Social gatherings no longer feel warm or welcoming; they can feel like a battlefield. Maybe the narcissist spread lies about you, turning friends or family against you, or maybe you distanced yourself from people who dismissed your pain with comments like, “Are you sure it was that bad?” Without a solid support system, showing up to an event can feel like walking into a room full of people who either misunderstand you or secretly judge you. Dr. Lindsay Gibson explains that narcissists often isolate their victims by controlling the narrative. They make it difficult for them to maintain close relationships. Because of this, you might feel safer avoiding social events altogether. It’s exhausting pretending everything is fine when inside you feel like an outsider. And let’s be real: who wants to sit through a conversation with people who once believed, or still believe, the narcissist’s twisted version of events? Listen closely: the right people will believe you, support you, and make you feel safe again.
Lone Wolf Mentality
After all the manipulation and betrayal, being alone feels like the safest option. You’ve learned that people can be unpredictable; one moment they’re kind, and the next they’re twisting your words or using your vulnerabilities against you. So you retreat. At first, it’s just self-preservation, but over time it becomes second nature. Isolation becomes a comfort zone, even if deep down you crave connection. The problem is, once you’ve built that lone wolf mentality, it’s hard to break out of it. Socializing feels exhausting, and you might even convince yourself that you don’t need people at all. After all, solitude has protected you before. However, the challenge isn’t just avoiding toxic people; it’s learning to trust the safe ones again. Healing doesn’t mean forcing yourself into uncomfortable social situations, but it does mean recognizing that not everyone is a threat.
Depression and Low Mood
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