Stop living on autopilot. Pinpoint your power leaks with the 7-minute Power Shift Diagnostic™ QUIZ!
The past has been driving you. It's time to take the wheel.
95% of your life is running on a subconscious autopilot you didn't program. From toxic relationship recovery to professional breakthroughs, I provide the tools to override the patterns and beliefs that stall your progress—so you can accelerate into a life that's truly yours.
Book Dana to Speak at Your Event
Identify the Glitch in Your System.
Your life can't move forward if your settings are stuck in the past.
Take the 7-minute Power Shift Diagnostic™ QUIZ to pinpoint exactly what is draining your power—and get the roadmap to take it back.
Remember who you were before the world convinced you to forget.
It's not about what broke you.
It's about the mindset that rebuilds you.
As someone who suffered decades of narcissistic abuse and domestic violence, I used to call myself 'broken.' This belief carried into every area of life—relationships, work, my sense of self.
What I came to realize is that none of us are ever 'broken'—we've just been conditioned to disconnect from ourselves.
But that's not who we are. It's who we had to be to survive.
Now that I've removed myself from the difficult relationships and environments that disconnected me from my authentic self, I help other women rebuild trust in themselves, set boundaries without guilt, and move through life with more clarity and confidence than ever before💕
Follow Dana’s personal journey through her memoir trilogy
Gasping for Air: The Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse
Dana’s best-selling and award-winning debut memoir that tells the true story of her life with a narcissistic partner and the abuse she endured. Spanning from early red flags to the courage it took to finally escape, Gasping for Air pulls back the curtain on the very real and insidious nature of narcissistic abuse and shows victims that anyone can be lured into the complex lair of lies, deceit, and betrayal.
Choking on Shame: The Scapegoat Child in a Narcissistic Family
The prequel to Gasping for Air, which delves into Dana’s tumultuous childhood, exposes how growing up with abuse and trauma set the stage for accepting toxic relationships later in life. This #1 New Release is a courageous look at the childhood wounds behind the shame – and how understanding those early injuries is key to breaking free from the toxic cycles and generational trauma.
Rising from the Ashes: Breaking the Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse
In the final book of her memoir trilogy, Dana attempts to rebuild her life from the devastation of divorce and abuse. Facing rejection and opposition everywhere she turns, Dana is forced to confront the devastating reality of toxic family systems, and her own crippling beliefs in her unworthiness of love and acceptance. Through a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowering revelations, Rising from the Ashes is a heart-wrenching and triumphant testament of one woman's persistence to emerge from the darkness of the past, stronger than ever.
Want a PREVIEW before you commit?
Download the first two chapters of Gasping for Air – free
Get a powerful glimpse into Dana’s story of survival, awareness, and healing.
Who I Work With
Why Dana?
Survivor & Advocate: Dana isn’t just talking about overcoming narcissistic abuse – she’s lived it. With decades of firsthand experience, she speaks with authenticity and empathy about surviving narcissists, from a painful childhood to a toxic marriage.
Bestselling / Award-Winning Author: As the author of Gasping for Air: The Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse, Dana shines a light on the hidden realities of emotional and psychological abuse. Her memoir – inspired by her own life – became a #1 bestseller, validating countless readers and bringing awareness to covert abuse. trauma.
Inspirational Speaker: Dana has quickly become a sought-after speaker for conferences, corporations, and community groups. She has been featured on nearly 300 podcasts and media interviews worldwide, sharing her story and insights with audiences around the globe. Event organizers praise Dana’s warm, engaging style, raw relatability, and actionable takeaways.
Empowering Identity Strategist: In addition to speaking, Dana offers self-guided and supported courses that provide practical tools and heart-centered guidance for rebuilding self-worth, setting healthy boundaries, and aligning time and energy towards the life you truly want and the version of yourself just waiting to live it.
The Real Obstacle
The issue isn’t talent, intelligence, or opportunity.
The biggest challenge faced by individuals
and teams
is internal:
self-limiting beliefs.
They crush confidence, block creativity, and keep people
playing it safe and small.
Why Dana
With certifications in Emotional and Positive Intelligence
Over two decades leading top sales teams and helping hundreds of people
Dana turns EQ into a powerful tool
for leadership, growth, and success.
The Power Shift
After hearing Tara speak, audiences don’t just leave inspired
they leave empowered.
