Narcissistic abuse is perhaps the most devious type of psychological trauma, commonly leaving victims isolated, perplexed, and questioning their own reality. In contrast to the blatant bruises of bodily harm, a narcissist’s wounds are not seen but slice equally as deeply, at times deeper. The world rarely sees the destruction that is left in the wake of a narcissist, particularly where the abuser has a charming public face and reserves their viciousness for private life.
Lying at the center of every relationship with a narcissist is a familiar, merciless cycle. It starts with love bombing, wherein the narcissist bombards the targeted person with attention, adoration, and compliments. This stage is intoxicating, like you’ve finally met your soulmate. But this euphoria is a masterfully crafted deception, one that hooks you and makes you needy for their approval. As Sylvia Longmire describes, the narcissist observes you, reflects what you want, and becomes the ideal person you’ve always fantasized about, but all a facade.
Having hooked you, the devaluation cycle starts. The narcissist begins to withdraw love, criticize, and undermine you. The very traits they were once enamored of become objects of jealousy and scorn. They withhold attention, affection, and even minimal kindness, so you are desperate to become loved by them again. This is not arbitrary cruelty; it’s a deliberate plan to destabilize you and assert their dominance. You might find yourself tiptoeing around, always searching for ways to steer clear of their anger or the silent treatment.
Gaslighting is among the narcissist’s favorite tools. They reinterpret history, lie about what they’ve said or done, and cause you to question your own sanity and memory. Gaslighting is a severe form of psychological manipulation, she says, that makes victims question their own reality. In addition to gaslighting, narcissists use blame-shifting, projection, and triangulation—bringing in third parties to generate jealousy or confusion.
The silent treatment and stonewalling are not sulks, but intentional acts of emotional punishment. As described by Katie Couric Media, the silent treatment is punishing or manipulating the other, rather than self-protection or good boundaries. The act is intended to leave you feeling invisible, unvalued, and desperate to be back in favor, typically causing you to apologize for something you didn’t do to be done with the awkwardness.
If the narcissist perceives a threat to his or her sense of superiority—maybe you draw a boundary, criticize, or attempt to leave—they suffer what’s referred to as a narcissistic injury. This opens up a set of defensive reactions ranging from anger and verbal tirades to more subtle maneuvers such as smear campaigns and victimization. The narcissist will resort to a discrediting campaign against you, lying, and trying to get mutual friends or family members to turn on you. As Sylvia Longmire points out, the minute you are perceived as “all bad” by the narcissist’s mind, you’re in the doghouse, public enemy number one, and their conduct can become overtly malicious.
The trauma bond is perhaps the most confusing element of narcissistic abuse. Victims get chemically and emotionally hooked on the abuse cycle, hungering for the intermittent reward of love bombing after devaluation. The actual perpetrator of the hurt becomes the sole source of comfort. That is why it is like quitting cold turkey off a strong drug to leave a narcissist. As Katia Beeden describes, disengaging from a narcissist is like quitting cold turkey from heroin, with the nervous system hooked on the highs and lows of the abuse cycle.
This is where No Contact fits in. No Contact is not a childish strategy or a means of getting someone to miss you. No Contact is a self-preserving measure, a firm boundary that provides the victim a chance to start healing by cutting off the narcissist’s entry into their lives. No Contact involves cutting off all communication, staying away from areas where you may encounter them, and not getting involved even if they attempt to draw you back by apologizing or promising reform. According to Katia Beeden, No Contact is not the silent treatment; it is a deliberate choice by a victim of abuse to safeguard themselves from additional pain.
Society generally gets it wrong or stigmatizes individuals who go No Contact, particularly when it includes a parent. There is an ongoing notion that abandoning a parent is cruel or ungrateful behavior, as opposed to a last measure after enduring years of emotional abuse. Victims are often greeted with denial, downplaying, or outright accusations. Phrases such as “It’s just how she is” or “He’s getting old” are typical, further disenfranchising the victim and making them feel more isolated.
The process of leaving a narcissist is never a clean split. Victims endure a post-breakup campaign of abuse—hoovering, stalking, smearing, and continued manipulation. The emotional aftermath is tremendous: loss for the relationship that never really existed, self-doubt, guilt, and rebuilding a sense of self-worth. The healing process is not linear. There are days of relief and liberation, but also waves of sadness, fury, and yearning. It is like mourning the loss of a parent or a partner to narcissistic abuse—a death, the death of an illusion, of hope, and of the individual you believed you knew.
But with time, distance, and support, it is possible to reclaim your life. The journey involves learning to trust yourself again, to recognize your own needs and boundaries, and to fill the empty spaces within with self-love rather than seeking validation from those who cannot give it. The scars may remain, but so does the wisdom and resilience forged in the fire of survival.