Narcissistic Personality Disorder
How to Spot the Subtle Signs of a Narcissist and Continue to Thrive After an Encounter
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Youve been through enough , and now, its time to heal. It might have taken you a while, but youre here and youre on your way to a fuller, happier life, away from the abuse. So, take a deep breath, smile, and give yourself a pat on the back. It definitely wasnt easy.
Being the victim of a narcissist can be draining, exhausting, and painful. For many, the abuse can span years without resolve, making it harder and harder to escape the situation with each passing day. Unfortunately, the longer you stay with a narcissist, the deeper you fall into their trap, becoming more and more entangled in their web as they continue to tighten their grip around your neck.
But if youre reading this now, then that means youve already been through the toughest part, and thats something to be proud of. Many of those who suffer through narcissistic relationships claim that it feels like being stuck in a vicious cycle the abuser controls your thoughts, youre programmed to please them, and the toxicity of the relationship is concealed by blaming you for every little thing that goes wrong. So yes, finally making the decision to just leave is something to celebrate.
So, what happens now? What happens after youve left? How do you deal with these feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness? What are you supposed to do if you feel like its better to go back, apologize, and become a cog in the narcissists system once more? What if you want them back in your life?
What happens now?
While the hardest part of the process is leaving , healing after parting ways with a narcissist can be nearly as difficult. The mechanisms they put in place might still be in operation, making it hard for you to see the abuse for what it really was. Although it might be tough and although you might feel like theres no end to the pain and guilt, youd be relieved to learn that healing is possible.
And it becomes even more of a reality when you follow guides like this.
If its any consolation, you should know that youre not the first to have gone through narcissistic abuse. Countless others before you have seen the hurt, betrayal, and sadness, and theyve recovered from the years of mistreatment to become better, fuller, happier people with fulfilling relationships and a greater sense of self-worth.
What you need to know is that that is something you can have, too.
So, if youre stuck at a crossroads, youre not sure where to go, and youre still struggling with pain from years of being forced to back down and depend on others to show you your worth, then now is the time.
Lets start your journey towards the happiest years of your life.
Chapter 1 - The Basics of Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
- Sharon Salzberg
You were convinced that it would be better for you. You believed you would feel free. You thought you would be able to take the pain. So why is it so difficult? Why does the hurt seem to have made a home in your heart and your mind? Why do you feel even more trapped than ever?
Needless to say, healing from a narcissistic relationship might not follow the same process that other separations do. There are certain factors that can make it even harder for you, and thats why you might feel particularly at a loss in the months that follow your leaving.
Understanding why it might be difficult can provide you valuable insight to help you realize that all these negative thoughts and feelings are temporary theyre nothing more than latent side-effects of the abuse that youve suffered all this time. The sooner you realize where theyre stemming from, the sooner youd be able to nip them at the root and slowly release yourself from entanglement.
Why Its So Hard to Heal
Have you ever had to cut someone out of your life before? Was it a toxic friend who just didnt jive with your personality? An absentee partner who just wasnt who you expected them to be? A competitive coworker who saw every project as an opportunity to get ahead?
While each of these scenarios might present varying inconveniences and challenges, one thing remains true it probably didnt eat you up inside to say goodbye and walk away.
Sure, its only normal that you might have felt the remnants of the relationship as your heart and mind worked to snip away the remaining ties that held you to this person. But once those few days or weeks had passed, you probably found yourself fully-functional once more. You might not have even had to think about that person unless someone else brought them up.
You healed, you moved on, and you got better. It happened before, so why is it so hard now?
There are unique aspects to a narcissistic relationship that makes it particularly difficult to cope with. So, after you walk away, you might find yourself feeling the same potent pain you did when they were still a part of your life.
So, what are these factors that make it so much harder?
The Narcissists Grip
Perhaps a narcissists most intricate and effective tool to keep their victims in line is their grip. This metaphorical grasp is slowly built over time, constructed with conditional love and affection thats later used as a tool to get you to act the way that they want you to.
As time wears on, the victim feels endeared to the narcissist, and the abuser will exploit this connection to their benefit. The victim becomes a scapegoat for all the different problems that might arise in the narcissists life, even if the victim had no involvement in the development of the issue.
The narcissist now insists that youre problem, responsible for the different things that go wrong in your lives together. They convince you that you need them because youre not perfect, and they know whats best to keep you from causing any more harm to yourself or to others. They make you believe that you rely on them, making you feel like you owe them an explanation or an apology for every little thing that goes wrong.