The Errors of the Ignorant – No. 2
A series based on the comments made by people who fail to understand the true nature of narcissists and the narcissistic dynamic. Whilst these comments may be well-intentioned, they are incorrect, perpetuate misunderstandings and in many cases create false hope, dashed expectations and perilous outcomes.
‘Let him go but tell him you will always be there for him.’
I have seen this advice given when an individual has been entangled with our kind. The victim has endured the push and pull behaviour of being told that they are not good enough for us as they suffer the devaluation. They cling on and then a Respite Period occurs. Thus they think that their indefatigable approach has caused the return of the golden period. Ultimately, its return is down to us and our decision and not about what you have done. It might be that an external source, such as an Intimate Partner Secondary Source has infuriated us and therefore they have been devalued and therefore to create the contrast, we have given you the golden period again through the imposition of a Golden Period. You might have done something especially impressive through the provision of positive fuel to cause it to return as you have outfuelled your (unknown) rival or rivals. Whatever it was, the decision is down to us.
Accordingly, this on then off, this push then pull, this up and down, in and out behaviour has left a victim totally puzzled as to what is going on. The narcissist may have said such things as
“This is not working, I need space.”
“Perhaps if we have time apart this will bring us closer together again.”
“I need space to clear my thoughts.”
“You are putting me under pressure and I do not need it, just give me room.”
All of these comments are issued as part of the ongoing manipulation to confuse you. Yesterday we went for a wonderful picnic with you and today we are talking about needing space. You do not understand. What has changed? From your perspective nothing has. From ours, it is the switching nature of our perspective whereby we feel the need to exert control over you and gain fuel from you. Yesterday we thought it would look good for the façade to spend time with you and the children and you all gave me positive fuel. It was a good day. First thing this morning, the Candidate IPSS left me a glowing and admiring voicemail which shifted my attention on to them and reminded me why you have irritated and annoyed me. She is white, you have been painted black again and when you tried to hug me this morning, seeking to capitalise on yesterday’s delightful day, you were rebuffed and chastised for smothering me. You recoiled, hurt and confused. Pushed away again after having been pulled in.
After months of this you speak to a well-meaning friend, seek the advice of some supposed relationship expert and you convey your misery, the uncertainty and how often we have talked about splitting up and spending time apart. This advisor listens and fails to recognise the behaviour of our kind and what is behind it. They attribute it to someone who is failing to value you (which is correct) but they do not grasp the real reason behind such behaviour. You have fallen into the victim’s trap of trying to find a reason to explain this behaviour through either the influence of an external agent or in common with your capacity to self-flagellate, your own apparent shortcomings. Between the two of you, you conclude that the position at work and a recent bereavement have resulted in this confusion, this failure to identify priorities with you and your advisor suggests that giving us the often spoken about space would be advantageous.
“Show him that you will give him what he keeps saying that he needs but also let him know that he continues to have your love and support. Let him know that you are there for him when he needs you but you are going to help him by giving him the space that he requires to get his head together. He will get what he needs, value your support and then realise just how much he wants and needs you,” the advisor explains.
So, feeling reassured by these apparently sagacious words and the detailed conversations you have had with this advisor, you tell us that you are going to let us go, but that you will always be there for us.
Bad move.
Of course you will always be there for us. We expect that already. It is the central feature of the Narcissistic Relationship, that you belong to us. You are only telling us something which we know anyway.
What we actually hear when you say this sentence, or something similar to it, is not that you are trying to do what we want. We do not hear that you are trying to accord with what we desire, no matter how much you would rather not do so. We fail to recognise this act of sacrifice on your part. Why? Because as ever we are far too concerned for ourselves. What we hear is that you are trying to escape us.
It does not matter that we have been the ones who have threatened to leave, that we have repeatedly told you to back off, leave us alone, give us space, that we are thinking of going, leaving, separating or however we decide to describe it. No, that is irrelevant and of course we will twist and deflect to ever deny we said those things (you made us do it of course because it is YOUR fault).
We hear you saying you are leaving us. You are escaping. You as our IPPS are about to cut off the supply of our precious fuel and this fills us with horror at this prospect. Your words wound us and accordingly we react through the ignition of our fury. You are criticising us (according to our perspective) and therefore this wounds us. Our self-defence mechanism kicks in and our fury ignites. How this manifests varies dependent on the type of narcissist you are dealing with. You may be shouted at, attacked, emotionally black-mailed, we may burst into tears (crying for ourselves of course – not you and not the death of the Formal Relationship) or we engage in charm and threat to halt your intended departure. (You can read more about how we react to being told that you are ‘escaping’ in How No Contact Feels – Part One How No Contact Feels Part – Two and How No Contact Feels – Part Three).
This supposedly kind and charitable act on your part will be met with an attempt to stop you leaving. This will both confuse and relieve you. You will undoubtedly remain, as you never really wanted to allow this cessation for the provision of space in the first place and you will confirm to us that you do not want it to end. You will reassure and in so doing provide fuel. We will appear pleased, relieved and so forth and of course we do not want to lose our primary source of fuel. At least, not until we are ready to dis-engage.
Do not think that your kindness and consideration will be met with approval thereafter however. Your attempt will be thrown back in your face as evidence of your treachery (and do not even think about suggesting you were only doing what we want) and you will be punished for this traitorous behaviour through the continuance of the devaluation and the imposition of greater nastiness. Your confusion will return. You tried to do the right thing and your advisor suggested this was the right thing to do and look what happened. This is, of course, because nobody has identified what you have entangled with nor understood how we behave.