They walk away with tools they can use right away to lead more
effectively, communicate with clarity,
and show up with confidence. Dana delivers relatable stories,
real-world strategies, and actionable
insights that stick.
A Speaker that disrupts what you believe and empowers you with the truth to excel!
Dana S. Diaz is the speaker that curates the Power within through unflinching truth.
Deep down, you know there’s something bigger waiting for you.
You’ve got an amazing idea one that people need but you’re not sure how to take the first step.
With the right strategy and a coach who’s been there, you know you could build something powerful. You don’t want to waste time (or money) chasing methods that don’t work you want a proven path.
You’re ready to learn what it really takes to start and grow a successful business that lasts.
Looking for a Dynamic Expert Podcast Guest?
Dana S. Diaz is not only a powerful speaker—she’s also an exceptional podcast guest. With over 300 interviews to date, Dana brings clarity, compassion, and credibility to every conversation.
Whether you're producing a podcast on mental health, women's empowerment, trauma recovery, mindset or relationships, Dana offers a voice that’s both authoritative and relatable. The trauma made her funny, too!
Topics Dana can speak to:
How women are conditioned to disconnect from their authentic selves
How subconscious beliefs carry into every aspect of life
Narcissistic abuse and toxic relationships
Breaking patterns that sustain cycles
Childhood trauma and toxic family systems
Rebuilding self-worth and identity, especially under pressure
How I Help
Courses
Neuroscience-based programs designed to help you take back your life
Group Program
A personalized & powerful 6-week experience for those wanting results and support
Expert Contributor
Insights & tips from the perspective of someone with lived experience
Keynote Speaker
Dynamic & Compassionate, encouraging & empowering
When Unprocessed Grief Hijacks Happiness
June 4th marks the 3rd anniversary of the release of my debut memoir GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE, which exceeded my hopes of reaching one person who needed to read its message.
😁It was a #1 New Release on Amazon.
😁It was a #1 Best-Seller in 3 categories on Amazon.
😁It won 2nd place in 2 categories in the 2025 Book Fest Awards.
😁Then, it won "Best Memoir of Hope and Resilience" just last month from The Prestigious International Hope Book Awards.
😁The PIHB Awards also named me as a finalist for 2026 Author of the Year!
To say I'm humbled is an understatement.
However, even with all of this success, there has been tremendous grief.
GASPING FOR AIR was developed from a journal I kept hidden under the couch cushion in the basement during the Covid pandemic, when I was sheltered-in-place with my (then) husband who was telling people he planned to kill me.
After enduring 24 years of narcissistic abuse and physical threat from him already, I wasn't so sure he wouldn't succeed.
So, delving into the details of my relationship with my ex-husband with such open and raw inhibition, reopened the emotional wounds left behind well after the divorce and his violent revenge.
But, do you know what else I was left with?
💔The memory of what was.
💔The hope of what could have been.
💔The pain of his betrayals.
💔The wonder of how our son would be affected long-term.
💔The loneliness of abandonment by those who didn't believe me.
💔The judgment of those who didn't approve of me exposing the truth.
💔The shame of having ignored all of the red flags.
💔The regret of allowing someone to mistreat me so badly.
💔The foolishness of thinking he might mature or change.
💔The uncertainty of knowing who I am beyond a victim of abuse and domestic violence.
💔The desperate hope that I was indeed worthy of better in the future.
There is so much to grieve when a relationship ends.
Writing about it all certainly helped me begin to see the patterns and dynamics that allowed me to forgive myself for what I tolerated and what I didn't know, and begin to heal.
Yet, so much of the grief remained and resurfaced on the brink of releasing my memoir, inhibiting the joy of being a newly published author.
People told me to "move on" or "let it go," regardless of whether they supported my mission to create awareness or shamed me for speaking truths that were meant to remain behind closed doors.
Neither gave consideration for the space and time I hadn't had or taken to process the tremendous grief of the divorce and the resulting loss of that entire life and the identity I had carried within it for 25 years.
On my May 13th episode of SHIFTING GEARS LIVE, guest Dr. Karen Kramer shared her thoughts about why people are so uncomfortable acknowledging grief in themselves and others:
"It's actually written into our Declaration of Independence . . .that pursuit of happiness . . . that if it's not happy, it is not good. If it's not happy, it's something that is broken. If it's not happy, it's something that needs to be fixed.
