Divorcing A Narcissist

Your spouse doesn’t care about you. Everything is about them and their needs. You’ve had enough and while you may be tired of being married to a narcissist, divorce isn’t going to be easy. Expect the fight of your life.

A narcissist is defined as someone who has an inflated ego and therefore an excessive admiration of themselves. They disregard the feelings of others and make it so every situation is about them, so with these two personality traits combined, you can expect that they will refuse to negotiate or compromise  in a divorce. This means that a divorce will end up being a high conflict one. In fact, a narcissist will do everything possible to prolong the conflict, so if you’re looking for a quick end to your marriage, you’re going to be disappointed.

What to Expect

While most narcissistic breakups will be high conflict, keep in mind that some types of narcissists are reluctant to engage in aggressive conflict. They may, however, engage in quiet  attack methods, such as spreading rumors or using an aggressive legal team to play the part of the innocent victim. Narcissists use these toxic behaviors to wear you down so you give in to their demands.

When children are involved, a divorce involving a narcissist becomes even more complicated. This is because elements such as child support, child custody, and visitation also come into play. The stakes are much higher and you can expect that there will be a significant amount of conflict.

Narcissists want to feel as though they hurt you or won something. This often means they will use children as pawns and collateral. Children suffer the most in these types of divorces, which tend to be lengthy, complex, and expensive. As many as 25% of children may be exposed to this trauma, which can lead to lingering psychological effects such as poor relationships with parents and emotional distress.

Overall, narcissists are masters at manipulation. While the courts may catch on and reprimand a narcissist for their behavior, they tend to slip through the cracks of the legal system without punishment. Their main focus is turmoil and destruction. Sadly, they do not care about the welfare and futures of their ex-spouse and children. They would rather do what it takes to win at all costs.

If your spouse is a narcissist, you need all the help you can get. Let your lawyer know so they can proceed with caution. Avoid engaging with your ex; let your lawyer do the communicating. Above all, take care of yourself and get the emotional support you need to move on.

Seek Legal Help 

Divorcing someone with narcissism or some other personality disorder is no easy task. Expect a high-conflict divorce.

Conflicting personality traits can lead to divorce. Seek legal help from Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney Edward J. Jennings, P.A. We have more than 30 years of experience handling complex divorce cases. We can help you get a favorable outcome. To schedule a consultation, call 954-764-4330 or fill out the online form.

Resource:

psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-in-the-age-narcissism/202201/divorcing-the-narcissist-in-family-court