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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Covert narc / trying to separate

20 replies

theblackflash · 28/08/2023 14:32

I'm desperately needing advice, I've literally just realised he's a covert narc. I still don't know all the signs, I've been trying to separate for a while now and couldn't take any more. This is fucking horrible! I don't even know what I'm asking here, my head is so messed up with him twisting my words and flinging accusations at me. I've done nothing but pander to his every fucking whim and now he's trying to get my children removed from me as I'm Aparantly to mentally I'll to look after them. I had no clue this is what I married. I feel so fucking stupid. I've spoke to WA, got an appointment tomorrow. Barely slept in weeks, cannot switch my head off and I'm losing weight again. I feel so sad for my wee boys. He is going to fill their heads with nonsense about me. He's already tried it with my older one and thankfully I've managed to tell him some of my truth as I've kept it all hidden to protect him. Any advice would be welcome. I've had to leave my home with hardly a thing as he won't leave.

OP posts:
theblackflash · 28/08/2023 20:26

Anyone :(

OP posts:
accountsettings · 28/08/2023 21:12

Podcast / book by Supriya McKenna and Karin Walker family lawyer on Divorcing a Narcissist

theblackflash · 28/08/2023 21:44

I'll have a look thankyou

OP posts:
Ollifer · 28/08/2023 21:45

Stick to as limited contact as you possibly can. Stick to short facts, don't get into any texting conversations with him. He will argue against every thing you say, and you'll never be able to reason with him or have him reflect on his behaviour so don't waste your time or energy trying. Have everything in writing as he will lie about what's been said.

You'll never win with a narcissist and it's hard to prove their actions. You just need to withdraw and have as little contact as you possibly can.

accountsettings · 28/08/2023 21:50

Also parenting app eg our family wizard which can be used in court
there are other free ones around

accountsettings · 28/08/2023 21:50

As the only method of communication

NewmemyselfandI · 28/08/2023 22:39

Someone already suggested Dr Supryia podcast, it may help clarify some questions and validate what you are going through.
https://open.spotify.com/show/3s6D1NBgOKYHFBZhe27Ye4?si=RLyWEoF6TBGBUsclNwk0Qg

I have just finished 19mo battle for divorce from a covert narc but its far from over. He will continue to try control and manipulate now using kids schedule and comms...
It's really really difficult. I'm now trying to grey rock him but struggling as that leaves comms up to kids, but every interaction is abusive otherwise...
I tried to keep all outside court as knew that'd just trigger him further and delay things more, as he'd be even more enraged, so instead tried to slowly get him where I wanted, throwing more money his way than would be fair, but at least wasnt going on solicitors fees.
You'll get there xx wishing you strength

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/3s6D1NBgOKYHFBZhe27Ye4?si=RLyWEoF6TBGBUsclNwk0Qg

EmmW14 · 29/08/2023 01:51

Ah gosh I’m so sorry. I’ve read too many stories like this one. I thought I might post some support/advice in case it might help. If things are tight money wise - take advantage of solicitors free hours. Have a list of questions ready that you want to know the answer to and ask them so you use the time wisely. Join a bunch of Facebook divorce groups too - I found them really helpful as you feel less alone but there are a lot of people who can provide good answers to any questions you might have. They’re really good. Especially as some of the people there have also dealt with narcissistic partners. Also see if this might help - http://iamlip.com/ it’s a bunch of free help guides that can guide you through the divorce/separation process. It saved me a lot because I couldn’t afford a solicitor, although my friend used this alongside a solicitor to save money by doing some of it herself e.g. forms. Her first solicitor barely did anything to get the separation/divorce going and just didn’t get it so she moved onto another one and found that this website helped her understand how to take things forward when the courts seems so complicated and confusing. I hope this can help you too xxx
everyone here has good points, use the apps available for communication. Please remember to take care of yourself. It might not seem important right now but it really is, you and your kids deserve better.

http://iamlip.com/

roses321 · 29/08/2023 12:46

Hiya, I don't have kids but my ex has narc tendencies (whether he is one I don't know) and he did the same twisting my words around and accusing me of being mentally ill - I left him, just got my shit together and left.

Please check out Dr Ramani on Youtube - she talks about this and releases tons of helpful videos on it and it's really helped me.

Do not pander, the thing is with these people is that it NEVER works. Basically just don't pander and don't react to it.

Give them enough rope to hang themselves with, that's what I've started doing to my ex. What I basically do is respond FACTUALLY to everything, I do not get into the emotional stuff with him. He levels accusations and calls me names, and I simply respond to the situation and ignore all the accusations.

Example:

He thinks i'm a narcissist, toxic person and he's had "enough of my toxic shit to last a lifetime"

He's saying this because after bullying me out of our joint home he wants me to contribute to him decorating it so it is more sellable, and I said no and gave him my reasons. My reasons are 1. We're in the middle of litigation and that is expensive so we can't sell right now because of that. 2. It's non-essential work and I don't live there anymore. 3. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him (which I didn't tell him but that's a reason too).

Normally I would have responded emotionally with "can't you see what you're saying, i can't believe you are speaking to me like this omg waaa" and reacted.

Now I just ignore it and I respond with "I have made my views clear on the situation".

He came back with threats saying if I don't contribute I won't get the added value.

I just responded to that with "the property is jointly owned, I will get 50% equity and if you don't think that is right you will need to take me to court".

