If you’re a survivor of narcissistic abuse, then you probably are all too well aware of the defining characteristics of narcissists and how they manipulate and traumatize the people around them. However even if you’re not a survivor, it’s important to understand what narcissism is and how it can impact people’s lives. This narcissism glossary highlights the most common terms associated with narcissists and narcissism.
With a good understanding of the terminology related to narcissistic traits, narcissist abuse and narcissistic personality disorder, you will gain a better insight into the workings of the narcissistic mind. This will enable you to identify and protect yourself from any narcissist you might be unfortunate enough to come across.
Narcissism Glossary of Terms
Abuse by Proxy
Acute Stress Disorder
ACoNs
Adjustment Disorder
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Alienation (after trauma)
Ambient Abuse
Antagonistic Narcissist
Anxiety
Boundaries
Child affected by Parental Relationship Distress (CAPRD)
Cluster A Personality Disorders
Cluster B Personality Disorders
Cluster C Personality Disorders
Codependent or codependency
Coercive Control
Communal Narcissist
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD or C-PTSD)
Covert Narcissist
Dark Triad Personality Traits
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
Divide and Conquer
DoNF – Daughters of Narcissistic Fathers
DoNM – Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
Enabler
Enmeshment
Fauxpology
Flashbacks
Flying Monkeys
Future Faking
Gaslighting
Grey Rock
Hypervigilance
Learned Helplessness
Linen Cupboard Metaphor
Love Bombing
Overt Narcissist
Machiavellianism
Malignant Narcissist
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Mindfulness
Narcissist Discard
Narcissist Hoovering
Narcissist Triangulation
Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome
Narcissistic Family
Narcissistic Family Scapegoat
Narcissistic Family Golden Child
Narcissistic FOG
Narcissistic Grooming
Narcissistic Injury
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Narcissistic Personality Traits
Narcissistic Projection
Narcissistic Rage
Narcissistic Supply
Narcissistic Smear Campaign
Narcissistic Word Salad
Negative Self-Talk
No Contact
Parental Alienation
Parentification
Pathological Narcissism
Personality Disorder
Personality Trait Narcissism
Psychopathy
PTSD – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Reactive attachment disorder
Resilience
Trauma Bond
Trauma Trigger
SoNF – Sons of Narcissistic Fathers
SoNM – Sons of Narcissistic Mothers
Narcissism Glossary Blog Posts
If you are an ACoN – an Adult Child of a Narcissist, you know all too well how destructive narcissism can be. This post is for you. Here, you will find support and advice from other adult children of narcissists. I understand what you are going through, and I hope my blog will help.
A narcissist’s victim becomes a prop in an untethered make-believe version of the narcissist’s life. This causes devastating damage and leads to negative self talk, where the victims do the job of the narcissist and abuse themselves by proxy.
Abuse by proxy occurs when an abuser uses another person to abuse a victim on their behalf. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as to avoid detection, to humiliate the victim, or to make the victim believe that everyone hates them.
Narcissists are masters at the art of deflection, and they weald fauxpologies like a weapon. Their apologies are usually designed to blame others, or to make you feel guilty for having had the audacity to get offended or to call out their bad behaviour.
To use the grey rock method, you need to first understand what makes narcissists tick. They are attracted to people who make them feel important and special. So if you can find a way to not do that, they will eventually lose interest in you. One way to do this is to act like a grey rock. Be boring, and do not react to them in any way. Do not engage in conversation, and do not give them the attention they crave.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD or CPTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop in people who have experienced repeated and sustained traumatic events.
If you are a daughter of a narcissistic mother (DoNM), you know the struggle all too well. You may have grown up in a family where your mother was always putting herself first and disregarding your feelings. She may have made you feel like you were never good enough, and that you could never please her.
Triggers can be internal or external, and they are created through experience and conditioning. If you have ever been “triggered” before, you know how intense the feeling can be.
Narcissist hoovering is a term used to describe the tactic of drawing an individual back into an abusive relationship by exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Narcissists use love bombing as a manipulative tactic to ensnare their victims. It is important to recognize this behaviour and take steps to protect yourself from it.
