Dealing with a Narcissist in a Texas High-Conflict Divorce

 Posted on January 26,2023 in Complex Divorce

Even under the best of circumstances, with both spouses agreeing that the marriage is over, as well as agreeing on custody and financial issues, divorce can still be difficult. When a person is divorcing a narcissist, those difficulties are more complex and often end up turning into a high-conflict divorce.

High-conflict divorces are notoriously more expensive, long, and drawn-out as the narcissist turns the process into an emotional and financial roller coaster, refusing to cooperate and putting up roadblocks to a peaceful resolution every step of the way. The divorce process is often the last breath of control the narcissist spouse has on the other spouse and he or she may hold onto that control until the very end.

Mental Health Impact

Tragically, there is an enormous emotional impact that a high-conflict divorce has on not only the spouse but also the children. Everyone can suffer from greater levels of anxiety and depression as the narcissist bombards their family with anger, disrespectful communication, and refusal to cooperate in any type of meaningful negotiation.

Master Manipulators

Narcissists are master manipulators. Unfortunately, during divorce, they use their manipulation tactics via the family court system to get back at their spouse. Narcissists often do not consider their children as they focus on inflicting as much turmoil into the life of their spouse. Their own needs come first and for many, their children are nothing more than pawns to be used to achieve their goal of hurting the spouse who has left them.

While some narcissists wage war on their spouse in the open, others use a different, more covert type of battle. They may tell lies to family and friends as a way to paint themselves as the victim in the marriage. They will hire a law firm that will be more than happy to file one frivolous motion after another in an attempt to turn the divorce into an endless process.

Protect Yourself Emotionally and Legally

If you are divorcing a narcissist, you already know how intense dealing with them has been throughout your marriage. You know that your spouse will never take accountability for their action and will try to blame you for everything that contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.

It is critical that you take steps to protect yourself emotionally. No matter how much your spouse tries to push your buttons, do not engage. Consider blocking your spouse from all of your social media accounts and do not forget to change your passwords for all of your online accounts to prevent your spouse from hacking into them.

You may also want to consider therapy for both you and your children to help repair the emotional damage your narcissistic spouse has caused.

Contact a Travis County Divorce Attorney

One of the most important steps you can take when divorcing a narcissist is retaining a seasoned Austin, TX high conflict divorce lawyer. You need a dedicated legal team that will protect you from both your spouse and their attorney. Call Powers Kerr & Rashidi, PLLC at 512-610-6199 to schedule a confidential consultation and find out how we can help.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/legal-matters/202106/5-tips-get-through-divorce-narcissist

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/divorcing-a-narcissist/