The types of relationships we enter into have an enormous impact on our well-being – emotional, mental, and sometimes even physical.
A good, healthy intimate relationship. It helps both of you grow as individuals, helps you learn more about yourself and the other person, and opens your mind to different perspectives. You also feel respected and valued.
However, toxic relationships are the complete opposite. But the problem is that we don’t always see it right from the start.
One type of toxic relationship is the relationship you have with a narcissistic partner.
If you suspect you are entering into a relationship with a narcissist, if you fear for your mental health because of the same relationship, or if you want to know what narcissists can do to you, read on.
In this article, we will talk briefly about narcissism, how to spot a narcissist and the effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships.
What is a narcissist?
To understand their effects, we must first learn more about what we are dealing with.
Understandably, we sometimes use the word “narcissist” or “narcissist” to describe someone who is selfish.
But what some of you may not know is that narcissism is a real, diagnosable condition called Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Some people may have some characteristics of a narcissist, but not all of them, or not all of the time.
If you are fortunate enough to not have encountered a narcissist, it is important to know what to note so that you can avoid the effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships.
Here are the main characteristics to watch out for, according to the fifth and final edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):
Grande’s sense of self
For example, when someone brags about their talents and accomplishments a lot, even if they aren’t really impressive.
Fantasies of success and power
Narcissists are amorous and indulge in visions of unlimited success, power, and beauty. They sincerely believe that they are unique and can only be understood by people like themselves.
Seek praise
They are always looking for admiration and hunting for compliments. They also feel that they deserve special services and treatment.
lack of empathy
Narcissists exploit others for their own ends and are often unable to acknowledge the feelings and needs of others.
Jealous
The narcissistic person is jealous of others and believes that others are jealous of them. They may also have an arrogant or arrogant attitude.
To avoid the effects of narcissistic abuse in future relationships, it can also be a good idea to know the early signs of narcissism in a partner.
What are some effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships?
The effects you may experience can vary depending on how long you’ve been in these types of relationships.
Some people may experience “mild” effects, while others unfortunately experience long-term damage.
1) Anxiety and depression
The stress of narcissistic abuse can trigger feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or fear because it is often difficult to predict how a narcissist will act.
You may also lose interest in things you used to enjoy doing, which is a sign of depression.
You may also experience one of the effects of narcissistic abuse in future relationships – asking yourself why your partner suddenly changed.
You may also ask yourself: is this your fault? Another sign of this anxiety is blaming yourself for their behavior because you believe in their manipulation and lies.
Remember: In narcissism, your partner may say and do things to control how you act and influence how you feel.
2) Post-traumatic stress disorder
Another possible influence is complex post-traumatic stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
It is important to keep in mind that C-PTSD is not a formal diagnosis but rather a combination of symptoms that present as a type of PTSD.
These are the effects of narcissistic abuse in future relationships that fall under C-PTSD:
Recurring flashbacks to traumatic events
Avoid the causes of painful accidents
Being hypervigilant and sensing threats in normal interactions
You have difficulty regulating feelings
Poor self-image
Struggling in personal relationships
3) Cognitive issues
Another effect of narcissistic abuse is difficulty concentrating on mundane daily tasks. These range from something as simple as watching TV or doing your job.
This is because your mind may return to memories of the traumatic events, which can cloud your focus.
The brains of narcissistic abusers may change, specifically the hippocampus and amygdala, which are responsible for memory and processing emotions respectively.
In children with narcissistic parents, these structures are overstimulated and reduced. Structures smaller than normal will cause the child to grow into an adult who cannot handle their own feelings, particularly feelings of shame and guilt.
4) Sudden and extreme changes in feelings
One of the effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships includes the development of emotional problems.
This includes mood swings, where you feel good one minute, and are irritable or depressed the next.
Mood swings can be caused by a number of different things, one of which is depression, which we discussed earlier.
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Prolonged periods of trauma may also cause depersonalization, where you feel like you see yourself outside of your body or feel like the things around you are not real.
Narcissistic abuse can make you feel like a robot, as if you have no control over what you say or do. You may also feel emotionally and physically numb.
If these feelings persist or do not go away, they may be affecting the way you function in daily life. You may have what is called derealization-derealization disorder.
5) Loss of a sense of self
One of the effects of narcissistic abuse in future relationships is that you no longer know who you are.
This may cause you to doubt your own self-worth and develop trust issues with others.
You may also start blaming yourself; And if you think something you did caused the abuse, you may not be tempted to seek help.
You may also lose self-confidence in making decisions, no matter how simple they may be.
6) Loss of trust in others
We mentioned earlier that trust issues develop when it comes to communicating with others.
As we have established, this may be one of the harmful effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships.
This is because when you can’t trust new people, you’re not only protecting yourself from getting hurt again. You may actually be hindering relationships that are good for you.
If you have trust issues, you may be constantly wondering if people are telling you the truth or just deceiving you to serve their own purposes.
You may also develop social anxiety, where you experience fear that affects daily activities, eats away at your confidence, and affects your relationships.
Some other signs of social anxiety include:
Worrying about activities that involve meeting new people, starting conversations, and mingling with groups
Being self-aware of your actions and how they may appear to others
Feeling like you’re being watched
For fear of criticism
panic attacks
7) Self-destruction
Unfortunately, the abuse doesn’t always stop at the abuser.
One of the effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships can be the formation of self-destructive habits.
This may happen because you may blame yourself for the way your partner treats you.
Some self-destructive habits include: self-harm (such as cutting), alcohol or drug abuse; smoking; poor eating choices (eg, bingeing, purging); And even suicide.
8) People-pleasing
On the other hand, there is a tendency to seek external validation from others—in other words, people-pleasing.
This is one potential effect of narcissistic abuse on future relationships, because you are used to bending over backwards to please your partner.
A people pleaser is someone who does everything in their power to gain the approval of others and prioritize other people’s needs over their own.
The difference between being useful and being interesting to people is that the latter often makes one feel tired, stressed, and anxious.
A people-pleasing person believes that keeping others happy is the way to keep the relationship going.
How to recover from narcissistic abuse
Narcissistic abuse can cause irreparable damage to the lives of victims.
In order to move forward, you need strategies for healing the wounds caused by the narcissistic partner.
Of course, prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is why it’s helpful to be mindful of the effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships.
But we know that’s easier said than done. We can’t always see through the fog especially when we think a relationship could really be the real thing.
So it is equally important to know what to do if you end up in a relationship with a narcissist:
Acknowledging the fact that you were abused means accepting those feelings you are feeling, whether it is anxiety, anger, depression, or sadness.
Learning all you can about what narcissistic traits look like and recognizing different styles of manipulation can better help you avoid one in the future.
No matter what you’re going through, you are not alone. There are communities both online and in real life for people who may have had the same experiences you are, where you can talk about your feelings and get counseling in the process.
One-on-one sessions with a therapist can also help you work through your experiences with narcissistic abuse.
Finally, despite how you feel, it’s more important now than ever to take care of yourself. This includes adequate sleep, healthy eating, and rediscovering your hobbies or passions.
bottom line
The effects of narcissistic abuse on future relationships can be very devastating, some even irreparable.
As such, it is essential to know all about narcissistic personality disorder, manipulation, and the potential effects of dealing with such a person.
But if you’re already in one, recently ended a relationship with one, or feel your mental health is at risk, the most important thing is to seek help from others.
