Number 5: Accumulating laundry until it becomes a mountain
You could end up leaving your laundry heaped until it’s a teeny tiny mini Everest in your room. And let’s be honest, who could blame you? When you’re working with the fallout of narcissistic abuse, reaching the top of that mountain can feel like one more thing on your endless to-do list that you just can’t seem to find the energy to do. In the opinion of therapist Dr. Sheri Campbell, avoidance is usually based on a sense of being overwhelmed and disconnected from oneself. Why bother with the stinky socks when you can just pretend they don’t exist, right? Plus, let’s be honest, sometimes that pile is just a great excuse to wear your favorite pajamas for another day or week. After all, clean clothes are overrated when you’re in survival mode.
Number 6: Missing haircuts for months
You may go months without missing haircuts, allowing your hair to get completely out of control when you’re healing from narcissistic abuse. Self-care may be way down on the priority list, like, who’s going to worry about a haircut when you just want to make it through the day? As explained by psychologist Dr. Alexandra Solomon, this is possible when you’re emotionally drained and self-care takes a backseat. And come on, who doesn’t love that “I just rolled out of bed” face? It’s kind of a style choice at this point. So, yes, your hair can be a bird’s nest, but at least you can be said to be embracing your wild child.
Number 7: Obsessively cleaning the bed
You can find yourself fixating on making your bed clean, like some kind of shrine to cleanliness within the chaos of your life. In narcissistic abuse, the bed will become your sole source of refuge, and so it must remain clean. Personal development coach Tony Robbins has asserted that establishing a sense of order in your environment will soothe your mind. So naturally, you’d vacuum those sheets like they’ll be hung in a five-star hotel. But we all know what is going on, that as you’re cleaning, you’re maybe trying to wash your head of the craziness up there, like cleanliness will prevent all those nasty thoughts from getting in somehow. Who would have ever thought that a pillowcase would be your therapy session?
You may also want to read this:
Words That Destroy a Narcissist
9 Secrets ALL Narcissists Keep
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