He's responded back with a load of "you're toxic, you're mentally ill, this is just what i expected from you blah blah blah".

I didn't respond. My point has been made and I have made it factual and clear.

If he does take me to court then good luck to him because i'll be submitting all these emails as evidence. Enough rope to hang himself.

He's unhappy that I left and took legal advice, that he's been left paying the mortgage because he forced me out and that I actually took it to the point of leaving because i couldn't handle his shit anymore. He thought he could continue bullying me and intimidating whenever the urge took him and that I wouldn't go anywhere because I was tied in with a mortgage.

Just stay factual like a business arrangement and ignore all of the abuse. As little contact as possible is the most important thing and keep it brief.

roses321 · 29/08/2023 12:49

Also just another thing to add - if he's got the same tendencies as my ex then please bear in mind that the aim isn't based on any logic or sensible behaviour, the aim is to upset and de-stabilise you. At all costs. It took me a while to fully get this into my head because he came up with massive lies, and the mentally ill thing was a serious one (I don't have kids luckily) that he used regularly.

The irony is that dealing with them does make you mentally ill so the important thing for you is to get away from him, contact him factually and as little as possible and constantly be aware of the fact that they will do ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING to get to you, hurt you, upset you, de-stabilise you and cause pain because God knows why (Ramani goes into this).

Hope that helps.

theblackflash · 30/08/2023 00:15

Oh my goodness these reply's have saved my sanity but also made me realise how many more women are going through this, it's so sad. He's now got legal advice and even though the tenancy is solely in my name, because it was our matrimonial home he has the right to still be there. So he's rattling around my 3 bedroom home while me and the 2 wee ones are shacked up in my mums two bedroom flat!!!!

I have not one shred of evidence of what he's been doing to me, it's been so well hidden, he even managed to the pull the wool over the police. I am in so much shock, I can't believe this is happening!

OP posts:
accountsettings · 30/08/2023 07:00

Courts don’t recognise narcissistic abuse as far as I know so really, the thing to focus on is how to end things, with as good a financial settlement as possible & contact schedule that works for you

EliflurtleTripanInfinite · 30/08/2023 11:46

No advice, lots of sympathy, my Ex is similar. He is emotionally abusive and has been pretty scary at times. No evidence, my eldest two have witnessed some, but they have SEN and it's slim chance they'll be able to speak for themselves about his abuse. He's not trying to make out I'm mentally ill, but he DESERVES 50/50 of everything including the kids and it's all my fault he has barley any relationship with them, therefore he deserves 50% custody. It's always all about him. I expect we'll end up in court, because I'm not agreeing to 50/50 unless a judge makes me and as much as I don't want to admit, it it's highly unlikely he's going to be reasonable.

He's saying nasty things about me to our DC now. Eldest told me in tears, he has form for this and I usually say to ignore it, but she said now he's getting angry if she doesn't respond and she feels she has to agree to stop him from getting angry. What kind of person does that to their child. It feels surreal that someone I thought for so long was a good loving partner is actually prepared to put his child through that. He's disgusting. He sees completely normal a lot of the time, but then he's capable of horrible things to get his way. It feels really strange that he can still seem nice ans normal.

Jibbi · 30/08/2023 12:11

Be wary of parental responsibility with them, mine took everything we own and the children who I haven't had contact with in months.

It's all projection, they will smear you to avoid blame and destroy you in the process to get what they want and maintain that new image.

roses321 · 30/08/2023 14:26

theblackflash · 30/08/2023 00:15

Oh my goodness these reply's have saved my sanity but also made me realise how many more women are going through this, it's so sad. He's now got legal advice and even though the tenancy is solely in my name, because it was our matrimonial home he has the right to still be there. So he's rattling around my 3 bedroom home while me and the 2 wee ones are shacked up in my mums two bedroom flat!!!!

I have not one shred of evidence of what he's been doing to me, it's been so well hidden, he even managed to the pull the wool over the police. I am in so much shock, I can't believe this is happening!

Absolutely everything in writing going forward. Everything. And if you're with him and he starts insulting you then click record on your phone, that's what I did. I didn't do it for legal reasons, I did it to play back to myself so I knew I wasn't going completely mental when he told me it was "just a domestic argument and nothing I should be so bothered by".

Avalovelace · 30/08/2023 14:39

Also, have a look at Richard Grannon's videos on YouTube. He described my covert narcissistic ex to a tee.

Jibbi · 30/08/2023 14:42

Understanding narcissism y Elizabeth Shaw on YouTube also fairly good, short concise videos outlining behaviors.

theblackflash · 30/08/2023 18:56

So I'm going to have to go home and grey rock it. Does anyone know if I get a divorce, I can then force him out as we will no longer be married?

These responses are chilling, I'm fucking terrified for our future now 😢 he is literally willing to let the kids go into care rather than me have them. He is a monster.

OP posts:
theblackflash · 30/08/2023 19:00

@Jibbi what do you mean by parental responsibility? Sorry if that's a stupid question my brain is mush

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Jibbi · 30/08/2023 19:13

@theblackflash Mother has parental responsibility at birth and the father does too if on birth certificate. So, in my case has taken over the house and kept the children and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Police can't help, nobody can until court. Haven't spoken or seen mine in four months now, won't allow it and is smearing me.

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