’s Actually Clinical
Episode Overview
- Narcissistic personality disorder involves persistent lack of empathy, harmful behaviour and manipulation, not just everyday self-centredness.
- Addiction can make people appear narcissistic, but being self‑focused around substances does not automatically equal a personality disorder.
- Trauma is the event itself, while PTSD is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms like dissociation, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts.
- Unprocessed childhood losses and abuse can surface decades later, so long‑term therapeutic support is often vital for people in recovery with PTSD.
- Self-diagnosing and casually labelling others can be misleading; proper clinical evaluation and attention to current functioning are crucial.
“Trauma is the event. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the diagnosis.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober when mental health labels are flying around everywhere? This Recovery Recharged special takes on that question with a mix of humour, straight talk, and serious clinical experience. Ellen Stewart, the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, teams up with licensed clinical social worker and addiction specialist Nelson Hadler to unpack three heavy-hitting terms people toss around every day: narcissism, trauma and PTSD.
You’ll hear them pick apart phrases like “He’s a narcissist” and “I have PTSD” and ask, frankly, whether this is genuinely clinical—or just being human. Nelson explains that narcissistic personality disorder sits on a spectrum, and that the real red flags are persistent lack of empathy, harm-causing behaviour and manipulation, even when problems are clearly pointed out. They talk about gaslighting, emotional abuse and why addiction can make someone look self‑centred without automatically meaning they’re a narcissist.
As Ellen puts it, narcissistic behaviour is more than feeling good about yourself; it’s living on a pedestal while everyone else is left out in the cold. The pair then turn to trauma and PTSD, drawing a sharp line between painful life events and an actual diagnosis. Nelson’s concise definition says it all: “Trauma is the event.
Post‑traumatic stress disorder is the diagnosis.” He walks through symptoms like flashbacks, dissociation, intrusive thoughts and how the brain’s fight‑flight‑freeze system can hijack logic, triggering intense reactions long after the event. You’ll also hear about misdiagnosis in treatment centres, dual diagnosis, and why people in recovery with PTSD may need long‑term therapy support. Ellen and Nelson keep stressing one big message: stop diagnosing yourself and everyone around you.
If something feels off, get a proper assessment, look at how you’re functioning now, and let qualified professionals help you sort out the labels from real, treatable issues. Ever caught yourself slapping a diagnosis on someone after one bad argument—how might this conversation change that?
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