And so when you're talking about suppression, many . . .suppress because I'm seen as bad or wrong or broken or need to be fixed.
So part of my platform is let's get out and talk about those things that are grief-related or challenge our identity, whether it is the the loss of a loved one through a death or the loss of a loved one through the divorce, or even as we're talking about—getting into domestic violence—which is also a loss of our identity in many different ways. Let's have those deep conversations in a way without it being something so taboo."
Dr. Kramer's insight about internalizing deficiency in times of grief resonated with what I felt upon the release of my first book, as well as the panic I felt the first time I took a major stage to tell my story.
You see, I had been conditioned to remain silenced. So, although my books and stage talks have impacted thousands worldwide, I carried the grief of disappointing people into situations that gained me accomplish and acclaim, thereby inhibiting the joy and pride of achievement.
This grief continues in my life today, when I find myself celebrating my achievements alone or with social media followers I may never meet.
Because here, in my "real life," I am still being shamed and exiled for speaking my truth—something I will never apologize for, but something I struggle to find peace with when I was the victim in every abusive situation I found myself in.
🎙️For more on Dr. Karen Kramer's insights on grief, watch her guest interview on SHIFTING GEARS LIVE with Dana S. Diaz.
📚Then, go to danasdiaz.com to download the first 2 chapters of GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE, available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.
What others are saying
TESTIMONIALS
A story of strength and overcoming fear and finding self worth! This book was very well written and demonstrated a story I have seen several friends and family go through. The isolation from family and friends, the verbal and physical abuse or even just belittling and loss of self worth. Seeing how the author over comes and find her strength. How after time, she had a great friend who was there waiting. Finding real love with a supportive and caring man and being willing to open up and take a chance to love. I hope many women read this and see it can be anyone and help loose the stereotype and blame, to find ways to prevent this from happening to friends and family or even themselves! A recommended read for all!
AMAZING!!! A MUST READ!!! I couldn’t put the book down! If I didn’t have to work or do life, I would’ve read this cover to cover without stopping. It’s such a well-written, beautifully horrifying story. Dana is honest, raw, and shares intimate details of her relationship that anyone can relate to who has been in a narcissistic relationship. She reminds us of the subtle signs of this behavior that are so easy to overlook and justify when you’re first in it - and then making it hard to leave years down the road -especially when there is a kid involved. I love that the chapters are song titles. There is so much creativity, brutal honesty, and even some humor in this book that make it an easy read. I recommend this book for everyone! Even if you haven’t been with a narcissist, it’s good to know the subtle signs of this behavior and often we encounter people like this in our lives at work and in other situations. I’m going to purchase more books and give them to the people I love that I know would benefit from reading them. Thank you, Dana for sharing your story with us!!
Riveting Truth Here! Dana Diaz is profoundly brave and on a mission in this lifetime. Her book, Gasping for Air took me on a ride that I could relate to through her honest portrayal of what it is like to walk through fire and come out in one piece. Diaz's tempo and pivotal truth-telling uncover realities in living we often hide behind, deny or become desensitized enough to think they are normal. She has stepped up repeatedly to take a ride through hellish hallways all to share with her readers the truth behind abuse and narcissism. Brava, Dana Diaz for dropping the curtain to unveil the cold and brutal truth of a system that is eating humanity from the inside out. And I can't wait for the prequel. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Definitely a MUST read!!! This book grasped my attention from the beginning and I couldn't put it down! Very well written, as it walks you through the experience of an abusive relationship and its toll on everyone involved. This book gave me an enlightened understanding of what victims go through when under the control of a narcissistic personality. Not only was this a great portrayal of how manipulation and control can affect a family, it also gives a heightened awareness as to how it weighs on an individual to the point of trauma induced health issues. Hopefully, this story will be helpful to others in similar situations. Great job Dana!
Very good read. Dana is a great author and knows how to grab the reader. Finished this book in only a few days and can’t wait for the next one!
A great read! I loved this book! Such an important and painful topic, written with such honesty and compassion. I couldn’t stop reading it and rooting for Dana! I have an adult daughter and will be giving her this book. I hope Dana’s well-written reflections of her experiences will help shed light on the warning signs of a relationship with a narcissist. The stories of helplessness, love, optimism and persistence should resonate with every woman of every age!
FOLLOW DANA
COMPANY
Copyright 2026. Privacy policy. Dana S Diaz. All Rights Reserved.