If you’ve ever experienced narcissistic abuse, you know it’s very real and common in not only romantic relationships but also toxic family relationships, friendships, and even work relationships.
And whether you’re a mental health professional or someone suffering from narcissistic abuse in a toxic relationship, World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day can become a catalyst to help you identify and address your underlying issues.
What is World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day?
World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day (WNAAD) is June 1st. Established in 2016, WNAAD is a growing global movement dedicated to raising the profile of narcissistic abuse, providing public pathology education and resources for survivors, and effecting policy change. WNAAD is an international event that is recognized worldwide.
What is narcissistic abuse?
Narcissistic abuse is a form of psychological and emotional abuse that pervasively destroys its victims from the inside out.
Using gaslighting and other manipulative tactics, narcissistic people use this form of abuse to control their victims.
Most narcissists are always seeking control, which they use on you to keep a constant source of narcissistic supply, on hand.
Unfortunately, it also leads to the mental and emotional destruction of another human being.
It’s so prevalent that many people who suffer from narcissistic abuse aren’t even aware that what they are experiencing is a legitimate form of abuse.
When they become aware they are being abused, many survivors have difficulty even describing it because it’s so hard to recognize.
Sadly, the impact of it often lingers long after the relationship has ended, and many survivors find themselves dealing with C-PTSD symptoms.
Think you might be experiencing narcissistic abuse? Take our quick narcissistic abuse self-assessment and find out.
Who established World Narcissistic Abuse Day and why?
Bree Bonchay, a psychotherapist with nearly two decades of experience helping patients recover from trauma and abuse, founded World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day.
Bonchay is also a survivor, so when she realized that very few people knew about narcissistic abuse, she felt moved to take action to raise awareness.
Her book, “I Am Free
Talking World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day with Founder Bree Bonchay
Video: What is Narcissistic Abuse? Why Should You Care? With #WNAAD Founder Bree Bonchay
Why is World Narcissistic Awareness Day so important?
“Narcissistic abuse is such an under-recognized public health issue because describing what you can’t see or prove presents a huge challenge, and narcissists can easily present themselves as loving guardians and partners,” Bonchay said in a press release, noting that this is why she had chosen to use the hashtag #IfMyWoundsWereVisible.
“That’s more people than are affected by depression,” she said. “Yet there is a lack of public education and awareness campaigns about it.”
I would add that it’s highly likely that a significant percentage of people who are narcissistic abuse victims and survivors are also likely experiencing depression, which could make these statistics even more shocking.
Think about how profound this is: If this were any other physical or mental health issue, it could qualify as a pandemic — underscoring the need for greater awareness.
“It’s important we raise awareness about narcissistic abuse not only to protect the individual victim but because ultimately it impacts us all,” she said. And this, my friends, is one of the many reasons we are here at QueenBeeing, doing what we do to serve our fellow survivors.
What does the #IfMyWoundsWereVisible hashtag mean?
“We came up with the hashtag, #IfMyWoundsWereVisible, because, unlike physical abuse where a single strike or blow, narcissistic abue often leaves marks or bruises and qualifies an act of domestic violence, narcissistic abuse is invisible,” Bonchay said. “Narcissistic abuse is the sum of many unseen injuries.
Takeaway
World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day is an occasion to remember that abuse has no boundaries and that everyone should be informed about narcissism, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and narcissistic abuse recovery.
Start Getting Help with Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Today
- 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 support system and program.
- Join one of our free online narcissistic abuse recovery support groups!
- Join one of our private small coaching groups! (NEW groups offer person-to-person talks 3x each week, plus DM support all week. AKA: regular. life-changing support)
- Get our narcissistic abuse recovery app!
- 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.
More Free Information & Resources to Help
- Overcome Brain Fog and Cognitive Dissonance With This Free Cognitive Dissonance Toolkit
- Take the Codependency Quiz
- The Codependency Triangle
- Narcissistic Abuse Recovery FAQ Pages
- Free Support Groups
Related Resources for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
- Toxic Narcissism in Relationships: Identifying PTSD and C-PTSD
- Narcissists and Public Humiliation: How & Why Narcs Shame You Publicly
- Survive the Discard: Breaking Up With a Narcissist
- Toxic Love: 44 warning signs that you’re being emotionally abused
- Answered: What’s the worst part of emotional abuse?
- Narcissists and Blame Shifting: Are you a built-in scapegoat?
- ACON? How to explain why you went ‘no-contact’ with a narcissistic parent
- Why Therapy Might Not Always Work for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery | QueenBeeing
