Dr. Tian Dayton, a clinical psychologist, reports the impact of this trauma on a child and how the environment in which these children grow up directly reflects the major factors contributing to PTSD. These factors include the feeling of being unable to escape from the pain, being at risk in the family, and being frightened in a place that should be safe. As with all personality disorders, NPD is a long-standing condition. In order to receive a diagnosis of NPD, someone needs to display the above symptoms over several years. Narcissists often grew up with narcissistic parents and were used and hurt by them.

A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial matters. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they’re not given the special favors or admiration that they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships troubled and unfulfilling, and other people may not enjoy being around them. Mothers with narcissistic tendencies can leave long-term effects on their daughters. But learning how your mother’s behaviors affected you as a child and now as an adult can lead you toward finding relief.

What’s the outlook for people with NPD or AUD?

Below, therapists share how to recognize traits of narcissism in a parent, along with a few strategies for handling this behavior — whether you want to maintain your relationship or cut it off completely. A person with a parent who has NPD may find speaking with a mental health professional can help them learn ways to manage their relationship and cope with the effects. It is important to set and maintain boundaries within the relationship with the parent who has NPD. For example, a person can tell the parent that if there is an outburst, negative attack, or other unhealthy behaviors, the person retains the right to walk away or pause the relationship. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) can strain relationships.

How to Handle a Narcissistic Mother

You might be questioning your worth or capabilities more often than not. You might find it difficult to trust your own judgment, constantly second-guessing your decisions. It seeps into your everyday life, shaping who you become as an adult. Only you can decide the best course of your relationship, but if your parental interactions cause extreme stress in your everyday life, cutting ties might be a necessary option. A narcissist is a person who has an extreme interest or admiration for themselves.

How do mothers with narcissistic traits treat their daughters? We list these behaviors and explain their long-lasting effects. Empathic mothers are attuned to the emotional welfare of their children; narcissistic mothers represent a perversion of narcissistic alcoholic mother the maternal instinct. The narcissistic mother has no qualms about using her emotional outbursts to control and manipulate her children, yet when her children express their emotions, she invalidates them completely.

But you can take steps to safeguard your mental health and protect your sense of self. People may not get their emotional needs met by a parent with NPD. One way a person may cope with their parent who has NPD is through isolation. This may be via geographical isolation, such as moving away from the parent. It may also be from isolating the parent from the individual’s life. For example, if a parent with NPD is happy and showers the child with admiration, that child may have a higher sense of self-esteem.

If your parent cannot leave you alone, you may need to take legal action and obtain a protection order, if warranted. Trying to reason with a narcissist is usually a pointless exercise, so you must put your own well-being at the top of your priority list and take any legal steps necessary to build a barrier that will work. As an adult, this could manifest in various ways – you might find it hard to trust others, fear betrayal, or constantly anticipate disappointment. These behaviors often stem from growing up in an environment where love and approval are conditional on your performance. Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety.

Understanding the Effects of Narcissistic Mothers on Their Daughters

1. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a formal diagnosis usually made by psychiatrists and it’s a very severe mental health condition, says Helen.
2. No matter how you feel today as a result of your relationship with your mother, know that your experience is valid.
3. Growing up with a narcissistic mother can often lead to this trait.
4. With therapy and support, ACOAs can make changes in their life and treat the underlying PTSD and trauma.
5. Growing up in an alcoholic home, you feel insecure and crave acceptance.

We see eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, chronic depression, a huge lack of identity, very, very low self-esteem and self-worth’. Your mother may have a few hallmarks, like self-absorption and entitlement. Or she may have  narcissistic personality disorder, which includes signs such as grandiosity, arrogance, lack of empathy, and an excessive need to be admired.

Treatment & Support

Healing from a narcissistic mother can take time, but it’s important to set boundaries and prioritize your own mental health. Working with a trained therapist or counselor can be helpful in recognizing and repairing your own behaviors and possibly reconnecting with a narcissistic parent. For those raised by narcissistic parents, the healing journey is often fraught with emotional turmoil, self-doubt, and psychological scars that can last a lifetime.

For someone who lives with NPD, however, these traits and behaviors will show up across a range of situations and have a persistent negative effect on multiple areas of life — including family relationships. These may include avoiding or limiting contact, setting boundaries, or trying gray rocking. A person who has a parent with NPD may find that it affects different aspects of their life.