Sign 6: Feelings of Shame and Guilt.
When someone has been through narcissistic abuse, they might start feeling bad about themselves. Imagine a friend constantly putting them down, saying they’re always at fault even when it’s not true. Over time, this messes with their head, and they start believing they’re to blame for everything. It’s like carrying this heavy bag of guilt that doesn’t belong to them. Psychologists say this kind of situation can mess with a person’s sense of self. They might think that maybe they deserve how the narcissist treated them when, in reality, it’s the narcissist’s behavior that’s out of line. Their brain gets wired to feel guilty for existing, and that’s where CPTSD comes in. Therapists often help people untangle these feelings, making them realize it’s not their fault and they’re not alone in going through this.
Recommended Book: Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself- By Shahida Arabi.
Sign 7: Issues with Boundaries.
Setting boundaries can get seriously tangled up for someone who has been through narcissistic abuse. They might struggle to draw lines in their relationships, feeling like trying to define their space but the other person keeps stomping over it. Suppose you’re in a relationship where you can’t say no without feeling guilty—that’s where these boundary issues start kicking in. Over time, it gets tough to know how to stand up for yourself or protect your own space. Setting boundaries is like trying to untangle a ball of yarn when the narcissist has weaved it all together in the first place.
Sign 8: Hyperventilation or Panic Attacks.
People who experience narcissistic abuse might find themselves dealing with hyperventilation or panic attacks. Imagine feeling like you can’t catch your breath, your heart racing, then this overwhelming sense of fear kicking in out of the blue. Experts say this can happen when you’ve been through repeated emotional abuse or manipulation by a narcissist. Think of it like your body’s alarm system going into overdrive because of all that stress and trauma you’ve been through. Psychologists often mention how this intense anxiety can mess with your breathing, making you hyperventilate or even have full-blown panic attacks. Sometimes it comes out as these overwhelming moments that can knock you off balance.
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