Children, Narcissism, and Parental Alienation – How to Combat This Perfect Divorce Storm

 Posted on November 08, 2017 in Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

Divorcing a spouse that is on the narcissism spectrum is not an easy task. The situation can become even more challenging if there are children involved. Already vulnerable to the potentially harmful effects of divorce, children could be used as pawns by the narcissist, a tool that can be used against the other parent.

This kind of activity, known as parental alienation, can have a lifelong negative impact on every relationship that the child will ever have – and that includes the relationship they have with you. Learn how to reduce the risk of this occurring in your divorce, and discover how an experienced divorce attorney can help.

Narcissism and Parental Alienation

Parental alienation and narcissism do not always occur together, but the risk of that happening is certainly higher when your spouse is a narcissist. Part of this problem could be due to the way that family courts handle parental alienation allegations, but the biggest and, perhaps, most influential factor is the narcissist’s disorder. Most are charmers, meaning they can win over almost anyone.

Another reason why these two problems may occur together could be related to the victim role that an alienated parent assumes; narcissists love being the center of attention, and they may stop at nothing to ensure they are – and that includes using their children as pawns.

When Children Are in the Mix

Children can be especially vulnerable to the ploys of a narcissist. Studies suggest that growing up with a narcissistic parent can have lasting and potentially lifelong damaging consequences for a child, such as depression, anxiety, and poor adult relationships. One prime example of this occurring is when a child completely loses the relationship they had with a parent they loved – a parent who could have provided a safe and loving home environment.

Beware of the Narcissist

A narcissist does not have to make accusations of parental alienation to cause harm to you or your child. Instead, they can deploy any number of other tactics, such as refusing reasonable offers during the negotiation process to drive up the cost of the divorce, or hiding money to keep it from being counted in the marital estate. A knowledgable divorce attorney can help you strategize an approach that may hopefully minimize these risks.

At the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., we protect the rights of our clients and their children. No matter what your circumstances, our veteran Hillside, IL divorce lawyer will strive for the most favorable outcome possible. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation to get started. Call 708-449-7400 today.

Source:

http://www.drcachildress.org/asp/admin/getFile.asp?RID=122&TID=6&FN=pdf