Photo: Liza Summer

What is a silent killer personality?

Behaviours include people pleasing, unable to say no, rescuing and colluding with others, putting everyone else before the self, lack of empowerment and decision making, and attracting relationships and friendships with people with abuser/abusive tendencies.

counselling-directory.org.uk - Emotional abuse: The silent killer - Counselling Directory

Why am I scared to say I love you?

Fear of Rejection Of course, one of the strongest fears that keeps us from saying what is in our heart is the fear of our feelings not being...

Last updated Mar 31, 2022

How do you know a guy has lost interest in you?

5 signs that he is losing interest or are you overthinking it? Phone calls and texts have steadily decreased. ... Quality time together has started...

Last updated Feb 19, 2019

Promotion

Emotional abuse

When thinking of types of abuse the two that may instantly spring to mind are physical and sexual. It feels as though there is plenty of research, articles, opinions and full-blown empathy for victims of these. What about those that have suffered at the hands of emotional abuse?

From personal experience and without at all diminishing the impact of physical abuse, at times in my childhood being given a slap would have been preferable to the cruel, unkind, hard and cold wall of nothingness that faced me at the hands of one parent. The overt narcissist in full flight. A childhood without a voice or daring to have an opinion for oneself was debilitating and depressing. If suffering at the hands of the overt narcissist wasn’t enough, imagine the double whammy of the other parent as a covert narcissist - manipulation, unhealthy almost perverse type of smothering and love. Always having to meet the needs and demands of the parent, always being sorry for things that were never my fault. Giving and giving, being emotionally drained yet never feeling that what I gave was enough - never being good enough. Always left feeling guilty for not doing well enough. Two very different parents, two very different types of emotional abuse but both as deadly as each other. Both as difficult to overcome through hours and hours of therapy.

Does this ring any bells for you? Is there someone in your life that displays overt or covert narcissist tendencies and behaviours?

As with all abuse victims, the passage of healing and recovery can take years and can be very painful and emotional. Passing through the stages of victim to survivor and eventually to 'thriver' is not an easy journey even with the aid of a competent and confident therapist. However, the journey is worthwhile. The world needs more thrivers and certainly fewer victims. Whilst staying in victim mode, so the cycle of abuser/victim continues.

Emotional abuse can lead to feelings of sadness, worthlessness, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Behaviours include people pleasing, unable to say no, rescuing and colluding with others, putting everyone else before the self, lack of empowerment and decision making, and attracting relationships and friendships with people with abuser/abusive tendencies. Does this touch a nerve for you?

So many people are victims of emotional abuse, possibly without knowing so. Emotional abuse can be subtle, masked, hidden, which makes it so deadly - the silent killer. Silently diminishing the soul, character, personality of a person who could have been destined for better things. People with Narcissistic personality disorder or even just narcissistic tendencies can be anywhere and everywhere. A boss, friend, sibling, parent or partner. My way of determining whether there is such a person in my life is how I feel when leaving the person I have just spent time with. When we meet up with someone, we at best should feel better about ourselves and at worst feel no different. If we feel worse having spent time with someone than we did before we saw them then the relationship is destructive to us. If it has taken something from us rather than given us something then it isn’t at all healthy. People in our lives are there to enhance us. Add something to us. We need to try and reach a stage in life where we surround ourselves with people that deserve to be in our lives.

Dealing with a narcissist

What's the first thing a woman notice in a man?

Your Hair/Beard Your hair is the most noticeable thing to a woman and usually it helps them decide if they really like it or understand it! Sep 12,...

Last updated Oct 30, 2020

How do you make a man feel loved by you?

Compliment him. ... Tell him you appreciate what he does for you and your family. ... Make time for things to get hot in the bedroom. ... Be...

Last updated Sep 14, 2019

Promotion

The best approach, if you have a narcissist in your life, is to get out, get away. Unfortunately, this is not always an option. Managing a narcissist in your life is about boundaries, self-care, putting yourself first and treating the person as you would an acquaintance. Being bland, vanilla, grey - giving nothing of yourself. If you give nothing there is nothing for them to take! Much easier said than done of course, but having therapy can help manage a narcissist in your life. The road to recovery isn’t just about managing them and yourself. It could be about grieving for the person that they are not. If the narcissist is a parent then there needs to be a grieving process of not getting the parent you deserved as well as accepting you have got the parent you got! More and more victims of emotional abuse are finding their way to the therapy room. A sign of recognition of such a thing? Whatever the reason it is rewarding work to know that others are beginning to empower themselves, unchain the abuser/abuse and make the transition from victim to survivor and eventually thriver. It’s not just the abuse that is debilitating - the abuser may be long gone. It is the life scripts, conditions of worth, thoughts and feelings about the self that are left behind leading to never fulfilling potential. Everyone has the right, the basic human right, to reach their full potential. No one has the right to ever hinder a person in their quest to reach their potential especially deliberately so. I hope to see more and more individuals recognise the narcissists in their life and get the help and support they need. Hopefully, there will be more and more counsellors looking to specialise in this area. This area of emotional abuse - the silent killer.

counselling-directory.org.uk - Emotional abuse: The silent killer - Counselling Directory

Will she miss me if I give her space?

Yes. Whether you're in a long-term relationship or she's been a little confused lately, giving some space will make her miss you. It will also...

Last updated Jul 11, 2019

How do you deal with your enemies spiritually?

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...

Last updated Jun 22, 2022

Promotion

What are the seven signs of aging?

The seven signs of ageing Fine lines and wrinkles. Fine lines, crow's feet and wrinkles are the most evident and often most concern-causing signs...

Last updated Jun 27, 2021

Promotion

How to keep your man happy?

Compliment him. ... Tell him you appreciate what he does for you and your family. ... Make time for things to get hot in the bedroom. ... Be...

Last updated Aug 9, 2021