Victims of narcissistic abuse almost always leave the relationship with PTSD and/or C-PTSD. These acronyms stand for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD is the result of experiencing a devastatingly stressful event or series of events. C-PTSD is similar, resulting from persistent psychological trauma within an environment from which the victim believes there is no possibility of escape. A sense of helplessness is perceived and the sense of self is annihilated.
Victims of narcissistic abuse experience both. Here is an example. Let’s say Judy is in a relationship with a narcissist. Due to the brainwashing, the breaking up of her friendships, and the constant verbal abuse of her, she now believes that she is worthless and that no one else would be interested in her. She thinks that she should now stay with the narcissist. Also, the last two times she tried to leave, she was harassed, harassed and intimidated until she came back. In her mind, there is no escape. She is experiencing C-PTSD.
In addition to the above scenario, Judy endured a physical assault by the narcissist and witnessed him hurt her pet. She now has PTSD due to these events.
When it comes to PTSD, intentional human-inflicted shocks are the hardest to heal, such as sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. As far as significance is concerned, these events fall squarely under combat and resistance fighting, like those that occur in the military.
Warning signs
If you have been in a relationship with a narcissist, you are likely to suffer from the following:
· Re-experiencing aggressive acts and comments made by the Narcissist. It can include bad dreams and nightmares.
· Hypersensitivity: difficulty sleeping, frightening easily, difficulty concentrating, and outbursts of anger.
Anxiety: being in constant fight or flight mode. This in turn leads to physical and emotional fatigue, which then manifests as illness and disease in the body.
Being triggered by stimuli in the environment that recall traumatic memories.
· Repetition compulsion: recreating traumatic events in an attempt to achieve closure; this is why we often return to abusing ourselves after our abuser has left. This could include stalking you online to see you with a new partner, talking negatively to yourself, or getting into another abusive relationship. In other words, trying to complete what was not previously completed. However, this only improves the symptoms of PTSD because it does not heal the broken parts.
PTSD Impact
If left untreated, PTSD and C-PTSD cause other symptoms that affect all areas of life. These include:
Inability to manage stress
Eating disorders
Drug and alcohol addictions
Damaged relationships with others.
A negative view of life.
· Depression
Specific anxiety disorders such as panic attacks and phobias. For example, victims who have been bullied often develop agoraphobia.
crippled self esteem
diseases like cancer
Suicide
I’m crazy?
No. Although it may seem that way, all of the above results from the loss of the ability to cope with the abuse in the long term. You endured traumatic events that became overwhelming.
If you have been the victim of narcissistic or domestic abuse, make an appointment to meet with a qualified healthcare professional who can help you deal with and heal from your past.
If you cannot afford to see a therapist or do not have insurance, contact your local Domestic Violence Center. The national hotline number is 1-800-799-7233. Their website is http://www.thehotline.org. They will connect you with your local center where you can ask about counseling and other services that will help you get out of your abusive situation.
If you are reading this article and suspect that your partner is monitoring your phone activity, contact HopeLine to see if you qualify for a free cell phone and plan.
