Narcissistic Abuse

Gaslighting. Love bombing. Hoovering. Triangulating. These are all insidious weapons in the narcissist's toolkit.

Narcissism can be hard to diagnose, but it is one of the hallmarks of abusive relationships. As a therapist specialising in narcissism and domestic abuse, Vanessa Reiser has strategies to help victims identify, understand, and heal from abusive relationships. With a blend of information, education, and stories, Reiser defines what narcissistic abuse is, breaks down how it's a form of domestic violence, and explains how narcissists think and operate, uncovering their mindset and motivations. This will help readers to spot a narcissist more accurately, avoid toxic relationships, escape dangerous situations, and heal from mental, emotional, and/or physical trauma.

Readers will learn how to:

• Identify dangerous behaviours and warning signs of narcissistic abuse
• Create an exit strategy to safely escape from an abuser
• Heal from the psychological damage and trauma

Explaining narcissistic personality disorder, clarifying common misconceptions about narcissism, and detailing how narcissism works on a spectrum from benign to malignant, Narcissistic Abuse gives readers a clear picture of what narcissistic abuse entails, using specific situations and examples to show how narcissistic traits translate into real-life behaviours.

Reiser describes the five stages of narcissistic abuse (luring, love bombing, mask slipping, discarding, and the smear campaign) and lists common stages and emotions that come after the relationship with a narcissist has been severed (including devastation, confusion, sadness, anger, understanding, and healing). With practical tools and a warm, empathetic tone, Narcissistic Abuse provides a clear path for readers to break the cycle and find a path back to themselves.