The abuse inflicted by narcissist family members is extremely cruel, insidious & manipulative. Narcissistic parents, siblings & other relatives engage in manipulation, gaslighting, & control tactics that leave their victims, their own family members, questioning their own worth & sanity. The prolonged exposure to such abuse will erode one’s sense of self & lead to a deep longing for escape.
Victims of narcissistic abuse frequently find themselves trapped in a cycle of hope & disappointment, desperately clinging to the belief that their family will change. However, as the abuse continues, they come to the heartbreaking realization that they must prioritize their own well being & break free from the toxic cycle.
Deciding to go no contact with one’s narcissistic family member is intensely challenging & painful, no matter how cruel they may have been. Deep down, there is a profound recognition that they are still your family, blood relatives who are meant to be an fundamental part of your life forever. It takes a long time & a multitude of abuses to reach the point where severing ties with your own flesh & blood seems like the best option. Even then, it requires immense courage to follow through with that decision.
Then there is the challenge of the best way to sever ties. Talk to them face to face? Call them? Write a letter? Email? Text? Or simply walk away, blocking all of their access to you?
Once you take this step & sever all ties, there is also the problem of other relatives either trying to force you to return to the relationship or spewing their hatred of you for treating the narcissist so cruelly. This is why so many who go no contact with a narcissistic family member also end up losing most if not all of their other family members.
Contrary to popular belief, there also is a great deal of grief that follows the act of cutting family out of one’s life, & often, that grief can be excruciating. While there is liberation from the abuse, the pain of losing someone you once loved is indescribable. It’s similar yet different to losing someone to death. When losing someone to death, there is finality. Also when someone you love dies, if the relationship was good, although the grief is painful, it isn’t really complicated. It boils down to you missing someone you love. Painful of course, but it can be dealt with over time until you reach the point of learning to live without that person’s loving presence in your life.
When you go no contact with your abusive family member, it involves a very complex mix of emotions that can leave people feeling conflicted, guilty, & lonely. There is no finality because the family member is still alive. Yet, you are unable to be with them because of their toxicity. If you leave near one another, there is also the chance of seeing them at the grocery store, the mall, a restaurant or other public places unexpectedly, which can be extremely shocking & upsetting.
Many people who have not been in this situation fail to recognize these things though. They seem to assume since you chose to end the relationship, you won’t feel sad about doing it. It’s similar to a couple who gets divorced. Usually the one who initiated the divorce receives minimal if any support while the one whose idea the divorce was not gets a great deal of support. It can be hard to find someone who understands how painful it is to end a relationship with an abusive family member who hasn’t ended a relationship with their own abusive family member.
If this describes your situation, please know you’re not alone! I have been through it, as have countless other people I have spoken to. There are people out there who understand, will support you & who will pray with & for you. I have a Facebook group called Fans Of Cynthia Bailey-Rug full of such people. You’re very welcome to check it out if you like. If not, there are many other similar groups online & a quick search should reveal plenty of them. Good support can help you to get through this painful time. Even more importantly though, God can help you get through & will be glad to do so. He certainly did me & many others I know personally & have spoken with on this topic. Pray.. tell Him how you feel & ask Him to comfort & help you. He absolutely will!
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