The article discusses the psychological effects of being in a relationship with a narcissist, focusing on dissociation as a protective response. It highlights tactics like gaslighting and projective identification that narcissists employ to manipulate their partners, causing emotional turmoil. Gaslighting leads victims to doubt their own perceptions, resulting in cognitive overload and dissociation. The neuroscience behind chronic stress shows that it activates the amygdala and suppresses rational thought. The article also outlines signs of dissociation, emphasizing how victims can feel detached and emotionally numb.
Gaslighting, a hallmark tactic of narcissistic abuse, is the manipulation of someone into doubting their own perceptions, memories, and reality. A narcissistic partner may deny events that happened, blame you for overreacting, or accuse you of being 'too sensitive.' Over time, this persistent manipulation can fracture your trust in your own mind.
When your brain constantly tries to reconcile conflicting versions of reality (your own versus the narcissist's), it becomes overwhelmed. The brain's natural defense against this overload is to dissociate, temporarily 'checking out' to protect you from the psychological stress.
Chronic stress and invalidation activate the amygdala, the brain's fear center, while suppressing the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought. This combination can result in depersonalization (feeling disconnected from yourself) or derealization (feeling like the world around you isn't real).
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