Setting Boundaries with Narcissists: Essential Tips from Dr. Andrea Zorbas

Hi, I'm Dr. Andrea Zorbas, a psychologist from Therapy Now SF Let's talk about narcissistic relationships and how they can feel draining and one-sided. The reality is boundaries are essential, but with a narcissist, they require extra clarity and strength.

Today, I'll walk you through how to set those boundaries that protect your wellbeing.

So first off, why are boundaries essential? Narcissists often disregard others' needs and feelings. And without boundaries you can lose sight of your own needs and even your identity. So what you need to do is you need to be direct, you need to be clear and consistent.

So you're gonna use short and simple statements like: "I'm not available after 9:00 PM." And sometimes you need to repeat that same message, and that way you're not getting pulled into debates. You are gonna wanna anticipate some pushback around these boundaries. So expect guilt trips, anger, or even attempts to manipulate you. When that happens, you will stay calm, you'll repeat your boundary without defending yourself.

you are gonna limit emotional disclosure. So narcissists unfortunately may use your feelings against you, so share only what feels safe and keep vulnerable parts of yourself protected. Then you're gonna wanna protect your energy.

So practice self-care around interactions, deep breathing, journaling, or checking in with supportive friends. Remind yourself, protecting your peace is not selfish.

And so how can therapy help? It offers a safe space to process the relationship. It helps you build these strategies and confidence and clarity for enforcing boundaries.

So setting boundaries with narcissist is not easy, but it's a vital step towards reclaiming your energy and protecting your wellbeing, and you don't have to do it alone. Therapy can support you in finding strength and clarity.