Going through a divorce is never an easy situation. It becomes more complex if you’re divorcing someone who has narcissistic tendencies. The nature of this mental health condition means that they’re unable to have empathy for others, and they live in a world of their own creation. It’s often associated with lying and doing things to make life more difficult for others.
If you’re going through a divorce with a narcissist, you’re probably going to experience a lot of stress. While there’s no way to eliminate the stress, there are some things that may help reduce it.
Leave emotions out of discussions
People who have narcissistic tendencies get power from being able to invoke feelings in other people. You can minimize the chance of that happening by keeping all emotion out of conversations you have with your soon-to-be ex. If you know that you’re going to become emotional when speaking directly to them, consider having your communication only through your attorneys or through written means. This gives you a chance to control your emotions.
Document everything
Narcissists tend to create a world of their own where reality doesn’t exist. They’ll often make claims that are false. One way that you can combat this is to keep proof of everything. Keep copies of receipts and communications. Anything that you can produce for the court to show that what you’re saying is what’s factual can be beneficial.
You shouldn’t expect a quick divorce from a spouse who is narcissistic. Instead, plan for them to try to prolong the legal end of the marriage, because this is a way that they can feel in control. It is important to have experienced legal guidance as you navigate the process.