Narcissistic abuse, often emotional but sometimes physical, can cause long-term pain to the victim. The abuser often suffers from narcissistic personality disorder, causing mental and emotional torment to those closest to them. Recovery involves self-education, seeking guidance and treatment separately, and joining support groups.
Narcissistic abuse is mostly inflicted emotionally, but it can become physical, and both forms can cause long-term pain to the victim. The abuser often suffers from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a disorder that allows the patient to feel omnipotent by creating a false self-esteem that is ultimately superior to all others. Those closest to the abuser experience the most extreme forms of mental and emotional torment. Relationships and family members suffer the most because it is the gradual change in personality that masks the underlying problems.
At first, a narcissistic spouse, family member, co-worker, or friend appears conceited, but later on, the superiority complex that triggers the person far outweighs simple arrogance. Narcissistic abuse begins because the abuser needs to gain control over others and, in order to be successful, must demean the victims into feeling emotionally and mentally incompetent. The narcissist may repeatedly tell victims that they are worthless or humiliate them in public. He feels that by withdrawing his approval, the victim will fall further under his power over her in hopes of gaining acceptance.
The abuser uses insult, embarrassment, and punishment methods to destroy the victim’s self-esteem, which ultimately leads the victim to actually believe that they are worthless. Repeated narcissistic abuse can become brainwashed and exhaust the victim to despair. The narcissist can become violent and feel little remorse because he believes this type of behavior is appropriate. The aggressor feels that his actions are justified because they are actions of a higher being, whether harmful or illegal.
The victim’s mental deterioration is a sign that he needs help. There is an extensive recovery process for narcissistic abuse that begins with self-education. The victim and the abuser should seek guidance and treatment separately, because the process is different. The abused should inform himself well about the disease he inflicts on the aggressor in order to understand that it is not his fault as the victim. There are a number of recovery groups for victims of narcissistic abuse, and individual therapy is available.
The NPD sufferer should also seek counseling in order to better understand the disease and assess the underlying serious problem that is spurring the disorder. The variety of support and information available about narcissistic abuse is a good place to start because it helps the victim regain control over their life. Support groups allow abused people to communicate with others who are experiencing similar trauma and can relieve the stress of feeling hopelessly alone.
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