Many divorces have at least some level of contention, but that’s usually much worse when one party is a narcissist. By nature, a narcissist is unable to think about anyone other than themselves. They will often focus on being able to control the situation and winning, so they aren’t concerned with finding a practical solution to the divorce matters.
If you’re going through a divorce involving a narcissistic spouse, you should remember that you shouldn’t label them with the narcissist label in court unless there’s a specific diagnosis by a licensed medical professional. Even if you can’t bring up the narcissism in court, you can take specific steps to help throughout the process.
1: Narcissists gain power from your emotions
Narcissists try to invoke emotions in others as a way to feel more powerful. Keeping your emotions under control when you’re dealing with the narcissist is critical, but it’s not always easy. Some people turn to written communication instead of verbal communication so they can write out a reply and then review it before sending it.
2: Narcissists live in a self-centered fantasy land
A narcissist creates a fantasy land where they’re the center of the universe. They don’t see regular life the way other people do. They will lie and misstate facts to try to meet their own narrative. Combatting this can be challenging, so it’s beneficial to keep all documentation and proof of everything related to the divorce, property or children.
3: Narcissists delay divorces
Because of their desire to be in charge, narcissists will often try to control what happens during a divorce. Many work to delay the process as much as possible, usually because they know that it will likely cost you money and because they think the delay is harming you. One of the most effective ways to prevent this is to have strong legal representation to protect your interests during the divorce.
