Blog, Mental Health

Signs That You’re in a Relationship with a Narcissist

Many individuals do not identify emotional or financial manipulation as abuse. IT IS ABUSE even though the person is not harming you physically, it is harming you emotionally and mentally.

Psychologist Stephen Johnson writes that the narcissist is someone who has “buried his true self-expression in response to early injuries and replaced it with a highly developed, compensatory false self.” This alternate persona to the real self often comes across as grandiose, “above others,” self-absorbed, and highly conceited. In our highly individualistic and externally driven society, mild to severe forms of narcissism are not only pervasive but often encouraged.

Narcissism is often interpreted in popular culture as a person who’s in love with him or herself. It is more accurate to characterize the pathological narcissist as someone who’s in love with an idealized self-image, which they project in order to avoid feeling (and being seen as) the real, disenfranchised, wounded self. Deep down, most pathological narcissists feel like the “ugly duckling,” even if they painfully don’t want to admit it.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201409/10-signs-youre-in-relationship-narcissist

Acknowledge and accept the abuse

Recognizing that you did experience abuse, whether from a romantic partner, family member, or friend, is an important first step toward recovery.

In the beginning of the healing process, you might have a hard time setting aside rationalizations and potential excuses for the other person’s behavior.

In fact, you may feel perfectly willing to take blame on yourself, as long as it means you don’t have to admit someone you love intentionally hurt you.

This is normal and completely understandable.

Denial can protect you, in a way. Strong romantic or familial love overshadows reality for many people.

It’s also tough to accept that some people just don’t seem to care when they hurt others.

9 Tips for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
https://www.healthline.com/

For Black Women Suffering Domestic Abuse, Coronavirus Quarantines Are Life Threatening

BY TAMARA Y. JEFFRIES · 

Social isolation may be a drag for you, but for some sisters, it’s literally putting their lives in danger.

Domestic violence resource centers across the country are anticipating an uptick in intimate partner violence in the wake of COVID-19. Under ordinary circumstances, domestic violence is more prevalent among Black women than White, Latina or Asian women, according to statistics from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Four in 10 Black women experience physical abuse. We’re also more likely to endure psychological abuse such as humiliation, bullying, name-calling, coercion and control.

https://www.essence.com/news/domestic-violence-coronavirus/