Deciding to move on in life without one’s partner when there are irreconcilable differences in a marriage is an issue to which many Mississippi spouses can relate. In some cases, the decline of a marital relationship has occurred slowly over time, with spouses growing distant from one another but without there being a cataclysmic issue like an affair or domestic violence. In other situations, such as a spouse who has been the victim of narcissistic abuse, the decision to divorce has come after years of mistreatment.
Divorce is never easy, especially if children are involved. However, navigating proceedings when one of the spouses is a narcissist makes it even more difficult to achieve a swift and fair settlement. There are several ways to minimize stress when divorcing a narcissist.
Avoid conflict and stress with these helpful divorce tips
Living with a narcissist can cause stress that is like that which is often experienced in trauma situations, like going to war in the military or suffering injury in a motor vehicle collision. These helpful tips can minimize stress in a divorce that involves a narcissist:
- Limit contact, unless it is necessary to achieve a settlement.
- Attend counseling and take steps to promote healing and to avoid enabling further narcissistic abuse.
- Document all correspondence regarding the divorce and ask for a witness to be present during all in-person meetings.
These three steps alone can go a long way to diffusing the stress associated with divorcing a narcissist. Try not to “take the bait” when attempts are made to spark a confrontation. If necessary, ask a representative to handle all legal interactions.
If a post-divorce issue arises with a narcissist
Narcissists are persistent and may continue to try to cause trouble even after a divorce is finalized. If child custody, child support or alimony issue arises because of narcissistic behavior, it is best to seek legal counsel right away before the situation gets worse.
