As shocking as this may sound, science has revealed that there is a demonic aspect to narcissism. It has acknowledged that you can actually see demons in people. But wait—before you jump for joy thinking that narcissism will finally be fully exposed, that’s not going to happen. The disorder doesn’t target the narcissist; it targets you. This intriguing disorder is often referred to as “demon face syndrome” in simple terms, while in clinical terms, it’s called “proor phobia.”
When I mentioned demon face syndrome, did you momentarily assume it would explain why a narcissist’s face appears demonic towards the end of a relationship or during a rage episode? I thought so too when I first stumbled upon this syndrome. However, after conducting some research and understanding what it entails, I was taken aback. Why? Because it’s not about the narcissist; it’s about you. Contrary to what you may believe, it labels you as the crazy one. If you visit a psychiatrist or psychologist who hasn’t experienced narcissistic abuse and tell them, “Doctor, I saw a demonic face in my partner towards the end of the relationship. Am I crazy?” the response is likely to be dismissive. Instead of affirming your experience, they might diagnose you with demon face syndrome, suggesting you have a mental illness, are hallucinating, or experiencing a psychotic episode. This is, quite frankly, the ultimate form of victim-blaming.
We both know there is a demonic aspect of narcissism; it’s not just me or you—countless individuals have experienced similar phenomena and reported the same unsettling observations. How can so many people, particularly survivors of narcissistic abuse, be mistaken?
To be honest, when I encountered this disorder, I felt a wave of concern. Why? Because I understood what would likely happen to individuals in clinical settings. Many survivors of narcissistic abuse are misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Why is that? Because they are often extremely sensitive to abandonment, emotionally dysregulated, and confused, exhibiting patterns that may not make sense to clinicians. When faced with such behaviors, they attach a label, and BPD often becomes the go-to diagnosis.
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