Going through a divorce is difficult, even in the best situations. When the person you’re walking away from is a narcissist, you have to think about how that condition will impact the split. One thing that you can count on is that the narcissist will make this as hard as possible, especially if they aren’t getting their way.
There are several things you can do if you’re having to divorce a narcissist. These won’t take away all the stress of the situation, but they can make it a bit easier to deal with. Here are two important things to remember:
Keep your feelings out of it
A narcissistic person enjoys seeing the reactions they get from other people through negative behavior. This makes them feel powerful, so keeping those reactions hidden from them is beneficial.
For some people who are divorcing a narcissist, the best option is to communicate through monitored methods or through a professional third party – like your attorneys.
Document everything
Narcissists live in a land of their own, and that comes with a distorted sense of reality. They will lie and make claims that simply aren’t true. Having documentation about things that happen can help you to show what’s really going on so that things don’t dissolve into a battle of your word against theirs.
Making sure that your interests are protected is crucial when you’re divorcing a narcissist. These divorces can be highly emotional, so having someone on your side who can help you to ensure you’re doing what’s best for you can help to reduce your stress.