It can be difficult to know how to respond to a narcissist text. Narcissists can be very manipulative and often use text messages to bait and control their victims.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to respond to a narcissist text, it is important to stay calm and avoid getting into an argument.
In this blog post, I will discuss some tips for responding to narcissistic texts.
If at all possible, do not respond
If you receive a text from a narcissist, the best thing to do, if this is possible, is to ignore it.
Narcissists thrive on attention and will often try to provoke a reaction by sending hurtful or hateful texts.
If you respond, you are only giving them what they want.
Unfortunately there are times, such as when you are co-parenting with a narcissist, when you have to respond, whether you like it or not. When this happens, stick to facts and avoid getting emotional. The last thing you want is to become a source of narcissistic supply for the narcissist.
It is important to remember that narcissists are not rational people and you cannot reason with them.
How to respond to a narcissist text
If you must respond to a narcissist text, keep your responses short and to the point.
Make sure that your messages are neutral.
Avoid getting drawn into any sort of back-and-forth arguing or debate. Narcissists love to argue and will often try to bait you into one. Do not give them the satisfaction.
Keep your responses short and sweet, without giving them any ammunition to use against you.
It is also important to remember that you have the power to end the conversation at any time. If the text is making you feel uncomfortable or triggering your anxiety, simply stop responding.
If the narcissist bombards you with texts, you can block their number. You do not have to tolerate any type of abuse, even if it is just texts. In fact you do not owe the narcissist anything and you are under no obligation to keep communicating with them.
If you are being harassed or threatened by a narcissist via text, it is important to document everything. Keep all of the texts that you receive and save them in a safe place. This documentation can be helpful if you need to take legal action such as an enforcement order against the narcissist.
Final thoughts
No matter what, remember that you are not alone. There are many people who have been through what you are going through.
You are not powerless, and you can take steps to protect yourself from a narcissist. Just remember to stay calm, be assertive, and always put your safety and mental health first.