Narcissistic Victim Syndrome is a relatively new concept in psychiatry. Until recently, research mainly focused on Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) – the perpetrator – whereas it is precisely the victims who often seek help from a psychiatrist.
What is Narcissistic Victim Syndrome?
The word “syndrome” derives from the Greek σύνδρομον, meaning concurrence. Coined by the Greek physician Claudius Galenus, the term refers to a set of symptoms associated with a disease.
Narcissistic Victim Syndrome (NVS) is, therefore, a collection of symptoms that occur after narcissistic abuse. Anyone who has had or still has a long-term relationship with a narcissist knows how disastrous the consequences can be.
Symptoms of Narcissistic Victim Syndrome
The list of symptoms is extensive. Here are a few:
- Fatigue (both physical and mental)
- Low self-confidence
- Poor sleep
- Anxiety
- Feelings of inferiority
- Obsessive thoughts and compulsions
- Depression
- Distrust
- Tension
Diagnosis of Narcissistic Victim Syndrome
A significant challenge in diagnosis arises from the fact that many of these symptoms overlap with those of other mental illnesses. Victims often remain unaware that they are subjected to narcissistic abuse, making it difficult to detect. Consequently, misdiagnosis is a common outcome.
I was once diagnosed with Social Phobia. Given what I know now, I question the accuracy of this diagnosis. To illustrate, here are two excerpts from a letter I wrote in 2015 for an intake interview for mental healthcare.
My first encounter with mental healthcare was in 1996, initiated by the Employment Office. They concluded that there must be “something” with me preventing me from securing a job, and the diagnosis from mental healthcare was Social Phobia.
A reintegration agency referred me to mental health a few years later. Further examination led to the diagnosis of “probably chronic Social Phobia.”
However, there is one aspect that I failed to mention during that more extensive investigation. I didn’t consciously do so, but it likely involved my mother.
My mother subjected me to mental abuse during my childhood, and the family environment was constantly filled with conflict and tension. My mom often became angry over trivial matters…
More about the mental abuse by my mother can be found in the article Narcissistic Mother.
The lingering question is whether I am indeed a victim of a mother with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This also sheds a different light on the diagnosed Social Phobia, particularly concerning its cause.
My specific requests for help from mental healthcare are as follows:
- With this newfound knowledge, can we delve deeper into the root cause of my social phobia? Note: The only way to confirm the aforementioned suspicion is through me, as my mother will never undergo diagnosis, consistently deflecting blame onto others.
- Are there any treatments available for victims of narcissistic abuse?
Is there enough knowledge?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. The concept of Narcissistic Victim Syndrome is still relatively new. Until now, psychiatry has primarily focused on Narcissistic Personality Disorder—the perpetrator—while it is the victims who seek mental healthcare.
Regrettably, when I sought help from mental healthcare, shortly after discovering that my mother is a covert narcissist, I wasn’t aware of the existence of NVS. It appears that they had not yet familiarized themselves with it, as no research had been conducted.
I had the impression that they were unsure about how to assist me. Eventually, I was enrolled in cognitive behavioral therapy. While interesting, it wasn’t specifically tailored to recovery from narcissistic abuse.
Perhaps in a few years, more information will emerge, and suitable therapies can be developed. Until then, we must rely on the knowledge and experiences of those who have lived through it.
