Dissociation. Those living with narcissistic abuse syndrome may struggle with a trauma response known as dissociation. This reaction occurs when a person feels detached from their body, thoughts, or feelings.
Extreme reactions—physical or emotional—to traumatic reminders. Difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts. Hyper-awareness, vigilance, anger, and irritability.
How does trauma contribute to narcissism? Narcissism can develop as a coping mechanism in response to trauma. People who experience trauma often feel overwhelmed by the emotions and feelings that come with the experience and may develop a sense of detachment from their emotions as a way to cope.
This disrupts their perception of reality and memory. Victims may put aside their own needs to please a narcissistic abuser. Chronic stress triggered by emotional and psychological abuse can create physical health issues such as premature aging, weight gain or loss, and a suppressed immune system.
Individuals who present with C-PTSD meet all the diagnostic requirements for PTSD; they also demonstrate difficulty maintaining a positive outlook, have problems regulating anxiety levels, have poor self-worth, experience feelings of guilt and shame, and have difficulties maintaining relationships.
The abuse from a narcissist will essentially cause the victim (first- or second-degree) to feel emotionally out of control and unstable. The negative memories and painful flashbacks will overpower any semblance of goodness. Depression, languishing, and general disinterest in life will become the norm.
The damage to the amygdala of the victims of narcissistic abuse become trapped in a permanent state of fear and anxiety and react badly to environmental triggers that remind them of the violation by the narcissist. This means that victims of narcissistic abuse are constantly alert to the danger that does not exist now.
As a result, victims become depressed, anxious, lack confidence and they may hide from the spotlight and allow their abusers to steal the show again and again. Realize that your abuser is not undercutting your gifts because they truly believe you are inferior; it is because those gifts threaten their control over you.
The four stages of the narcissistic abuse cycle are: Idealization, Devaluation, Repetition, and Discard. In this cycle, a narcissistic partner may love-bomb you, devalue your sense of self over time, repeat the pattern, and eventually, discard you and/or the relationship.
People experiencing narcissistic victim syndrome often feel insecure, delusional, or ashamed and are unable to understand that they aren't the problem. Narcissistic abuse is also often seen in codependent relationships where the narcissist creates a relationship in which their partner is dependent on them.
As a narcissistic abuse survivor, you will likely have symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Your brain will be on high alert, looking out for danger. This is because the traumatic events triggered a fight or flight response within you. As a result, anything associated with those memories can trigger an anxiety attack.
Most recent theories have focused on the link between narcissism and negative childhood experiences, such as physical or sexual violence, neglect, or rejection [10,11].
Victims of narcissistic abuse develop coping mechanisms to survive. But once the abuse has ended, their coping mechanisms may turn maladaptive. Over-focusing on others' needs, failing to set boundaries, or doing anything in exchange for kindness may pave the way for maltreatment or abuse.
While recovery is difficult, it is possible. Taking the necessary steps toward recovery, such as by seeking professional help, recognizing the abuse that occurred, and focusing on yourself, can all help you move past the abuse.
Signs of Trauma Bonding
You agree with the reasons the abusive person outlines for why they treat you the way they do. You might try to cover for the domestic abuse experience because of feelings of attachment. If someone tries to help you, like your friends or family members, you might withdraw from them.
Being the victim of narcissistic abuse can be incredibly traumatic. Professional support from a therapist can help you manage your symptoms and reduce the trauma aftermath.
MD, MS. The narcissistic abuse cycle is a pattern of manipulation and calculated abuse the narcissist uses to confuse a partner and make them question their reality. The narcissist will start by idealizing the person, then devaluing them, before finally rejecting and discarding them.
Type A people are also attractive to narcissists
According to psychologist and dark-personality expert Perpetua Neo, this is because they tend to want to give somebody more than they receive.
There is also a physical aspect of brain damage involved—when suffering consistent emotional abuse, victims experience a shrinking of the hippocampus and a swelling of the amygdala; both of these circumstances lead to devastating effects.
Recovering from narcissistic abuse takes time, so you will have to remain patient. This process could take months or even years, but it's worth all of the hard work and effort. You can and will move on to find healthier and happier connections with others.
Experiencing narcissistic abuse syndrome can also result in symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms include emotional triggers, flashbacks, isolation, detachment, avoidance, and hypervigilance, noted Forman.
According to Julie L. Hall, author of “The Narcissist in Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free,” narcissists become more extreme versions of their worst selves as they age, which includes becoming more desperate, deluded, paranoid, angry, abusive, and isolated.
We can now see narcissism in the brain. A brain scan of people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) shows less brain matter in areas associated with emotional empathy. Actually, this is the first time anyone has seen the proof of narcissism in brain structures.