Romantic relationships between an inmate and their free-world pen pal often start out like a whirlwind romance. After just a few letters exchanged, prisoners often feel like they met the person of their dreams, their true love, their soulmate. But is any of it actually real, or are they merely living in a fantasy world of false hopes and future faking? In this episode, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and founder of Gratitude and Growth Counseling, Jennifer Garcia, breaks it down. You’ll learn about idealization and fantasy, love bombing, Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders, loyalty tests, trauma bonds, and other factors that play into the start of these intense relationships. She will also teach you strategies to help better your chances of a sustainable pen pal relationship, and she will share proven red flags to watch for if you find yourself developing feelings for your pen pal.
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