The Horror Of Being The Narcissistic Family Scapegoat

When I was a child I knew that my father did not love me. I could tell that he adored my brother, but as soon as he looked at me his face hardened and his eyes became slits full of hate. Initially I thought it was because I was not enough. Not good enough. Not pretty enough. Not clever enough. Then I figured it had to be because there was something wrong with me. Not likeable. Not lovable. In the end I thought it was because of my gender. Not a boy.

It took me many tears and half a lifetime to finally realize that I had never been the problem. It was never about something I was not.

There was nothing that I could have done to make my father want me, let alone love me. The answer in the end was very simple.

My father was a toxic narcissist and I was the narcissistic family scapegoat.

As for my brother, he was the golden child.

The Cast of Characters in a Narcissistic Family

The day I finally came across an article about narcissistic families and the standard cast of actors in the cruel play directed by the narcissistic parent, my first reaction was relief.

There we were – the narcissistic parent, the enabling parent, the family scapegoat and the golden child.

Far from being unusual, the whole family had been following a totally run-of-the-mill narcissistic family script. No casting call required, we were literally born for the role.

Initially it felt like vindication. There it was, black on white. The article clearly described the narcissistic abuse I had lived through as a child. I had not imagined it. I had been right to say that my father had abused me, and finally I could give it a name.

However, then the pain set in. My soul was screaming – Why?

My life as the Narcissistic Family Scapegoat

1. Projection

Once I understood the narcissistic family dynamics then everything fell into place. I could see that my father had projected his hopes and aspirations onto my brother.

As far as my father was concerned, his son was simply an extension of himself.

Through my brother he would live the life that he believed had been cruelly denied him.

My brother’s wish was the entire family’s command, and there would be serious repercussions for me if the demands were not immediately satisfied.

I was also the victim of projection, but of a different kind.

My father used me as a convenient rubbish bin for all the things he hated about himself. His failures and flaws.

His nasty thoughts and horrible behaviour. It was all projected onto me.

He was continually angry at me, but I never could understand what I had done wrong.

And no wonder, because I had not done anything wrong. It was simply my misfortune to be the recipient of all his self-hatred.

2. Gaslighting

When you are born your family is your entire world. It is your parents’ job to teach you what is right and what is wrong, and how to behave in different situations.

Parents are supposed to love you unconditionally and support you. All this is essential for a child to build their confidence and self-esteem, so that when they finally emerge from the family circle they are ready to take on the world.

However, what happens when your family exists in an alternate reality that is totally unmoored from the world other people inhabit? The gaslighting was constant. It got so bad that I actually believed my father when he said that I was a criminal destined to end up in prison.

3. Narcissistic Rage

The scariest thing, however, were the sudden outbursts of unprovoked narcissistic rage.

I could never be sure what would set him off so I became hypervigilant, constantly scanning the house for danger.

Whenever the smell of cigarette smoke was stronger than usual, I made it a point to disappear because that usually meant he was angry and frustrated.

I also tried not to make any noise, so he would forget that I existed. If I heard raised voices I would hide, hoping he would not find me.

I did my very best to be the perfect daughter, so that maybe he would stop being so angry at me all the time.

However nothing worked.

Every time something went wrong, he would explode at me. When the television broke, it was my fault (“You must have used it without permission!”).

If my brother failed a test, it was my fault (“You were so noisy that he could not study!”). If the cookie jar was empty it was my fault (“You are a pig – you ate them all!”)

It was always, always my fault.

Is there hope for a Narcissistic Family Scapegoat?

It might seem illogical and even improbable, but yes, there is. In fact, the scapegoat is the cast member who has the best chance of building a decent life.

I do not mean that they will not be damaged. It is impossible to emerge unscathed from such insanity.

It has taken me a lifetime to come to terms with the trauma I suffered, and frankly it will always be there, lurking in the background.

However I have now come to the point where I realize that I was actually fortunate not to be the golden child.

I was damaged, but my brother was destroyed, his sense of self totally annihilated. He does not know where my father ends and he begins.

Children need rules and boundaries.

Parents who are overly permissive do not provide the right type of structure for the formation of their children’s character.

My father took permissiveness to pathological extremes. My brother was never subject to any rules. There were never any consequences.

Any whim, however excessive, was indulged. The result was that he never developed empathy or self control, and he is paying the price of that to this day.

So in conclusion, though I would not wish my childhood onto anyone, I was lucky.

I was miserable as a child, but I was able to escape.

I had not lost the ability to love and to show compassion. I was damaged, but I was still strong. I was able to build and maintain friendships, and I also married and had three wonderful children. So despite it all, I got to have a happily every after.

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6 thoughts on “The Horror Of Being The Narcissistic Family Scapegoat”

  1. I just went no contact with my entire narcissistic family and I am 67 years old. I really wish I had been able to break free when I was young, but better late than never.

    Reply
    • Hi Gina, well done on taking such a brave step.

      I understand that it can be overwhelming to cut off family, no matter how toxic they may be. It’s never easy, but it can be the best decision for you in the long run.

      Lots of love, Carla

      Reply
  2. Hello Carla,

    It wasn’t until I moved 260 miles away from narc mom and worse narc younger sister and enabling dad that I realized how the abuse just wouldn’t stop. Sister made it a point to show up with her best friend, (woman) who was just starting to date a 20 year ex bf of mine at the same time. He had just inherited a fortune and they all made it a point to let me know how awful I am.

    That was two years ago in 2020, and with therapy I’ve finally cut off all communication with the whole tribe after trying to maintain communication with my elderly narc mom and enabling dad, until abusive sis took over on Memorial Day 2022. The gaslighting continued with the folks finally saying that I would communicate with narc sis or they couldn’t communicate with me.

    It’s liberating to be free of the constant glowering hatred and disapproval of my every word after 63 years of living through this.
    It is also painful that I tried for so very long with everything I could do for a shred of approval.

    I appreciate people like you and others who have helped me escaped from such a toxic environment!

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Shelly, you have clearly reclaimed your power and your life. It is not easy (trust me I know!), so kudos to you for your bravery and resilience.
      Thank you for sharing your story. It will be of inspiration to those who are trying to break free.
      lots of love and a great big hug,
      Carla

      Reply
  3. Thank you for this. I am sorry you were scapegoated but I am happy to see that you got a happy ever after. Most of us don’t, sadly. But the more scapegoats we see living free of the role and limiting beliefs the better paved the road is for the rest of us. So again….thank you πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Hi Rhonda, thanks for visiting my blog, and an even bigger thank you for letting me know there was a bug in my comments form πŸ™‚

      The path of the scapegoat is not an easy one. I am 46 and I am still struggling, so I totally understand what you mean. The damage is there for keeps.

      I guess my main motivation was initially to prove my father wrong – see, I am not a criminal! But then with time I found that it was less about him and more about me. He no longer had as much of a hold on me as he had 30 years ago. So yes, there is hope xxxx

      sending you love, Carla

      Reply

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