Victims of narcissistic abuse may not be fully aware of the damage they've suffered. A key component of narcissistic abuse is confusion. It's also a gradual encroachment that may go unnoticed, like "boiling the frog."
Narcissistic abuse survivors have been variously diagnosed with conditions called narcissistic abuse survivors syndrome, narcissistic abuse syndrome, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder). For purposes of this blog, all of these conditions are treated as equivalent.
Here are some of the common symptoms that may be observed in victims of narcissistic abuse:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Uncharacteristic anger or rage
Exaggerated startle response
Rumination (replaying the same thoughts and memories) and emotional flashbacks
Confusion, difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Loss of confidence in mental prowess and judgement
Memory loss
Depression
Lethargy, fatigue and sleep disturbances
Feeling a need to withdraw and self-isolate
Feeling uncontrollably drawn to one's abuser like a powerful addiction
Difficulty in trusting others
Emotional numbness - especially an inability to feel love.
This is not a diagnostic tool. If you feel like you need a clinical diagnosis or treatment for a mental health condition, seek out a licensed mental health professional.