Going through a divorce is a challenging undertaking if you and your soon-to-be ex are constantly battling. This can become even more difficult if they have narcissistic tendencies. If that’s the case, even the smallest steps in the divorce process are likely to feel stressful and exhausting.
One of the most important things to remember is that the narcissist is going to do everything in their power to try to play the victim and be difficult. This is usually done in an effort to drag the divorce on longer than necessary. Here are a few things that can help.
Never try to diagnose the disease yourself
Even though it’s tempting, you should never refer to your spouse as a narcissist unless they have a clinical diagnosis. If you call them a narcissist during the legal proceedings and they haven’t been diagnosed, that could be misconstrued as an attack on their character, which may have a negative impact on your case.
Always stick to the facts without any emotion
Narcissists often live in a fantasy world of their own creation. This can make it difficult for them to discern between reality and that world. Always keep proof of communication so you can show what the reality is when it comes into question.
In some cases, a narcissist will lie just to get a reaction out of you. Being able to invoke emotions in other people is a source of power for them. Remember to keep your calm as you’re going through this process.
Divorcing a narcissist is often akin to a war in which you have to focus on each battle as it comes. It’s crucial to have experienced legal guidance. Ultimately, you’ll have to keep your focus on legally ending the toxic marriage so that you can heal and move forward.