Hyperactivity can make you feel like your brain is stuck in high gear, unable to slow down. Simple tasks can feel overwhelming as your thoughts dart around like a ping pong ball. Research shows a strong link between psychological trauma and ADHD-like symptoms. Emotional abuse rewires your brain, keeping it in a heightened state of alertness. This isn’t just a temporary reaction—it becomes ingrained in your neural pathways. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, can be impacted, leading to impulsivity and difficulty concentrating.
5. Decision Fatigue
Decision fatigue is a common issue for those who have endured narcissistic abuse. It manifests as a paralyzing sense of indecisiveness, leaving you second-guessing even the smallest choices. This isn’t about being bad at making decisions—it’s the result of chronic conditioning in that relationship. The narcissist likely punished or shamed you for making the “wrong” decisions, even if they were trivial, creating a deep-seated fear of making mistakes.
Every choice, even as simple as deciding what to eat or wear, can feel like a high-stakes decision. Over time, this leads to mental exhaustion, leaving you emotionally drained and unable to make decisions, big or small.
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