How to identify that you have suffered narcissistic abuse?
Do you feel stuck, sad, ashamed, fearful, and unworthy in your relationship?
Has the word narcissist come to your mind in relation to your partner? Often, this term is overused; loved ones can sometimes be a bit self-centered or have a few narcissistic character threats. You need to make sure that you experience specific symptoms for quite a while to identify narcissistic abuse. When your partner meets the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder, your whole life suffers, and your sense of wellbeing is absent. As a result, you feel stuck, sad, embarrassed, and unworthy. Below, you can find five signs that should help you identify the true nature of your relationship.
Self-doubt
You might feel overwhelmed by self-doubt when reading a restaurant menu or thinking about what to wear. You noticed that it has become difficult for you to make even simple daily choices, and you no longer feel that you can trust your judgment.
Constant second-guessing.
You constantly analyze and second guess your past decisions: "If I only had done things differently, my partner would not be like this." The challenge with second-guessing is that it often makes you feel stuck, and you can't move in either direction. You feel trapped and paralyzed—you can't move out of your relationship, and you can't talk to your partner about it.
Social withdrawal
You don't feel proud of your relationship. Feelings of embarrassment cause you to avoid taking your partner to meet your friends, family gatherings, or work events. You don't communicate with others because you feel uncomfortable sharing the details of your relationship. You fear being judged, and others will tell you to get out of this relationship. You still hope that your partner can change, so you are not ready to end this relationship yet.
Overwhelming worries and anxiety
You feel a particular kind of anxiety rooted in your sense of helplessness. Anxiety manifests as excessive worries about two aspects simultaneously: what will happen if this relationship ends and if it sticks around. This sense of worry can be overwhelming and affect your sleep patterns, your eating habits, and your wellbeing in general.
Helplessness
In your relationship, nothing seems to work. You have tried everything to become a better listener and communicator: you have tried to be nicer, to distance yourself. Yet, as a result, you feel powerless and helpless.
At the Serenity Space Therapy office, daily, we treat symptoms and causes of anxiety. Often, clients' worries are rooted in the narcissistic nature of their relationship with their partners, parents, or friends.
If you feel stuck, sad, ashamed, fearful, and unworthy in your relationship, there could be a chance that you are in a relationship with a narcissist. Contact me for a free 20-min chat to help you decide the best next step to feeling better. My approach is gentle, non-judgemental, and I will make sure that you feel safe and understood.