If you grew up with a narcissistic parent or role model, that experience has the potential to cause issues for you in other relationships.

First of all, you may be strongly drawn to other narcissistic people in both friendships and romantic relationships. The dysfunctional dynamic in which you were raised and that you view as ‘normal’, feels familiar and comfortable. Unless someone (an “outsider”) has pointed out the disordered family environment for what it is, you will tend to believe that everything is as it should be, so why would you do anything but extend that into other parts of your life? We all try to do our best with the information we have at the time. Once you know better, you have the opportunity to do better. But, in the meantime, there is a huge vulnerability for ending up with more narcissists and their abusive behaviour. It’s a vicious cycle.

Once in another narcissistic dynamic, those feelings of familiarity and comfort strongly indicate that, based on a childhood filled with narcissism that you don’t yet understand, this is exactly where you belong. This individual treats me like my (fill in the blank) has treated me all my life. Logic follows that if someone who supposedly loves me treated me that way, and this new person is treating me the same way, it must be fine. Add in the typical low self-esteem and self-doubt that tend to go along with being mistreated for years, and you have the perfect storm for more negativity and abuse.

There are many other ways that narcissistic abuse can color your future relationships, and I will touch on those in an upcoming post.

Without a doubt, there is so much hope for anyone who has experienced this type of dysfunction in their life. You can and will find peace, identity, confidence, self-esteem, happiness, self-love, improved self-care, security and strength. And there are support systems available, like Natural Clarity Coaching, for example, whose focus is to be there as you make your way to a healthier mindset and greater wellbeing. Just as the tree in the image below has grown up and around the hydro lines, even taking on the fence in the process, so, too, do we have the ability to triumph over adversity.

Tree growing around hydro lines in order to thrive

Until next time,

Heather

www.naturalclaritycoaching.com na********************@***il.com Natural Clarity Coaching on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter