Narcissistic abuse takes away your confidence on every level. And often, redeveloping your self-confidence can feel completely impossible after going through such intense ongoing trauma. Many survivors of narcissistic abuse also find themselves struggling with social anxiety and even agoraphobia.
This makes life so much harder, right? After all, your ability to interact with others impacts your self-concept, career, social life, and personal life. And once you’ve left the toxic relationship and started your life over, you find yourself flailing and feeling both lost and alone. Plus, so often, survivors feel anxious about developing their self-confidence, fearing that they themselves might become narcissistic. Can you relate?
How do you rebuild self-confidence after narcissistic abuse?
Okay, so we know that life is more fun and a lot easier if you feel confident around others. And when you’ve been through a toxic relationship that has completely wiped your self-esteem out, it might feel really difficult to make it happen. But the good news is that the skills that make this possible are well-known but can be uncomfortable to develop. And, if you’re willing to be a little bold, you can start rebuilding confidence immediately. To start, watch this video, which offers tips on how to develop rock-solid self-confidence after narcissistic abuse.
Want additional self-confidence tips for narcissistic abuse survivors? Watch these videos, and read the following additional tips on how to do just that.
Level-Up Your Post-Narcissistic Abuse Confidence
Talk to people.
You become more comfortable with something when you do it a lot. Most confidence issues are based on fear – ESPECIALLY for narcissistic abuse survivors. By talking to a lot of people, you’ll show yourself that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Fortunately, there are people everywhere.
- Tip: Consider getting a part-time job that involves speaking to people. You could be a waiter, salesperson, customer service rep, or any other job that requires interacting with others. You’ll earn some extra money, too.
Schedule your social life.
Be sure you have a few hours of social activity planned into your life each week. Get out of the house and have a little fun with others.
Study confident, powerful characters in movies.
Look at movies with strong characters and note how they stand, move, and use eye contact. What is it that makes them appear so in control and formidable? Which movie character do you wish you could be like? Study them. Check out this list of best movies for narcissistic abuse survivors if you need a little inspiration.
Have controlled emotional reactions.
Think of James Bond. You could tell him he has mustard on his shirt and a satellite was about to fall on the building. He might wink at you, say something funny, and then take another bite of his hotdog before taking any action. The most confident people underreact. You might also recognize this as a version of the gray rock technique.
Maintain confident eye contact.
Look everyone in the eye with great confidence. You’re not in a staring contest, but you can’t lower your eyes in deference if you want to be viewed as a powerful person. Practice your eye contact with everyone that crosses your path.
Stand up straight!
Slouching and appearing smaller than you really are can make you feel less confident than you need to feel. Seriously! Imagine you are a famous person walking among your greatest supporters. How would you stand? Try to maintain that same posture whether you’re addressing the masses or taking your trash cans to the curb.
Create social opportunities for yourself.
There are many ways you can make yourself the center of attention (in a good way!). For example, the following.
- Have a party.
- Start a meetup group, or join one. Check out meetup.com for ideas!
- Join Toastmasters.
- Inform your peers of one of your goals, such as losing weight.
- Attend networking events.
- Get a group of people together to go out to the movies or to dinner.
- Get some friends together for a poker night.
Expect success, nothing less!
Remind yourself of your successful social interactions in the past. Visualize success in the future. Have high expectations for interactions in all social situations. Imagine entering a room full of strangers and boldly speaking with the most attractive or influential person there. The world would truly be your oyster. That confidence would overflow into other parts of your life.
As you continue your recovery from narcissistic abuse, developing your self-confidence will be an important way to level up. When you get a handle on this important part of your life, it will change everything – in a very good way.
Get Support in Healing from Narcissistic Abuse
Need help dealing with a narcissistic relationship? Start with your friends and/or family members who may understand and be willing to support you. If you don’t have supportive or understanding people around you, which is often the case for survivors of narcissistic abuse due to the fact that narcissists have a tendency to isolate you, you may need to look at some other options. Online help is readily available for survivors of narcissistic abuse. Here are some options to begin healing from narcissistic abuse right away.
- Sign up for our free email newsletter service that includes a free guided recovery experience via your inbox.
- Start your narcissistic abuse recovery here with our free narcissistic abuse recovery support system and program.
- Join one of our free online narcissistic abuse recovery support groups!
- Join one of our private small coaching groups!
- Get private, one-on-one narcissistic abuse recovery coaching or counseling.
- Get a therapist who will work with you online. Check out our guide to finding a therapist or psychologist who understands narcissism and narcissistic abuse.
Related Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Resources
- Why do narcissists follow identical relationship patterns?
- Toxic Narcissism in Relationships: Identifying PTSD and C-PTSD
- Searching for an ideal partner on the online dating site
- Narcissists and Public Humiliation: How & Why Narcs Shame You Publicly
- Survive the Discard: Breaking Up With a Narcissist
- Don’t Go It Alone! 5 Ways to Win at Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
- 30 Life-Changing Facts About Narcissists in Relationships
- Post-Gaslighting Emergency Recovery: A ‘First Aid’ Kit for Your Aching Soul
- Discover Your Inner Badass!
- Are narcissists jealous of their children?
