Narcissistic Abuse
What Is Narcissistic Abuse — And How Do You Heal From It?
By Maria Sarina
If you've ever left a relationship feeling confused, exhausted, and unsure of your own reality — you're not alone. Narcissistic abuse is one of the most misunderstood and under-recognised forms of emotional harm. And for many people, the hardest part is simply finding a name for what they experienced.
What is narcissistic abuse?
Narcissistic abuse refers to a pattern of behaviour used by someone with narcissistic traits to control, manipulate, and diminish another person. It can happen in romantic relationships, family dynamics, friendships, or even workplaces.
Common tactics include gaslighting (making you doubt your own memory, perception, or sanity), love bombing followed by withdrawal, blame-shifting, isolation from friends and family, and minimising or dismissing your feelings. Because these patterns are often subtle and gradual, many people don't recognise them as abuse.
The impact on your mental health
The effects of narcissistic abuse can be profound and long-lasting. Survivors often experience anxiety, hypervigilance, depression, a loss of sense of self, difficulty trusting others, shame and self-blame, and symptoms consistent with complex trauma (C-PTSD).
These responses are completely normal reactions to an abnormal situation. They are not signs of weakness — they are signs that you were hurt.
Healing is possible
Recovery from narcissistic abuse is a process, not an event. It takes time, patience, and the right support. But it is absolutely possible to rebuild your sense of self, your confidence, and your capacity for healthy relationships.
Trauma-informed counselling can help you make sense of what happened without self-blame, process suppressed emotions, rebuild your identity and trust in your own perceptions, develop healthy boundaries, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that were diminished.
You don't have to carry this alone. If any of this resonates with you, reach out to make an enquiry — a warm, non-judgmental conversation is the first step.