First published on Psychology Today, March 25, 2023. To understand the trauma narcissists induce in others, we often focus on their external behaviors and how those behaviors affect the people around them. But what is really going on in the narcissistic…
Exaggerated victimhood is a form of narcissistic grandiosity.
People with narcissistic personalities are relational antagonists who compulsively undercut others to gain a sense of control and superiority. Even when they are shining an idealizing light on someone, it is a form of manipulation—through flattery and praise—, which can (and…
In order to ban autocracy, exploitation, and inequality in the world, we must first realize that the first inequality in life is that of child and adult. —Erik Erikson For humans, a highly social species dependent on the group for survival,…
Forgiveness is often touted as the holy grail of healing. Indeed, releasing anger and resentment toward someone who has hurt us can be freeing. But when it comes to forgiving narcissistic parents, the impulse to forgive too soon is treacherous…
One of the most confusing and difficult issues many adult children of narcissists face is how to navigate the relationship between our children and their narcissistic grandparents. Even after identifying the dysfunction in our parents and acknowledging the neglect and…
The following letter was written by Alicia to her family therapist, Craig. Alicia and her husband David and their three children sought help from Craig for 14 years and spent an estimated $40,000 for his services over that time. David…
Here are tried and true boundary-setting strategies to protect yourself from narcissistic abuse.
First published in Psychology Today April 30, 2020 Children of narcissists endure profound ongoing neglect and abuse that result in disrupted attachment, insecure identity formation, unstable self-esteem, and complex traumatic stress. Adding to the trauma, such children are usually told in myriad ways…
As the daughter of a narcissistic mother you face countless assaults to your identity, integrity, and individuality. One of the most pernicious forms of assault plays out on the battlefield of your body. Before we peer into the black hole…