Number 1: They step into narcissistic denial.
This type of denial is not the same denial that you may experience when something horrible happens to you. Let’s say somebody passes away. You will step into denial because it’s a big shock. You will question the possibility of that event happening; it’s a natural response to adversity, isn’t it? But their response, their denial, is different.
What’s the hardest thing for them to accept? That they’ve failed. Failed at what? At controlling you, keeping you tied to their life, using you for their needs, manipulating you, controlling your actions, and having full access to your life. That’s what their denial is about—they just can’t accept it. Narcissists can’t stand the idea of failure because they believe they’re perfect at everything. But the truth is, they’re not.
When a narcissist realizes you’ve left them for good, their true self starts to show instead of the act they put on. They might look shocked or surprised, which can trigger a small emotional breakdown called a narcissistic collapse. This might make them act overly nice or try to please you, a behavior known as “fawning.” If the narcissist is particularly toxic (a malignant narcissist) and depended on you as their main source of attention or support, leaving them can cause a big change in how they behave, especially when they understand you’re never coming back.
Recommended Book: Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself- By Shahida Arabi.
From being an overt narcissist, they may turn into a covert narcissist temporarily. They might cry; they may show you that emotional side, and they may even beg you to come back. They may try different ways to bring you back into their life out of that shock and denial. The shock and denial, as I said, is not from losing you; the shock and denial is from failing at abusing you.
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
