Understanding the Volatile Dynamics Of the Narcissistic Family
Once you see the patterns, you can make a plan to protect yourself.
by E.B. Johnson
I was thirty-years-old before I truly understood the twisted dynamics of my narcissistic family. Controlled in many ways by my mother — a covert, or vulnerable narcissist — we were a miserable group of people who could neither trust nor connect with one another.
Anger is the only emotion I really remember being expressed growing up…that and grief.
We were a household drenched in extremes, and I often felt like I was lost in the middle of it. Volatile doesn’t even seem like the right word to describe the experience. And for those who grew up in narcissistic families, you will know the experience well.
There’s no one clear, straight path in this kind of dysfunctional clan. Quite the opposite. The extremes are apparent, and the punishments are severe. You never know what side of the aisle you’re going to land on in the narcissistic family. That’s why it takes decades of recovery to get yourself into a stable place of peace.
