The Importance Of Grieving After Narcissistic Abuse
After the initial high of the ‘light-bulb’ moment passes, when you have awoken to the truth and created distance from the narcissist, a heaviness might come over you, threatening to pull you down into a terrifying abyss.
Grief is a healing tonic which restores the Self to a point of equilibrium, clearing the way for someone new to emerge within you. It is a necessary part of recovering from narcissistic abuse.
The Death Before The Rebirth
While in a narcissistic relationship, you were identified with a grandiose construct i.e. the false self of the narcissist. The narcissist presented you with a confident, bullet-proof persona who had all the answers, and who could conspire with you to create a fantastical future. The perfect love. Success. Family. Anything you dared dream of.
The narcissist also knew the ‘right’ way to live. They judged your every move, suggested what you should do more, and what you should stop doing. They questioned anything about you they did not like. Even your friends and family.
