Did you know that victims of narcissistic abuse wish others would understand them more than the abuser? They’re not looking for sympathy for the person who caused them harm; they’re hoping someone will finally see them. Narcissistic abuse leaves deep scars, many of which are invisible. It’s not just about the screaming matches or manipulative mind games; it’s about how those experiences mess with your sense of self, trust in others, and even your ability to speak up. Victims of narcissistic abuse often feel misunderstood, even by the people who care about them, because unless you’ve lived it, it’s hard to grasp how much it affects every part of your life.
Today, we’re peeling back the curtain on what narcissistic abuse victims wish the world understood about their journey.
Are you ready for number one? They’re not overreacting. When you’ve been through narcissistic abuse, your reactions might seem over the top to others, but trust me, they’re not. You’re not overreacting; you’re responding to deep emotional wounds that often feel invisible to everyone else. Narcissistic abuse messes with your sense of reality, making you doubt yourself constantly. Over time, this creates layers of emotional pain and triggers that anyone would react strongly to. Your reactions are not just about the moment; they’re about years of manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional neglect boiling over. People who haven’t lived through it might not understand why you seem too sensitive or get upset over small things, but the truth is what seems small to them might carry a mountain of past pain for you. Think of it like a bruise: what might feel like a light poke to someone else feels like a sharp stab to you because of the underlying damage.
As trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk wrote in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma is not just an event that took place some time in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience. Your emotional responses are a sign that your body and mind are trying to process and protect you, not that you’re being dramatic.
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