The term “narcissistic abuse” was originally developed to define the emotional abuse of a child living with the wrath of a narcissistic parent. In this scenario, the parent requires the child to give up his or her own wants and emotional well-being early on in order to satisfy the wants and needs of the parent. […]
Allowing Narcissists to “Out” Themselves: You Won’t Suffer in Silence
The behavior of narcissists often mirror that which one would expect from a toddler. The temper tantrums, short attention spans, and neediness of an individual with narcissistic personality disorder is much like that of a young child. When a victim breaks the silence and “tattle-tales” on the narcissist’s true self, he immediately gets hyper-defensive and […]
The Narcissist’s Pursuit of (False) Happiness
Pathological narcissism is derived from deep-seated shame. While there are hereditary factors, much of the sociopath behavior displayed by this behavioral disorder is propelled to the surface due to negative circumstances, particularly trauma. Once the chaos has subsided, the emotions felt are vanished into the recesses of the narcissist’s mind with the hope that they […]
The Narcissist In Us All: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Narcissism and Co-dependence
Narcissism should not be confused with confidence, although it often is. This is because narcissism is a spectrum disorder ranging from completely healthy to completely unhealthy. There’s a fine line between being self-assured and downright arrogant. Examples of healthy narcissism might include feeling accomplished, well-liked or able. These are all healthy emotions, and it’s important […]
Preparing for Battle: Facing Off Against a Narcissist in Court
Battling a narcissist in court is not easy. There are some simple steps you can take, however, to make it more manageable. 1 – Document, document, document. Narcissists are pathological liars. They not only twist the truth, but they deliver untruths in such a way that it can be extremely convincing. This is why they […]
How Long Do Emotional Scars Last? Narcissistic Victim Syndrome
Narcissistic Victim Syndrome (NVS) is essentially a form of PTSD manifested as a result of narcissistic abuse. Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, heightened reactivity, anxiety, panic, and depression. The devastating effects of NVS can last a long time. In counseling, most clients who are victims of narcissistic abuse are diagnosed with PTSD rather than NVS […]