Concerns When You Divorce A Narcissist

We all get self-absorbed or show narcissistic traits on occasion. For the majority of us, these moments are fleeting and the impulses controllable. Being in a relationship with a person with a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a whole other level of difficulty, let alone being married to one. And if you want to divorce a narcissist, you may be in for a turbulent ride.

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

A number of behaviors characterize Narcissistic Personality Disorder as a mental health condition. Traits include:

• The indifference to or inability to understand other people’s feelings.
• An inflated sense of self-importance.
• The need to be revered and celebrated.
• Obsession over their appearance and success.
• A lack of empathy.
• Taking advantage of others.

There’s a broad spectrum, from being occasionally egotistical to full-blown NPD. All in all, however, these generally aren’t great traits for building a healthy, stable, cooperative marriage.

Dr. Karyl McBride, a family therapist, wrote the book, literally, on how to divorce a narcissist: Will I Ever Be Free of You? How to Navigate a High-Conflict Divorce from a Narcissist and Heal Your Family. In an interview with the New York Times, she offers advice on the topic and issues to be aware of when you divorce a narcissist.

Related Reading: How Outlooks on Marriage and Divorce Have Changed Through the Years

Divorcing A Narcissist

Already a contentious process, when you divorce a narcissist, things tend to get even more heated.

Even in the best scenarios, it doesn’t take much for conflict to arise. Emotional wounds linger and leave lasting impressions, and this is especially true in these cases. Someone with NPD may also be more likely to act on this and seek retribution.

Narcissism Is A Spectrum

NPD displays a wide range of symptoms and varying levels. According to McBride, it’s possible for people with narcissistic traits, but who aren’t too far along the spectrum, to examine themselves and adjust their patterns of behavior. Only if they’re open to such self-reflection, that is.

However, the farther along the continuum, the more problems you’ll likely face. McBride says:

“People with full-blown narcissistic personality disorder don’t seek help. They’re not introspective or in touch with their own feelings, and they blame everyone else. They are difficult to treat, and they don’t seek treatment. If they do, it’s only to tell you how often everyone else is wrong.”

The symptoms and severity cover a lot of ground. How you move forward when you divorce a narcissist will likely depend on how the disorder manifests.

Will They Seek Revenge?

Divorce usually comes with some sort of bad feelings. That’s standard stuff. Most of us are eventually able to leave these behind to one degree or another. In people with NPD, however, they tend to linger.

McBride says:

“[I]f you leave the narcissist, they never get over it. They seek revenge, and the court system is an incredibly great platform for a narcissist. That’s where they can just continue the battle with the partner and continue to seek revenge, and that’s what happens.”

Child custody, finances, division of property, and more; divorce provides numerous avenues for narcissists to lash out for the perceived wrong they’ve been done.

Adept at manipulation, they often use this tool when it comes to divorce. According to McBride, they frequently employ the legal system as a means of retribution.

Your spouse may utilize any one of these in an attempt to hurt you. Having plans to deal with these issues in mind when you prepare to divorce a narcissist will be beneficial.

Red Flags

Like many things, you may overlook signs initially. Narcissists are skillful manipulators who seek to control how people view them and show only what they want us to see.

At first, they often come across charming and personable. Seeing someone’s true nature becomes difficult if they intentionally obscure it, but in most cases, you’ll encounter red flags.

McBride offered a few key personality traits to look for in a relationship:

• “[D]oes this person really want to know about you as a person?
• “Do they really want to become involved in your life and your activities, your family and your friends?
• Or is it all about them and their world?”

She adds:

“I think you can begin to tell right away if someone has the ability to do empathy or talk to you in an authentic fashion about your own feelings and his or her feelings.”

You may not notice them right away, but over time, observable patterns of behavior emerge.

Related Reading: Spying, Destruction of Property, and Restraining Orders: An Epic Divorce Saga

Differences When You Divorce A Narcissist

Almost everyone experiences some level of pain and anger during divorce. Most of us find ways to deal with those feelings and try to move forward.

Narcissists, on the other hand, often cling to these emotions and use the divorce process itself as a means to hurt their spouse in a variety of ways.

According to McBride:

“The narcissist will continue to try to blame their partner and harm their partner. They do it by these long, extended, contentious divorce cases that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

She suggests that the divorce field needs more professionals specifically trained to recognize people with NPD.

This includes therapists, those who evaluate child custody, judges, and other disciplines. Narcissists know how to present themselves to outsiders in order to get what they want, and it’s possible for the court and others to fall under their spell. Having people in positions of authority who know what to look for is key.

Related Reading: Divorce Discovery Tools

Concerns For Children

Too often, children suffer the most, even during a normal divorce. They have less control over the situation and fewer tools to cope with the emotional roller coaster. This is true in most cases, especially in highly contentious ones. As narcissists often escalate the conflict, this problem only amplifies.

McBride sees children caught in the middle of these cases and potentially at risk as an area of special concern. She said:

“Narcissists don’t make great parents, but they use the children as pawns because they know it’s the most important thing to their partner. It’s not that they necessarily want to have time with kids, but it looks good for them to do the Disneyland-parent kind of stuff. The children are the best tool they have to get back at their partner.”

When it comes to ending a marriage, children are the most vulnerable parties. If you divorce a narcissist, you may want to take additional steps to protect your kids throughout the process.

A substantial difference exists between being self-absorbed or acting selfishly and being a full-on narcissist. Already a complicated process, this level of personality disorder only elevates tension and conflict in divorce. It often complicates things even further and leaves lasting damage.

Related Reading: 4 Ways to Improve Your Relationship With Your Children