Narcissistic abuse can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental and emotional well-being, and it may take some time to recover from the trauma. However, prioritizing self-care helps to regain control, rebuild self-esteem, manage trauma symptoms, and move forward.

Rebuilding your self-esteem is a critical aspect of self-care after narcissistic abuse. A common tactic of the narcissist is to belittle and invalidate you, leaving you feeling worthless and undeserving of love and respect. Self-care is essential to provide a safe and supportive environment to nurture and validate your emotions and needs. It can also be helpful in challenging negative self-talk.

Regaining control is another crucial aspect of self-care after narcissistic abuse. After having your life controlled, you may experience feeling helpless and powerless. Self-care can help you regain control by making choices that prioritize your well-being and implementing healthy boundaries. It can also help to develop a sense of agency and autonomy, which can be liberating.

Managing trauma symptoms is also a crucial aspect of self-care after narcissistic abuse. Narcissistic abuse can cause significant trauma and emotional distress. Self-care can help manage trauma symptoms by providing coping strategies that regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental and physical health. Some self-care strategies, such as prayer, listening to worship music, reading the Bible, and even speaking the Word of God as daily affirmations, can be particularly effective in managing trauma symptoms.

Another form of self-care is to practice self-compassion. Self-compassion is the practice of treating yourself with kindness and understanding. After experiencing narcissistic abuse, you may have internalized negative messages about yourself and your worth. Practicing self-compassion can help you challenge those negative messages and establish a more positive and compassionate attitude toward yourself. When practicing self-compassion, you should acknowledge your feelings and experiences, validate your pain, and treat yourself with the compassion you would show a friend.

Self-care may also include seeking the professional help of a biblical therapist or counselor. A biblical therapist or counselor can provide a safe and supportive environment to process your experience, validate your feelings, and develop coping strategies. Also, they should be able to help you understand the dynamics of narcissistic abuse and how it has affected you.