• 2 days ago
Narcissistic abuse (NPD) is a form of emotional abuse that can have profound and lasting effects on a person's well-being. If you've been a victim of narcissistic abuse, you may have noticed changes in your personality, behavior, and overall sense of self. In this video, we explore 5 ways narcissistic abuse can change you and the lasting effects it can have on your life.

In this video, we delve into the psychological and emotional toll of narcissistic abuse. We also discuss the different tactics narcissists use to control and manipulate their victims, including gaslighting, blame-shifting, and projection. By understanding the ways narcissistic abuse can change you, you can begin to heal and regain control of your life. We offer practical tips and advice on how to recognize the signs of narcissistic abuse, seek professional help, and build resilience.

Whether you're a survivor of narcissistic abuse, a concerned friend or family member, or just curious about the topic, this video offers a comprehensive guide to understanding the lasting effects of narcissistic abuse.

DISCLAIMER: This article isn’t meant to diagnose anyone as a narcissist or confirm that you have experienced narcissistic abuse. Please reach out to a mental health professional to discuss potential narcissism or narcissistic abuse

source: Psych2Go
Transcript
00:00 Have you ever been around a narcissist?
00:02 If you have, you know being around one can make you feel
00:05 like your soul is being sucked dry
00:07 until there's nothing left.
00:09 Sanderson's sister style.
00:11 Sometimes we brush off this draining feeling
00:13 and even change how we act to please the narcissist
00:15 because we love them and in hopes it placates them.
00:18 It may seem harmless making one or two tiny changes
00:21 but those little tweaks can take big chips
00:24 out of you and who you are.
00:26 Let's take a look at five ways narcissistic abuse
00:28 changes who you are.
00:29 According to science.
00:31 Number one, literal brain damage.
00:34 Our brains are the most intricate and delicate of puzzles.
00:37 When one part of our brain is stimulated or changed
00:39 other parts need to adjust to compensate.
00:42 When you experience consistent narcissistic abuse
00:44 in your life, your brain will change to compensate
00:46 for this treatment.
00:48 In her article, "Long-term Narcissistic Abuse
00:50 Can Cause Brain Damage," author, educator, and researcher
00:53 Kim Said explains that both the amygdala
00:56 and the hippocampus are both negatively impacted
00:59 by being a victim of narcissistic abuse.
01:01 The amygdala, which controls our life functions
01:04 and fight or flight response,
01:05 and get to a point where it's constantly on,
01:08 meaning you constantly feel on edge.
01:11 Your hippocampus, which is crucial for short-term memory
01:14 can decrease in function the more you're exposed
01:16 to narcissistic abuse.
01:18 This means they can gaslight you even easier than before.
01:21 These decreased brain functions are a huge way
01:24 narcissistic abuse can change you.
01:26 Number two, unknowingly becoming part of the cycle.
01:30 If you see a young child screaming in a store,
01:33 you might think to yourself,
01:34 oh, they can't tell their parents what's wrong.
01:37 But what if you see a teenager doing the same thing?
01:39 Do you still have the same thought?
01:42 Chances are your thoughts shift to,
01:44 what were you taught as a kid?
01:46 Emily Labatut of Southern University Law Review
01:50 wrote in her article on the effects of narcissistic abuse
01:53 that a healthy interpersonal relationship
01:55 is where the individual can see the situation
01:57 from their perspective,
01:59 as well as someone else's perspective.
02:01 However, if your parent was a narcissist,
02:04 they only saw things from their own eyes
02:06 because only they are important.
02:08 In 2021, this idea was proven
02:10 by University of Amsterdam researchers
02:13 in a study monitoring children of narcissistic parents,
02:16 both on and off social media.
02:18 Unless the child makes a conscious decision
02:20 to stay off social media and/or act differently,
02:23 they're more likely to become a narcissist themselves.
02:26 That's a fun idea.
02:27 What if Cinderella became just like her stepsisters?
02:30 Let's move on.
02:32 Number three, forced agreeableness.
02:34 We've all heard of Pavlov and his dog.
02:38 Humans are the same and can be conditioned.
02:40 If you are used to being around a narcissist
02:43 and them getting mad at certain conversations or actions,
02:46 this can condition you to act and speak in certain ways.
02:49 In IMEDPub's health science journal,
02:51 Rivka Edri, PsyD, explains that a child with parents
02:55 that are authoritative, rejecting,
02:57 and traumatic towards the child
02:59 can grow up with certain learned
03:01 or conditioned personality traits,
03:03 such as introversion, kindness, and agreeableness.
03:06 Now we're not saying that introversion, kindness,
03:08 and agreeableness are bad qualities.
03:11 However, they can be negative when you act this way
03:14 to stay out of a narcissist's crosshairs.
03:16 Number four, PTSD, for narcissistic abuse.
03:21 Abuse comes in all shapes and sizes.
03:24 When you're experiencing narcissistic abuse consistently,
03:27 it's possible that you can develop
03:28 a sort of post-traumatic stress response.
03:31 This response is called narcissistic abuse syndrome
03:34 or narcissistic victim syndrome.
03:37 Registered psychologist, registered social worker,
03:39 and writer Shirley Porter
03:41 lists the symptoms of narcissistic abuse syndrome
03:43 as confusion, fear, guilt, shame,
03:48 low self-esteem, and reduced self-confidence.
03:51 So the longer you're around a narcissist and their abuse,
03:54 the more at risk you are
03:55 for developing these thoughts and feelings.
03:57 Remember, you are loved and important,
04:00 even if a narcissist is telling you otherwise.
04:03 Please reach out to a mental health professional
04:05 if you've experienced narcissistic abuse.
04:08 And number five, changes to your self-esteem.
04:12 Have you ever had a day where you're feeling amazing,
04:14 your fit is on point,
04:15 and literally nothing can knock you off your pedestal?
04:18 These days may not happen as often
04:20 in the presence of a narcissist.
04:22 In 2018, a different group of researchers
04:25 from the University of Amsterdam
04:26 did a study on narcissistic leaders and their followers.
04:30 They found that the lower the follower's self-esteem,
04:32 the more abusive they perceived their leader.
04:35 Due to the follower's low self-esteem
04:37 and consistent negativity from the leader,
04:39 the follower begins to do more
04:41 seeking the leader's approval,
04:42 almost a carrot on a stick that the follower never obtains.
04:45 This ultimately resulted in reduced performance
04:48 and higher rates of burnout.
04:50 Narcissistic abuse is like erosion.
04:53 You may not see a change immediately,
04:56 but over time, you can see the drastic difference.
04:59 Have you ever experienced narcissistic abuse?
05:02 Did you see any changes in yourself
05:04 after a while of being around that garbage?
05:07 Let us know your story in the comments below.
05:09 We have more videos on signs of narcissistic abuse here
05:12 if you wanna learn more.
05:13 As always, keep an eye on Sy for more Psych2Go content,
05:16 and thanks so much for watching.