How do you tell if my mom is a narcissist - 10 Confirmation signs of this disorder
How many of them have you had to experience over the years?
1) She wants to control YOUR every move and decision
Whether it was your choice of college, or even where you live, if your mom encrusts herself in every realm of your adult life, then your relationship is certainly toxic. Having a hands-on mom around is great, but that doesn’t mean that she has the right to overstep the boundaries and force you to follow her will. Moms are there to advise us and support us, not to control us and dictate our lives. That's right, the sense of entitlement is intimidating and will most likely drive you absolutely crazy.
2) She’ll disapprove of all your friends and partners
The bottom line is that she is never satisfied and never agrees with any of your decisions, because she wants to be the one making them for you. She doesn’t want you to be your own person and will therefore criticize everything you do to forge your own character and way in life. In her eyes, no one is ever good enough for her baby and no one ever will be, unless she decides so.
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3) Narcissist moms never say ‘I love you’
If your mom is a narcissist, then you’ll probably struggle to remember times when she was affectionate and loving towards you, even during your childhood. You no doubt never got to enjoy hugs, kisses on your forehead or gentle words of encouragement from her when you needed them most, and that’s because she was, and still is, too wrapped up in herself to care enough.
4) She’ll put you down
She’ll tell you that you’ve put on weight or that she doesn’t like your new haircut, because for her, nothing is out of bounds. Now, although many of us might choose to put these hurtful remarks down to a slip of the tongue, they are in fact signs of narcissistic abuse. In fact, anything your mom says to negatively impact your self-confidence is a sign that she is toxic for you and your mental health.
5) She’ll manipulate your feelings and opinions
Having a narcissistic personality disorder means you can’t resist the idea of being in control and in order to gain the power that you so desperately desire, you’ll do anything, including manipulating your own children. From making up rumors to inventing stories, these dangerous moms know every dirty trick in the book to keep their kids under their influence.
6) She won’t support you
If, for example, you have been offered a new job or even a promotion, your mom will never encourage you to go for it, instead, she’ll make you doubt your capacities and openly put you down in front of other people. Her reluctance to support you can be traced back to her jealousy and the fact that she doesn’t want other people to believe her own daughter is more successful than her.
7) She’ll pretend to use tough love on you
Whenever you find the courage to confront her regarding her behavior, she always manages to turn the situation around and convince you that you are the problem. It’s you who is being sensitive, and it’s you who is unable to accept her so-called tough love. Narcissistic moms never take responsibility for their actions, not even towards their own children...
8) She’ll lie
Lies constantly spew out of her mouth, to the point where you are truly unable to tell when she is actually telling the truth.
>>> Find out why we lie.
9) She’ll guilt-trip you
Making you feel guilty is her number one priority because she wants to paint herself out to be a victim. She wants to appear as downtrodden and helpless, and will do whatever it takes to change the narrative when you begin to confront and expose her toxicity.
10) She’ll never apologize
She simply doesn’t possess the courage to utter the words ‘I’m sorry’...
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What are the strategies for dealing with a narcissistic mother? - 5 Techniques that work
When you feel like your mother is a bully and that your relationship is very one-sided, it can be easy to despair, however, there are certain proven methods that help turn even the most toxic of relationships into healthy ones;
- 1) Set boundaries - Be clear on what is acceptable and what completely crosses the line for you.
- 2) Stay calm - No matter what she does or says, don’t let her get under your skin, and opt for the high road.
- 3) Talk to a professional - Opening up to a health care professional will feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders.
- 4) Don’t expect anything from her - Lowering your expectations of her will make it easier for you to swallow whenever she disappoints you.
- 5) Take back control - You need to turn the situation around and regain power. To do this, you need to reevaluate the influence she has in your life and reduce it by becoming the decision-maker.
>>> Read; Do we have to love our parents?
📍 FAQ; What's the difference between a controlling mom and a narcissistic mom? 📍
A narcissistic mom and a controlling mom may have similarities in their behaviors, but there are also important differences between the two. A narcissistic mom is one who has narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or significant narcissistic traits. Narcissistic moms tend to be self-centered, have a constant need for admiration and validation, and lack empathy for others, including their own children. They may use their children to feed their self-esteem and expect to be the center of attention at all times. They can also be manipulative, emotionally exploitative and have difficulty meeting their children's emotional needs. Narcissistic moms tend to value their own image and need over those of their children.
On the other hand, a controlling mom is one who tends to exert excessive control over her children's lives. She may have an excessive fear of her children's failure or vulnerability, and try to control everything to protect them. She may make all the decisions for them, impose strict rules, and find it difficult to grant them a degree of autonomy. A controlling mom may have good intentions, but her behavior can be stifling for children, limiting their development of independence and self-confidence.
It's important to note that both types of behavior can have detrimental consequences for children's emotional well-being. Children raised by narcissistic or controlling moms may struggle to develop healthy self-esteem, set personal boundaries, and thrive in interpersonal relationships.
How to walk away from a narcissistic mother?
Distancing yourself from a narcissistic mother can be a difficult process, but here are some suggestions that may help:
- Recognize narcissistic behaviors: Learn about the characteristics and behaviors associated with narcissism, so you can better understand your mother's behavior. This can help you step back emotionally and avoid internalizing abusive or manipulative behaviors.
- Set clear limits: Set clear, firm limits on what you are willing to accept and tolerate from your mother. Identify behaviors or situations that are toxic or harmful to you, and decide what steps you can take to protect yourself.
- Prioritize your emotional well-being: Put your emotional well-being first. Take care of yourself, make time for activities that bring you joy, and surround yourself with people who support and understand you.
- Set communication limits: If interactions with your mother are often stressful or harmful, you may consider reducing the frequency of contact or limiting the ways in which you communicate. This may mean reducing phone calls, limiting face-to-face meetings, or even blocking certain forms of communication if necessary.
Editor’s opinion - Sometimes walking away is the healthiest decisionChildren of narcissistic parents will know how painful and draining it is to maintain a relationship with them, so why not walk away once and for all and break free? Hear me out! As with any toxic relationship; be it with a boyfriend or a friend, we always advise putting our mental health first and taking the distance necessary in order to protect ourselves, so why wouldn’t we do the same with our moms too? Although cutting your mom off may seem a little extreme to some, if she is dangerous for your mental health and makes you feel terrible about yourself, you don’t really have a lot to lose in the grand scheme of things. Life is too short to spend it with people who drag us down, despite our blood link with them.
🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!
#BornToBeMe
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This helps so much. I feel like I can never be right with my mother. I will definitely be paying attention to the signs.
Kaitlyn Forno a year ago