Realizing that someone in your life has narcissistic tendencies can be a lot to process. There could be a multitude of happenings that led you to this place. It’s typically quite different for each individual. One way or the other, here you are. So, the next thought on your mind may be figuring out how to cope with this new reality.
It’s likely that you’re feeling a mixture of emotions ranging from anger to disbelief to loss to disappointment to confusion to sadness to fear and so on. You might feel like your world has been turned upside-down without any warning. Depending on who the person is (for example, a romantic relationship), you may be concerned about the future and whether you will have one with them. If the person is an immediate family member, possibly a parent, your entire life may now feel like one big question mark. You may be questioning your belief systems and the very foundations of your life within your family of origin. Or friendships, work relationships and a variety of other circumstances could be where this newly-recognized dynamic exists. No matter what, though, there will be challenges involved for you.
This is one of those times that self-care will be a great benefit for you. Take as much time as you need to thoroughly process the situation. If necessary, find someone that you trust to discuss this with. Sometimes just saying it out loud can help with processing. In the event that you don’t feel you can share this with anyone, consider journaling. Some people find that writing down their thoughts can be just as beneficial as saying them out loud. You can always burn the paper afterwards if you want. Online forums and support groups also exist for exactly these circumstances. It goes without saying that others who are going through the same types of experiences can be a great support system and resource.
One of the best things you can do for yourself, though, is to take the time to process the situation. Trying to take the emotion out of the mix and look at the facts can also be very helpful. Once you have accepted things as they are, the next step will be to decide what to do about it, if anything. I’ll make that the topic of a future post. Just remember that this isn’t the end of the world. Take a deep breath and know that you can handle anything life has to throw at you. We all have strength within us. Sometimes we have to dig deep for it, but it’s definitely there.
Until next time,
Heather ~Natural Clarity Coaching~ www.naturalclaritycoaching.com na********************@***il.com Natural Clarity Coaching on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter