Survivor Speaks Truth

Tag: Narcissist

  • Hurt You, Blame You: The Manipulation of False Victimhood

    There are few things more disorienting than being wounded by someone you trusted, only to have them turn around and claim they are the one who has been wronged. It is not enough that they inflicted the pain — they also rewrite the story to put themselves in the center as the victim. This tactic is not how normal, healthy people respond to conflict; it is a hallmark of manipulation, and it is one of the ways abusers maintain control over those they harm.

    When you love someone, mistakes will happen. Words may come out wrong, tempers may flare, and feelings may get bruised. In healthy relationships, those moments are met with accountability. A sincere apology is offered, an effort is made to repair the damage, and both people walk away with a deeper understanding of one another. Abusers, however, do the opposite. Instead of owning the harm they cause, they deflect responsibility and recast themselves as the ones who have been unfairly treated. Suddenly, the person they hurt is left with their own wounds and the burden of defending themselves against untrue accusations.

    This reversal is deeply confusing. Survivors often replay the events in their minds, asking themselves if they are overreacting, if maybe they misunderstood, or if they somehow caused the whole thing. That cycle of self-doubt is precisely what the abuser hopes for. The more you question yourself, the quieter you become. The more you silence your instincts, the easier for them to continue controlling the narrative. Over time, you can feel invisible, as if your voice and your truth don’t matter.

    What makes this tactic so effective is the sympathy it wins from others. When an abuser positions themselves as the victim, outsiders often rush to their defence. People may rally around the one causing harm, while the actual victim is left isolated, disbelieved, and even blamed for the situation. This compounds the trauma, because not only are you living through the pain of betrayal, you’re also experiencing the loneliness of being misunderstood.

    The truth is that causing deep hurt and playing the victim is not normal conflict. It is not just a misunderstanding; it is not two people simply seeing things differently. It is deliberate manipulation to keep the focus away from accountability and leave the real victim silenced and confused. Once you can see this pattern for what it is, you begin to understand that you are not crazy, you are not overreacting, and you are not the one to blame.

    Healing from this kind of manipulation means reclaiming your story. It means naming what happened and refusing to carry guilt that does not belong to you. It means surrounding yourself with safe people who will listen and believe you and learning to trust your perspective again. You were there. You know the truth. You do not need to accept the false narrative forced on you.

    Abusers may try to steal your voice by turning themselves into the victim, but the truth has a way of cutting through lies. You don’t have to live under their distorted story forever. Your pain is real, your experience is valid, and your freedom is possible. When you step out of the fog of manipulation, you can see clearly that pretending to be the victim while causing harm is not strength, it’s not righteousness, and it’s not love — it’s abuse. And you are not bound to it anymore.

  • Abusers Don’t Abuse Everyone: The Hidden Reality Behind the Mask

    One of the most misunderstood truths about abuse is this: abusers don’t abuse everyone. Some can be incredibly charming, helpful, and even appear selfless—especially if they are covert narcissists. This is one of the biggest reasons survivors often face disbelief when speaking up. To the outside world, the abuser may seem like the nicest person you could meet. They might be active in their community, generous with neighbours, and even affectionate with certain friends or family members. But behind closed doors—when the audience is gone—the mask slips, revealing their true nature. Abuse isn’t random. It’s targeted. Many narcissistic abusers choose one or two specific people to scapegoat, harm, and control, while treating others very differently. This selective cruelty allows them to maintain a flawless image, making it nearly impossible for others to believe the victim’s account. It isolates the victim, who may even doubt their reality: “If they’re so nice to everyone else, maybe it is me.”

    Covert narcissists are exceptionally skilled at hiding their abuse. They may present themselves as humble, misunderstood, or even wounded souls needing compassion. They use this carefully crafted persona to gain sympathy from others, deflect suspicion when accusations arise, and position themselves as the real “victim.” Sometimes they even spread subtle misinformation or outright lies to paint the actual victim as difficult, unkind, or unstable. When the public persona of an abuser is drastically different from the private reality, survivors face an uphill battle for validation. People who have only seen the “good side” can’t reconcile it with the survivor’s account. This disbelief is compounded by the fact that many people don’t want to accept that such cruel and manipulative behaviour exists—especially in someone they know or admire. This leaves survivors not only dealing with the trauma of the abuse itself but also the pain of being doubted or dismissed. It’s a second wound—often deeper than the first.

    Abuse thrives in secrecy and disbelief. The public charm, the selective kindness, and the carefully curated image are all part of the abuser’s control. They know exactly how to play the role that keeps them safe from accountability. The truth is, not everyone sees the abuse. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. If anything, it makes it more dangerous. Having one person who truly sees and believes them can make all the difference for survivors. And for the rest of us, the responsibility is clear: listen without judgment, educate ourselves about narcissistic abuse and manipulation, and never assume that someone’s public kindness is proof of their private integrity. When we understand that abusers don’t abuse everyone, we strip away one of their greatest weapons—the mask that hides their cruelty—and we take one step closer to a world where survivors can speak and be heard.

  • When an Abuser’s Grandiose Self-Image is Threatened

    An abuser’s carefully crafted image is their crown jewel. It’s how they control perceptions, draw people in, and shield themselves from accountability. They’ve spent years—sometimes decades—perfecting the story they want the world to believe about who they are. And when that image is threatened, even slightly, you will see a side of them that strips away the charm and exposes the raw hunger for control beneath.

    At the heart of their grandiosity is fragility. Their inflated sense of self isn’t built on genuine confidence—it’s propped up by the constant validation of others. Any crack in that façade feels like a personal attack, even if it’s something as small as you questioning a decision, pointing out an inconsistency, or simply setting a boundary. In their mind, they must be admired, respected, and always seen as superior. Anything less is unacceptable.

    When someone challenges their image, they respond with one or more predictable tactics:

    They may lash out angrily, using insults, intimidation, or threats to reassert dominance. They aim to make you regret questioning them, not just shutting you down.

    They may play the victim, spinning the narrative so that you look like the aggressor. They’ll twist facts, omit key details, and weaponize half-truths to make it seem like you’ve wronged them. This deflects from the real issue and rallies sympathy from anyone willing to take their side.

    They may launch a smear campaign, quietly or openly planting seeds of doubt about your character in the minds of others. They might portray you as overly emotional, unstable, or untrustworthy—anything that will make your perspective seem unreliable if you dare to speak out.

    They may gaslight you, convincing you that what you saw or experienced isn’t real, or that you’re overreacting. This is meant to make you doubt your perception, question your memory, and ultimately back down.

    Sometimes, they’ll double down on the performance, turning up the charm and generosity in front of others while being cold or cruel in private. This makes it harder for anyone to believe your version of events and reinforces their public image as the “good one.”

    The more public the challenge, the more intense their reaction. Abusers fear exposure because exposure means loss of control. They thrive on controlling the narrative, and when that control is disrupted, they go into overdrive to repair their reputation, often at the expense of your safety, credibility, and emotional well-being.

    It’s important to understand that their reactions aren’t about truth but preservation. They will rewrite history, invent new versions of events, and manipulate mutual acquaintances to protect their self-image. And they will do it with conviction that people who don’t know the whole story may believe them without question.

    If you’ve ever seen an abuser’s mask slip when their image is challenged, you know it’s both jarring and clarifying. You suddenly see the lengths they will go to avoid accountability. You see, their “confidence” was never confidence—it was a performance designed to keep you in your place and them in control.

    The best way to protect yourself in these moments is to document, stay calm, and avoid feeding into their drama. The truth doesn’t need theatrics to stand—it requires consistency, a refusal to be silenced, and time. You cannot stop an abuser from defending their image, but you can stop giving them the access they need to tear down yours.

    Because when you threaten their image, you’re not just challenging a story—you’re challenging the entire foundation of who they pretend to be. And for them, that’s war.

  • The Grandiose Self-Image of an Abuser

    One of the most striking traits of many abusers is their inflated, almost untouchable sense of self. They carry themselves as though they are more important, righteous, smarter, wiser, or talented than anyone around them. It’s not just confidence—it’s arrogance, entitlement, and superiority wrapped in a carefully constructed image. They don’t just believe they’re special; they believe the rules don’t apply to them.

    At first, this can be incredibly persuasive. Their confidence feels magnetic. They talk about their accomplishments, insight, and talents with such certainty that you believe they must be as extraordinary as they say. They might present themselves as the most caring, morally upright, or selfless person you’ve ever met. They may sprinkle in stories about how others have wronged them, how they’ve been misunderstood, or how their good deeds went unappreciated. They’ll often frame themselves as a rare gem in a world full of flawed people—someone who needs the “right” person to finally see them for who they are.

    But beneath that polished exterior, their grandiosity isn’t genuine self-esteem—it’s a shield. Their larger-than-life persona protects them from the truth about their flaws. Admitting fault, taking responsibility, or being seen as “ordinary” threatens their identity. They need to be admired, recognized, and validated at all times, and they’ll go to great lengths to ensure they remain at the center of attention.

    This inflated sense of self often spills into every area of life. They may dismiss or minimize the ideas and feelings of others, interrupt conversations to redirect focus back to themselves, or insist that their way is always the right way. In relationships, they expect admiration and compliance without having to earn it. Disagree with them, set a boundary, or fail to mirror their self-image, and you’ll likely be met with anger, belittling comments, or passive-aggressive retaliation.

    Their grandiosity also makes them hypersensitive to criticism, real or perceived. Even gentle feedback can be twisted into a personal attack. Rather than reflecting and adjusting, they’ll deflect, justify, or lash out. In their mind, it’s unthinkable that they could be wrong, and if something goes wrong, it must be someone else’s fault.

    This inflated self-view is dangerous in part because it can mask abusive behaviour. Someone who sees themselves as inherently superior may genuinely believe they’re justified in belittling, controlling, or punishing others. They may convince themselves—and try to convince you—that their way of doing things is for your good. They can frame dominance as leadership, manipulation as wisdom, and cruelty as honesty.

    If you’ve been in a relationship with someone like this, you may have found yourself constantly second-guessing your worth, trying to live up to impossible standards, or working overtime to win their approval. Their self-importance becomes the measuring stick for your value, and no matter how much you give, it’s never enough.

    Healthy confidence is rooted in empathy, humility, and mutual respect. A truly confident person can celebrate their strengths while also acknowledging their weaknesses. They can share space with others without feeling threatened. An abuser’s grandiose self is the opposite—it demands constant control, feeding, and validation over how they’re perceived.

    People with a grandiose sense of self will never willingly shrink their image to make room for yours. They will expect you to make yourself smaller so they can remain the largest presence in the room. And in the end, that’s not love—it’s a performance, and you’re only there to be part of the audience.

  • Disarming a Narcissist: Taking Back Your Power Without Playing Their Game

    If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a narcissist—familial, romantic, professional—you know how exhausting it is. It’s like trying to reason with a tornado while standing in its path. No matter what you say, they twist it. No matter what you do, it’s never enough. And the moment you reclaim your power, they ramp up their manipulation.

    So, how do you disarm someone who thrives on attention, chaos, and control?

    The answer may surprise you: You stop giving them what they feed on.

    1. Don’t Defend, Don’t Explain, Don’t Engage

    Narcissists want a reaction. They feed off your emotional responses—anger, attempts to explain, and tears. The more you try to defend yourself, the more ammunition you give them to twist the narrative.

    Disarm them by refusing to play the game.

    Let your silence be louder than their accusations. Let your calm be more powerful than their chaos. You don’t need to defend what’s true. The truth doesn’t change just because they refuse to see it.

    2. Stick to Facts, Not Feelings

    Narcissists will use your feelings against you. The more vulnerable you are, the more they exploit it. That doesn’t mean you must stop feeling, but guard your emotions in their presence.

    If you must communicate (especially in co-parenting or work situations), keep it brief, emotionless, and factual. 

    Example: Not: “I feel like you’re always trying to manipulate me.” But: “I’m not available at that time. Please email me any future requests.”

    The goal isn’t to win—because with a narcissist, the game is rigged. The goal is to disengage with dignity.

    3. Gray Rock Method

    This is one of the most effective ways to disarm a narcissist: become as interesting as a gray rock.

    Be boring, non-reactive, and uninterested in their drama. Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you flustered or upset. They crave attention—any attention. Even negative attention feeds their ego. Don’t give them what they want.

    They’ll likely escalate at first when they sense they’re losing control, but over time, they’ll move on to a new target if they can no longer manipulate you.

    4. Set Boundaries and Keep Them

    Narcissists hate boundaries. They view them as personal attacks. But boundaries are your lifeline.

    You don’t owe anyone unlimited access to your mind, emotions, or time—especially not someone who repeatedly disrespects them.

    Say “no” without explanation. End conversations when they turn manipulative. Block, mute, or walk away when necessary. You are not mean for protecting your peace. You are wise.

    5. Don’t Try to Change Them

    One of the most challenging truths to accept is that you cannot fix a narcissist. They don’t see a problem with their behaviour, self-reflect, or repent. They will charm, gaslight, lie, and love bomb—but it’s all about control, not change.

    Disarming a narcissist doesn’t mean they change. It means you do. You change how you respond. You take back your voice. You choose not to be their supply anymore.

    6. Reclaim Your Identity

    Narcissists are masters at rewriting history. They’ll try to convince you that you were the problem, that your memory is flawed, and that your worth is conditional.

    But God says otherwise.

    You are not what they say you are. You are not crazy, you are not too emotional, and you are not hard to love.

    You are chosen. Loved. Worth protecting.

    “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” – Psalm 9:9

    7. Let God Be Your Defender

    You don’t need to prove your truth to those committed to believing a lie. You don’t need to fight every battle—they aren’t worth your peace. You don’t need to carry shame that was never yours.

    Disarming a narcissist isn’t about revenge—it’s about release. It’s choosing freedom over retaliation and healing over hostility—God’s justice over your own.

    And trust me—He sees it all. Every manipulation. Every lie. Every twisted half-truth they told to protect their image while destroying yours.

    In the end, truth always rises. And you? Walk away.