If you currently face divorce, the whole process can become messy quickly. It is a lot worse when the person you divorce is a narcissist. Narcissists are manipulative and tend to only care for themselves. If you feel that your ex may be a narcissist, you need to know what to expect.
According to Psychology Today, your divorce from a narcissist may be different from the typical breakup. Here is what you should expect during your breakup.
Vindictive behavior
One hallmark of narcissism is to become vindictive. Your spouse may feel betrayed or as if you wronged him or her. Even though divorces have two sides, he or she will not see it from yours. Instead, your ex may lash out against you or your children. He or she may blame you fully for the divorce and refuse to look in the mirror. Narcissists tend to be extremely sensitive to defeat or criticism. He or she may try to harm you through financial means or your children.
High-conflict divorce
Most narcissists create conflict. Often, he or she will aim to make the conflict look two-sided. For example, he or she may involve the children to put you into a defensive mode. To others, the fighting may appear to be equal, when in reality, your ex controls how the situation looks. Your spouse may try to claim that he or she wants to protect your children because you are the one to bully or cause conflict.
When dealing with a narcissist, it is important not to take the bait. Narcissists may appear charming or charismatic to outsiders.
