Dr. Linda Martinez-Lewi has a great podcast about Narcissistic Personality Disorder and how to heal from dealing or living with a narcissist. In one episode titled, “Childhood Origins of Those Who Live in the Shadows of the High Level Narcissist,” she talks about the negative destruction taken on children of narcissists:
Children of narcissists become experts at catering to the idiosyncratic needs of the narcissistic parent/s. In other instances, those who end up in the shadows are raised by neglectful, emotionally absent parents. When kids have been treated without affection & care, they have a very difficult time creating intimate attachments when they are older. Beneath the psychological wounding, lie feelings of helplessness, depression & rage. These negative emotions are hidden because the psychological pain that they reek is unbearable. Often the child who has felt unloved desperately seeks out satisfaction by turning to a person who promises to satisfy his/her needs for attention & validation.
Dr. Linda Martinez-Lewi
Children of narcissistic parents generally experience shame and grow up having poor self-esteem. Oftentimes, these children become adults that are high achievers, self-saboteurs, or both.
Children hurt by a narcissistic parent will need professional help to recover from narcissistic abuse.
If you are looking for valuable insight and healing strategies after living in a destructive psychological relationship with a narcissistic parent/s, there’s a time when you recognize that you must separate from the narcissist and move along your pathway of restoration, transformation, and spiritual practice the way you define.
This can be a difficult decision to get to. Talking with a licensed counselor can help you sort out your feelings about your experience, and also help you construct your next steps on how to start healing.
