Cognitive distortions are like trying to sleep while wearing glasses with the wrong prescription — your brain isn’t seeing things clearly. After experiencing narcissistic abuse, cognitive distortions can mess with your thinking, making everything seem worse than it is. Instead of enjoying a peaceful night’s sleep, you lie awake, convinced that every shadow in the room is a monster or that your life is falling apart. As cognitive psychologist Dr. Aaron Beck says, our thinking patterns shape our reality. If your brain is stuck in distortion mode, it’s like you have a built-in horror movie playing on repeat, keeping you wide awake.
5. Hyperawareness of Time
Imagine trying to fall asleep with a giant clock ticking loudly next to your bed, and every second feels like it’s mocking your inability to rest. That’s what it’s like when you’re hyperaware of time due to narcissistic abuse. You’re not just worried about sleeping — you’re obsessively watching the clock, stressing over every minute you’re not getting shut-eye. As therapist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen points out, anxiety loves to play with time, making everything feel urgent. So instead of drifting off, you’re counting every tick like it’s a personal failure, turning your bed into a high-stakes game show.
6. Unpredictable Environment
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