POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse

This article is just too good not to post. Shahida Arabi talks about the tactics malignant narcissists and sociopaths use to manipulate others. The article, "20 Diversion Tactics Highly Manipulative Narcissists, Sociopaths And Psychopaths Use To Silence You" is taken from her book POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse and closely mirrors my own experiences. Unfortunately for me, I didn't realize what the situation was until 15 years into our relationship.

I describe some of this emotional abuse in my book "Mythomania: A Psychodrama." At first, my standard response was frustration. After I discovered Angie's deceptions during the "Summer of Lies" in 2012, frustration turned to anger. Which is apparently a crime in Wisconsin. She ended up using the courts, the police, and her friends against me. But one of the most damaging tactics was exclusion.

Read the article if you can. If you are in a relationship with someone like this, get professional help:

1. Gaslighting.

2. Projection.

3. Nonsensical conversations from hell.

4. Blanket statements and generalizations.

5. Deliberately misrepresenting your thoughts and feelings to the point of absurdity.

6. Nitpicking and moving the goalposts.

7. Changing the subject to evade accountability.

8. Covert and overt threats.

9. Name-calling.

10. Destructive conditioning.

11. Smear campaigns and stalking.

12. Love-bombing and devaluation.

13. Preemptive defense.

15. Bait and feign innocence.

16. Boundary testing and hoovering.

17. Aggressive jabs disguised as jokes.

18. Condescending sarcasm and patronizing tone.

19. Shaming.

20. Control.