Divorce is often a challenging undertaking, even when you and your ex can get along. If you’re ending a marriage with someone who has narcissistic traits, the complexity of the situation increases exponentially.
By nature, a person with narcissistic tendencies is self-absorbed and unable to have empathy for others. They will often do anything they can to prove that they’re right and need to invoke emotions in others to feel powerful. They’ll also battle harshly against anything they don’t want, which means they won’t want the divorce unless it was their idea and everything goes their way.
Create an emotional barrier
An emotional barrier can help to protect you from the tactics of a narcissist. It’s critical that you don’t let your ex see you have any emotional reactions to what they do or say during the divorce. It may be best to communicate through your representation or in writing so all communication is documented and the emotions aren’t giving your ex strength.
Keep proof of everything
One hallmark sign of narcissism is that they live in a world of their own creation. This means that what’s actual reality may not be real in their mind. Lies and twisted truths are common in these cases, so it’s best to have proof of everything, particularly financial matters.
Prepare for a lengthy process
Narcissists will often be difficult and try to drag the divorce out as long as possible. They believe that doing this will harm you emotionally and financially, and they gain power from those thoughts. With this in mind, never assume that you’ll be able to end things quickly.
The entire divorce process is rather complex when you’re walking away from a narcissist. Working with someone who’s familiar with the challenges you may face might make it easier to make decisions that are in your best interests.
