NARCISSISTIC
ABUSE RECOVERY

Narcissistic abuse is a form of emotional and psychological manipulation and control inflicted by a person with narcissistic personality traits or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). This type of abuse is characterized by a pattern of behaviors aimed at undermining the victim’s sense of self-worth, autonomy, and emotional well-being.

Some common tactics used in narcissistic abuse include:

Confusion: The abuser may deny or distort reality, making the victim doubt their own perceptions and sanity.

Manipulation: The abuser may use guilt, shame, blatant denial of the needs of the other, lying or hiding information, or other tactics to control and manipulate the victim’s behavior. Narcissists often become angry or irritated when their victim is physically sick or injured. The narcissist often has a charming or “nice” public persona, reserving their abusive behaviors only for family and romantic partners. This can make it hard to recognize and also create fear of attempting to end the relationship.

Verbal abuse: The abuser may engage in name-calling, belittling, sarcastic put downs, or other forms of verbal aggression to undermine the victim’s self-esteem.

Isolation: The abuser may try to isolate the victim from friends, family, and support networks in order to maintain control over them. The abuser may also be “planting seeds” over time about the victim’s behaviors, mental health, etc to community members in case there is ever a rupture in the relationship, they have already laid the groundwork for a smear campaign.

Triangulation: The abuser may involve a third party in the relationship in order to create jealousy or competition, further undermining the victim’s sense of security.

Seeking narcissistic “supply”: Chaos and arguments create energy for the narcissist so they will create them. They can be enraged in one moment and in the next act as if nothing happened. Narcissists need admiration and will often “collect” admirers and even hide their existence from romantic partners or friends.

Narcissistic abuse can leave you feeling lost, confused, and doubting yourself. Covert narcissism, in particular, is often misunderstood and overlooked in mental health spaces. I’m here to provide the informed support you need to rebuild your sense of self, understand your experience, and start healing. Together, we can work on reclaiming your voice and power. There IS a path forward that brings inner freedom.