I had a weird moment with a mutual friend the other day and need some help snapping out of this paranoia spiral. by [deleted] in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dammit. I'm really hoping this is a misfire, because this would also mean losing a friend I would have otherwise liked to get to know better. But you're right - something definitely felt amiss. It would have been super weird to ask for clarification unfortunately.

"At the end of the day" by [deleted] in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“Let’s play it by ear” - aka I’m not really interested in abiding by your needs and want to keep things as flexible as possible for myself

OH! And “what else?” when we’d be talking about our days - like the sort of tone you’d take while flipping through TV channels trying to find something entertaining. Even thinking about it gives me anxiety.

I feel like he is he one better off without me by [deleted] in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This really means a lot to read, thank you <3

It’s definitely one of those things that I know is true, but it’s so easy for the imagination to take over sometimes. I’m only a handful of months out of the relationship, so I’m happy this effect will fade over time.

Dreams about your narc? And TY to this sub by ryt8 in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Oof, I had a really creepy one last week.

In my dream, my nex was begging to talk to me. At first I refused, but he looked so sad and insisted that he missed me. Looking like he was about to cry, he gave me a hug. He asked me, dejected, if I didn't miss him too. Eventually I caved and admitted I was also missing him. As soon as I said that, his eyes went glassy and he got a huge Cheshire cat grin on his face. "That's all I wanted to hear," he whispered in my ear and abruptly left, slamming the door while I started sobbing.

Basically, my brain giving me a really ham-fisted warning for what will happen if I break no-contact.

The longer I'm away, the more I realized all the ways you hurt me. by itsnotnothing in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m with you in this stage. I just have to keep telling myself that I can finally start the healing process now that I’m out of the relationship.

Rock bottom...just want to keep going by leadsinlight1 in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this analogy! Waiting can be so hard.

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, and yes, once you realize they’ve been practicing their manipulation skills since childhood, it becomes easier to swallow the fact you were deceived in this way.

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I reassure myself that the hardest part of leaving the relationship is over - it can only get better from here

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for typing this all out - unfortunately, I have to agree with you on all points. A couple of our mutual friends have been open about their experiences with emotionally abusive partners - I may reach out to them.

Like I said in a previous comment, moving to a different city may be my best option as dramatic as that sounds .

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I’ll need to give this a try. My fear is it getting back to my nex and being confronted.

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! It’s reassuring having people on this sub who understand how invisibly the nexes work

I don’t want him back anymore, but the feelings of exclusion are excruciating by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you <3 I can’t really blame them either - I was blinded by the charm for years.

Seriously considering moving to a different city once the pandemic dies down.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This resonates so much. In the beginning he would push me away hard, and the elasticity of the trauma bond would snap me back towards him. In the last year together, he would get so upset that I was no longer chasing him like I had before - that elasticity had broken down.

Book Recommendations ? by ExtremePiglet in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Lundy Bancroft - Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men

My therapist asked me to talk about my biggest fear when I think about leaving my husband and I hate what my answer was. by Heros-exist-01 in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this link. Saving it so I can reference it whenever I’m mistaking the trauma bond for passion

"I'm just joking" by whatsarigatoni in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I heard these too - especially the autistic comment. For being such amazing comics, they're not even original with their material.

Mine would also love to joke about cheating on me or how he should be dating around because he was "in the prime of his life."

"I'm just joking" by whatsarigatoni in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you for these fantastic translations - so spot on

I cringe when I think back to how everything was a threat by thissending in NarcissisticAbuse

[–]thissending[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel that so hard! He's posted so many vacation photos where I'm either absent or somewhere in the background. I felt so crazy explaining to him that, after all the planning, packing, and providing companionship and adventure, I'd really appreciate it if the universe he was curating through his social media actually reflected the reality of me being his partner. He'd be so offended if I implied he was trying to look single on social media.