Alternatives to No Contact
Mar 12, 2023
On recognising narcissism in a loved one, I meet many people who feel despairing as they have the impression from social media that the only way to cope with this situation is to cut off contact entirely.
It is, of course, essential to pay attention to your physical, sexual and emotional safety in any relationship and ending contact entirely may be necessary if there is ongoing abuse.
However, if there isn't ongoing abuse, many options are available. I always suggest paying more attention to yourself and your needs and building compassion for yourself. As you do, you may find you can approach a difficult relationship with a narcissistic person with a greater sense of calm and self-assurance.
It may help to create some distance, see the person less often or shorten the duration of contact, perhaps only when other people are present. If alcohol fuels tension, consider the time of day that you see the person or inform them that you only want to see them when sober. Consider what boundaries you need to cope with your interactions and hold them. You can look into non-violent communication strategies to help you stay calm in challenging interactions.
It may be necessary to radically accept that the other person is as they are and may never be what you might hope for them to be. Whilst this can be painful, this means you can relate to them (and even appreciate them) as they are, rather than as you wish them to be. It also means you can acknowledge the ways in which they are not meeting your needs and pay attention to meeting those needs in other relationships.
What strategies are most important to you?
#assertiveness #assertivecommunication #fierceselfcompassion #emotionalabuse #healingafterabuse #healingandgrowing #healingboundaries #healingjourney #healthyboundaries #learntotrustagain #makingpeace #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #narcissismhealing #narcissisticrecovery #npdsurvivor #selfcompassion #drruthann #NPD #recoveryafterabuse #traumahealing #traumarecovery #emotionalabuse #toxicrelationships #toxicrelationship #traumabonding #narcissisticabusesurvivor #complextrauma
SUBSCRIBE FOR NEWS & UPDATES
Enter your name and email address below to receive regular news and updates and free resources.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
