Narcissistic breakdown or when they cannot maintain their grandiosity

Narcissistic collapse is an outburst of anger, a tantrum full of frustration that manifests itself when the fragile self-esteem of these men and women is hurt.. These are moments in which, unable to keep his image of grandeur afloat, all of his defenses collapse. But beware. Let’s not think that they are defeated, because in reality it is at this moment when they can reveal their most dangerous side.

Let’s imagine what being exposed can mean for someone with this profile. Suddenly seeing themselves publicly humiliated or having their lie or lack of competence demonstrated can awaken a spring in them: that of rage. Those who live on appearance and their falsehood comes to light usually react aggressively.

The suppressed anxiety when they are exposed in a defective way almost always translates into violence. They will rarely admit their fragility, we will rarely see them asking for forgiveness or giving explanations for their behavior. When the narcissist is hurt, he seeks to hurt and therefore, we must be prepared.

When a narcissist is hurt and his self-esteem is affected, he will always turn his anger against whoever has made his defenses fall.

This is how narcissistic collapse arises and manifests itself

The person with a narcissistic personality disorder always appears very self-confident. However, everything is false, all that charisma, that resolution and those qualities of fantastic poise and efficiency are nothing more than a house of cards. Narcissists are smoke sellers, behind which hide a notable lack of self-esteem and personal insecurity.

They need other people to get validation from to ensure their theater of lies. Few figures are as dependent on others to nourish their ego, their pyrrhic self-concept and their fragile self-image as a narcissist. This explains why it is so common for these people to develop constant mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

When a narcissist suffers a breakdown and is trapped by humiliation, he or she may show paranoid symptoms. A work from Florida State University affects this fact. The anxiety and anguish experienced when they lose the defenses to protect their ego is so intense that in many cases it can lead to depression.

Likewise, this clinical reality is accompanied by paranoid attitudes and behaviors that can be dangerous both for others and for themselves…

Narcissistic breakdown or when they cannot maintain their grandiosity

Narcissists act with grandiosity and omnipotence. Not only do they feel special, but they assume they can accomplish almost anything. However, if there is one thing evident, it is that every person with these personality traits will encounter harsh reality on more than one occasion.

Life, circumstances and those around them will remove that golden mask more than once.

Narcissistic collapse occurs when they can no longer maintain their defensive grandiosity.. That is the moment when their falsehood and vulnerability are exposed. On the other hand, if we ask ourselves what the triggers that cause this situation could be, it should be noted that there are multiple:

Suffering the abandonment of a partner.Being fired from work.Losing the attention of those people who served as reinforcers/nutritors of his ego. Being publicly exposed and making a fool of himself.Losing status in any of its usual contexts: family, friends, work, etc.

What happens when they “collapse”?

As we have pointed out previously, narcissistic collapse manifests itself in an intense and pathological way. Many can lead to paranoid behavior, such as being defensive, distrustful, feeling persecuted, offended, showing hostility and aggressiveness and even developing conspiracy ideas.

Let’s look at the most common characteristics associated with this phenomenon:

After the collapse they may have impulsive reactions, which can be dangerous for others or even for themselves. We cannot rule out suicide attempts given the degree of humiliation they experience. They can withdraw and apply the law of silence (stop talking).We cannot rule out the appearance of psychotic breaks.Appearance of hostile behavior full of rage.

To the extent possible, it is advisable that when a narcissist collapses, they take the step to seek expert help.

How to protect yourself from a collapsed narcissist?

Protecting yourself from a collapsed narcissist requires knowing how to set limits, be assertive, and stay connected to our needs to safeguard physical and psychological well-being. Likewise, let us also keep in mind that it is not advisable to criticize or embarrass them even more. We don’t win anything. And with this, we can raise its emotional intensity even further. Now, there is another decisive aspect.

When a narcissist feels violated, they lose their sense of identity and meanings. All of his defenses have been blown away and he finds himself in a moment of great fragility. That is a very problematic moment and can lead to extreme behaviors. To the extent possible, it would be advisable to guide these people to request specialized help.

Each narcissist has a history and patterns of thought/behavior that can be addressed in a personalized way. Treating these disorganized dynamics, promoting correct emotional regulation or improving interpersonal skills, for example, is key.

However, No therapeutic process will be valid or effective without the correct commitment of the person. Therefore, it is essential that the narcissist takes the step and, on his own, requests help to face the problems that condition his life.

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