You are bewildered, perplexed and miserable again.
Do we want you or do we not want you?
Of course not.
We want your fuel.
18 thoughts on “The Errors of the Ignorant – No. 2”
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Kiki
As empaths we forget that their thinking is not the same as ours (it isn’t), or hope it has changed (it hasn’t). We expect them to hold to their word as we do and not play games, but they say and do whatever it takes to get that fuel and negative fuel is all the more sweet and potent. It was not your behaviour but rather that you forgot his in being disordered. This is what they do and will forevermore. Shut down the pump and go proper no contact so he is not be able to reach you to arrange these hurtful games in future. Let him play with himself.
Thank you HG for all that you have shared so far. It has helped me realise so many things about my last relationship, your articles has helped me heal.
I am working with my ex narc. Not directly with the same projects, but we work next to each other. No contact is impossible. How should I move on? How should I act? Nobody knows at work.
I left him 2 months ago (after 1 year on and off) he was ok with that. I didn’t answer his last text 1 month ago, when I finally understood everything. He does not know I know. Lately I feel he has been talking with me a lot more, and I am afraid he will hoover. Please help me. I hope this make se se, I am finnish and not so good in english.
No contact is not impossible. Your emotional thinking tells you it is impossible. To tackle this situation you need logic and various techniques that I can provide to you, please use this
https://narcsite.com/private-audio-consultation/
Thank you for replying! I will think about it.
You’re welcome
Is it common for narcs to say things like this too? The opposite happened to me. My narcissist ex told me “this is not goodbye” and “I’ll still be here for you” when he discarded me, after telling me everything that was wrong with me (he never actually was there for me, btw).This was very confusing.
We can come out of with similar words and phrases however what you have to do is not analyse that is being said, but WHO is saying it. It has to be analysed through the prism of the nature of the speaker.
For example
Empath. “I will never leave you.” The empath is genuine, they want to remain with this person always and want that to be the case because of their various empathic traits.
Narcissist “I will never leave you.” I am future faking by referring to a future always together in order to control you. Of course the Narcissistic Asterisk applies so I could leave you one minute and deny I ever said “I will never leave you.”
Good example of future faking HG. You are breaking it down nicely.
Thank you.
Can your designer create a graphic representation of the Narcissistic Asterisk* and put it on a coffee cup? Please?
KayDiva,
My MMRN did the exact same thing. And said all the same things. I’m friend zoned and shelved. And guess what? He isn’t there. So yes, very common. At least for me anyway. Always a saint. Saint Piano.
I want to curl up and cry but I won’t , I’m going to give the silent treatment as good as I get it now
Kiki
Kiki: Crying in front of someone and crying alone is 2 different thing. Cry. It is a way to let pain leave the body. Some people are actually paying specialist to help them and teach them how to cry, because all their emotions are stuck inside of them. Just do not let him know you cried. But, cry. Dear. Cry.
Hg this one resonates deeply tonight with me
Anyone here
I’m feeling on the verge of tears right now but I don’t want to 😢
I feel like a stupid fool
I mentioned ex narc hoovered and kept it going , somehow I went along with it , I knew the score so it was harmless I thought.
I felt in control, I cannot believe what has happened, well I can .
The night before a meet he cancelled, I got annoyed and said I couldn’t reschedule
This was all by email, nothing but the silent treatment since .
Jeez I fell like screaming , who the fuck cancels the night before after arranging this weeks ago
It’s obvious my curt response sent him into a silent treatment but a normal person would call and apologise not disappear , they would expect annoyance.Im being punished yet I was not the one to cancel.
I’m so soooo disappointed in myself right now .
I wasn’t expecting this really I wasn’t .
I am a fool a stupid fool . It’s so twisted
I haven’t emailed him and I won’t but this is horrible.He did the shitty thing and I’m being punished for it , a mindfuck.
I hate him
Kiki
Kiki
I hate to say it but you were likely future faked and he may never have planned to meet. Delicious negative fuel at your upset over it guaranteed for him. These are the games they play. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You just fell victim to hope and thinking you could handle it. I once had one text HOURS after we were supposed to meet to say sorry that he didn’t make it. I knew he likely wouldn’t show so I never went. I responded that I met up with a friend for drinks and time got away on me and I didn’t make it either so no problem. Cue silent treatment for weeks before he popped up like it never happened. Fuckwit.
Hi narc Angel
I just posted somewhere here now that it must have been planned you are correct
No one sane behaves like this even if they are a guy who lost interest .
It was a ploy , now the silent treatment is to hammer in the nail .
The silent treatment has given the fucker away
A normal guy would have understood my annoyed response ( iit is normal to be annoyed if your cancelled so late isn’t it )and prob called with an apology. What did I get ignored
That is NOT normal behaviour it reeks of manipulation.
I did not respond or react to the Silent treatment
Kiki
Thanks Narc Angel I feel better after reading your response, I was starting to question my own behaviour,
Was I inconsiderate to get annoyed , this is my thinking blaming myself again .
Even if I was a guy who is good would call apologise and it would be all fine then
I put effort into my appearance and I was upset
Please don’t be hard on yourself! They will dole out the silent treatment over anything and nothing! Please stay strong and KNOW it’s not you! HUGS!!