Number 1: Be quiet.
Confuse the narcissist with your silence. Choose to be quiet or choose to listen to someone else instead of the narcissist. Say very little, if anything at all. More often than not, we talk more than we listen, when we’d be much better off listening more than we talk. Furthermore, we can have a tendency to talk too much when we’re anxious, and few things are more anxiety-inducing than perpetual exposure to destructive narcissists. So, learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable silence and be quiet.
Related: THIS IS WHAT SILENCE DOES TO THE NARCISSIST.
And I’m not talking about stonewalling or using the silent treatment as a means of passive-aggressive manipulation, control, or punishment the way a destructive narcissist does. Rather, I’m talking about using silence as a means of holding your cards close to your chest and, as I said, remaining empowered. It’s about consciously choosing not to engage and therefore giving the narcissist very little to work with where you’re concerned. Speaking when you could otherwise remain silent gives the narcissist ammunition they’ll later use against you. Being quiet, on the other hand, confuses the narcissist. So, be still and keep them guessing.
Related: 10 Weaknesses All Narcissists Have.
In doing so, you become that girl or guy that makes them feel unsure about themselves. Your silence disrupts their confidence. It’s destabilizing. A pattern interrupt. They just don’t know how to get at you. You don’t give them any ammunition. And as the old saying goes, silence is the best response to a fool. And the reality is, you don’t necessarily have to respond to anything they say if they intend to provoke a negative reaction from you. Just leave them in silence and let your actions or non-action do the talking for you. Smile inside and let them struggle trying to figure you out.
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