Developmental or infantile amnesia can occur in cases of long-term narcissistic abuse, especially if it began in childhood. Early traumatic memories are not stored in the same way as adult memories. If you grew up with a narcissistic parent, your hippocampus might not have developed normally, leading to a lifelong struggle with remembering events from childhood, especially the painful ones. Amnesia can also function as a type of denial, a psychological way of saying, “This didn’t happen,” because the brain can’t bear to acknowledge the trauma. It’s the mind’s way of protecting itself, creating distance between you and the traumatic event by obscuring it, allowing you to continue functioning daily.
3. Rumination
Rumination is like being stuck on a mental hamster wheel—you’re running and running but not getting anywhere. Your mind gets locked into a cycle of repetitive thoughts, usually focusing on past mistakes, regrets, or worries about the future. It’s like a broken record that keeps playing the same distressing tune, making it nearly impossible to move forward. Scientifically, rumination is a kind of brain freeze, where the mind gets stuck in overthinking as a way to cope with overwhelming stress.
In a narcissistic relationship, you rarely get closure, which is why your brain responds by replaying scenarios and conversations, trying to solve an unsolvable puzzle. This endless mental loop can paralyze you, draining your emotional energy and keeping you trapped in a cycle of fear, anxiety, and doubt.
4. Hyperactivity That Feels Like ADHD
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
