You’re Alienated from Family
Unsplash / Zachary Nelson
A narcissistic parent will use any strategy to keep a child off balance. One of the most common is guilting the child for entirely appropriate actions and emotions. Within this sick equation, a narcissist may default to the expression, “The family would be so ashamed of the way you…” These constant reminders that everyone thinks poorly of the child can affect relationships with the extended family well into adulthood. And this off-kilter life view can have a negative effect on friendships, too.
Good News Makes You Suspicious
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Even when it’s something they’ve worked hard for, adult children of narcissists may feel super skeptical of good news or positive events. This reaction stems from many aspects of having a narcissistic parent. For one, that parent may have ruined any celebrations of success with inconsiderate and selfish behavior. For another, they may have given gifts to mark occasions and then made the child feel guilty about them. Sadly, this approach can mar every positive event thereafter.
