But it may be more emotionally taxing if your partner is a narcissist.
Not every narcissist has NPD but every person with NPD is a narcissist.
Narcissistsdiagnosed with or without NPDdesire both praise and applause and struggle with criticism.
Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty
Narcissistic rage may also manifest during divorce proceedings.
This can look like explosive anger as well as verbal and emotional abuse.
Being open and transparent in court will give the judge a positive impression, which will help your case.
But only if it’s physically safe to do so.
Legal Considerations and Strategies
Consider an attorney who understands the dynamics of narcissism, says Dr. McBride.
Narcissists desire control and are willing to do whatever to maintain it during divorce proceedings.
“Be aware and take any threats of violence seriously.
Keep telling and talking until someone listens.
Be aware and take any threats of violence seriously.
Keep telling and talking until someone listens.
Protect your boundaries by being firm and decisive.
The idea is to make them bored, so theyll stop bothering you.
And, dont forget topractice self-care.
Give yourself grace for not “seeing through” your spouse earlier.
make a run at do activities that make you feel happy.
A narcissist may venture to use the children as leverage and turn them against you to gain sole custody.
It’s important to stay calm and neutral during this process.
Try not to bad mouth or criticize the other parent openly.
And if your children have questions, respond as neutral and objective to the best of your ability.
Furthermore, try not to overhaul the children’s routines.
A divorce is a significant event in a child’s life and can impact their emotional and psychological health.
Co-parenting with a narcissist can bring with it its own unique set of challenges too including alienation.
Narcissistic and abusive individuals will seek ways to manipulate the surviving co-parent and child,” McKay says.
“When divorcing a narcissist, the narcissist never gets over it, so the battle continues for years.
We see multiple filings of motions to the courts.
Thus, moving forward is difficult.
However, therapy andsupport groupsfor people in similar situations will help push this healing process along.
So will journaling and affirmations.
Write down things that make you happy and things youre good atspeak it out loud too!
Theperiod of post-divorceis also a great time to rediscover your freedom and sense of self.
Keep in Mind
Divorcing a narcissist is not an easy process.
With these tools at your disposal, you’ll be better prepared for the journey at hand.
Vignando, M., & Bizumic, B.
