WHAT WE TREAT

Narcissistic Abuse

Above all else, if you are reading this because you are worried that you are suffering from narcissistic abuse, you are not ‘crazy’, and you are in the right place. Narcissistic abuse is a complex, subtle, and insidious experience.

At Paracelsus Recovery, our number one priority is to help you regain those parts of yourself that you are losing to the abuse.

How we treat narcissistic abuse

Narcissistic abuse refers to the psychological and physical violence that people suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) inflict on others. NPD is a complex personality disorder that results in a distorted relationship with reality and is usually rooted in childhood trauma. Symptoms include a sense of superiority over others, a lack of empathy and a need for constant admiration.

Narcissistic abuse can occur in any type of relationship from romantic partners and friends to siblings and parents. In fact, it is common for a vicious cycle to occur whereby a narcissistic parent inflicts narcissistic abuse upon their children who in turn develop narcissistic personality disorder and then proceed to inflict the same abuse on others later in life.

It is painful to be on the receiving end of narcissistic abuse. An abusive relationship with a narcissist often leaves people feeling confused about who they are, what the truth is, what they feel and what happened to them. In addition, a victim can feel paralysed, exhausted, alone and unable to break free from the abusive cycle. Narcissistic abuse sets the stage for countless other mental health conditions, but it is a particularly common root-cause of anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, and substance abuse issues.

learn more about npd

The symptoms of narcissistic abuse include:

Feelings of intense self-doubt, low self-esteem and indecisiveness.
Feeling like a “shadow” of the person they were before the abusive relationship.
Withdrawal from friends and family.
Feeling compelled to put the needs of their abuser before their own.
Sarcificing their emotional safety to satisfy the abuser.
Developing a pervasive mistrust of others.
Feeling obligated to protect the abuser, often to the point of gaslighting themselves.
A feeling of disconnection or dissociation from their emotional pain and anguish.
Anxiety symptoms such as persistent worrying, nausea, headaches, or dizziness.
Depression symptoms such as a pessimistic outlook on life or suicidal ideation.

Forms of narcissistic abuse:

Gaslighting:

Gaslighting occurs when a person tries to gain control over another by making them question their perception of reality. For example, if a person finds evidence that their narcissistic partner is having an affair and the partner responds by calling them ‘crazy’ or ‘jealous.’ Another common sign of gaslighting is when a person tries to make their partner only trust their opinion of events or people.

Love bombing & devaluation:

Love bombing usually occurs at the start of a relationship with a narcissist and involves inundating a person with an unhealthy and overwhelming amount of adoration. Love bombing eradicates all boundaries from the beginning, thus building the foundations for abuse. Once the individual is emotionally dependent, the narcissist abruptly shifts to criticism, contempt, and withdrawal (devaluation).

Smear campaigns:

A smear campaign is a deliberate effort to undermine someone’s reputation. For example, a narcissist might overemphasise their partner’s drinking habits to their peers and as a result, if the partner ever tells these friends about the abuse, the narcissist can counteract with statements about how intoxicated their partner was at that time, thereby destroying their credibility.

Silent treatment:

The narcissist may withdraw communication, affection, or attention as a form of punishment, making the victim feel unworthy or desperate for the narcissist’s approval.

Projection:

The narcissist accuses the victim of the very behaviours or feelings they themselves are guilty of. For example, if the narcissist is cheating, they may accuse the victim of infidelity to deflect blame.

Triangulation:

The narcissist brings a third person into the relationship dynamic to create jealousy, competition, or insecurity. This could be through comparing the victim to someone else or using another person to undermine the victim’s confidence.

Bespoke treatment

How we treat narcissistic abuse

We can’t tell you exactly what your four-week stay will involve because our patients have no pre-defined treatment path. Everyone who comes to stay at Paracelsus Recovery receives a bespoke treatment plan, with each day thoughtfully structured to include a range of carefully-tailored therapeutic elements.

These therapies are designed to complement one another, ensuring that every aspect of your physical, emotional, and psychological health is addressed. See below for more details.

Our approach considers the whole person: mind, body and soul

At the heart of what we do is our 360-degree treatment approach.

For narcissistic abuse, our treatments typically include emotional freedom technique (EFT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help you process the abuse, in conjunction with biochemical restoration, medical interventions and mind/body therapies to heal any damage caused by the constant activation of your fear-flight response.

our approach

Luxury treatment room at Paracelsus Recovery

15+ team members, all dedicated to your health and well-being

Our team is made up of world-renowned doctors, therapists and specialists, including a Nobel Prize-winning board member. This team of more than 15 experts will be dedicated to you and by your side throughout your stay with us. This includes a personal psychiatrist, medical doctor, client relations team, and many others. At the heart of this team is a live-in therapist, available 24/7 to offer emotional support, guidance, and therapeutic assistance as you work through the trauma caused by narcissistic abuse and rebuild your sense of self.

Meet your team

Comprehensive programmes as unique as you are

We tailor our comprehensive and intensive narcissistic abuse treatment programmes to meet your needs. What all of our programmes have in common is that they are steeped in our core values of pragmatism and empathy.

We can provide treatment for narcissistic abuse and any co-occurring mental health conditions at our narcissistic abuse recovery retreat in Zurich.

Four-week residential treatment

Seven-day executive detox