One may feel emotionally exhausted, tricked, and invalidated after interacting with a narcissist.
Grandiosity, a lack of empathy, and a strong desire for admiration are characteristics of narcissists that can make their surroundings toxic for others around them.
I have seen firsthand the tremendous comfort that frequently results from cutting connections with such people. But is it the best course of action to block them?
The Case For Blocking
Blocking a narcissist is an act of empowerment and self-preservation that goes beyond simply cutting off connection.
It makes it very evident that you value your mental health and wellbeing more than their need for approval and control.
This is why it could be beneficial to do this action:
1. Setting Limits
My experience has taught me that dealing with narcissists requires establishing clear limits. By definitively setting those limits and preventing further encroachment on your emotional space, blocking them is a powerful move.
2. Minimizing Emotional Unrest
A narcissist’s continual barrage of compliments and disdain might be unsettling. By blocking them, you can lessen the emotional roller coaster and achieve mental stability and tranquility.
3. Promoting Personal Development
When the narcissist’s influence is reduced, more space is available for personal growth. Releasing oneself from a toxic influence is a crucial first step in my coaching philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on growth and resilience.
4. Promoting Relationships That Are Healthier
You can communicate to others and to yourself that you respect respectful, well-functioning relationships by blocking narcissists. Making this choice may open doors to more satisfying and sympathetic relationships.
Is It Wise To Block Them?
But there are drawbacks to blocking a narcissist as well. They might not take this lightly, which could result in more attempts to reclaim power or influence in different ways. It’s critical to have a support system in place and to be ready for this scenario. This choice may also bring up a range of feelings, such as grief or guilt, which are normal yet controllable with the correct attitude and support.
How Will They React?
1. Threatening and Blackmailing
First off, when narcissists discover they’ve been banned, they frequently turn to threats and blackmail.
Their inflated egos and felt lack of control are the causes of this behavior. To get you to make contact again, they could fabricate stories or threaten to reveal private information.
Maintain your boundaries with sternness.
Recall that these strategies aim to control your feelings and pull you back into their orbit. Keep track of any threats, and if needed, get legal counsel.
It’s critical to safeguard your emotional and mental health.
2. Temper
And then there are the outbursts. Oh, the outbursts of rage. A narcissist’s initial response to being blocked is frequently compared to that of a young child hearing “no” for the first time.
To get straight with you, they could strike out with insults, try to minimize your choice, or even just come up without warning.
Their acts are an outward manifestation of their annoyance and fury at having to part with a narcissistic supply.
It’s critical to keep in mind that they are more interested in this conduct than you are. Not your value or the soundness of your choice; rather, their anger is a reflection of their incapacity to handle loss and rejection.
3. Manipulation
To begin with, why do narcissists use manipulation so frequently? Their basic need for admiration and control is the answer.
When you block them, you are confronting these urges head-on, which intensifies their desire to manipulate their way back into control.
To entice you back into their orbit, they could act remorseful, act like the victim, or make empty promises.
Recall that their manipulation is all about reinforcing their control and dominance over you, not about getting back in touch with you for the right reasons.
Maintaining your boundaries firmly seems to be the key to coping with this deception. Especially when they appear sincere in their regrets or make elaborate gestures, it’s easy to give in.
4. They’ll Try to Take You Down.
The next thing to discuss is their attempts at getting even. Those who are narcissistic don’t like being rejected or feeling like they’re losing control.
How did they respond? It’s usually to do you any harm they can. This could include making false statements, trying to discredit you in front of friends or family, or even harming your career.
It can be intimidating and emotionally taxing to deal with these retaliation attempts.
It’s imperative to keep in mind, though, that this conduct is a reflection of their character rather than your own.
In this story, being protective of oneself doesn’t make one the bad guy; rather, it shows that one prioritizes their own wellbeing.
In these kinds of situations, I always advise my clients to record any instances of slander or harassment, just in case things get out of hand.
It takes more than just pressing a button on your phone or social media to block a narcissist; it’s a statement of your autonomy and self-worth. It’s a step toward taking back your life and escaping their poisonous influence.
5. Benched Self-Esteem
Consider the ego of a narcissist as a tall, fragile building. It would be like a seismic shock to this building to prevent them.
How come this affects them so deeply? Fundamentally, narcissists conceal a deep-seated sense of insecurity behind an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
Your choice to break things up not only undermines their sense of authority but also directly damages their self-worth.
This might result in a variety of response actions, such as pouting in your wounded pride or making violent attempts to get your attention back.
I’ve seen that narcissists may respond at first with astonishment.
“How could they possibly not want me in their life?” Anger follows shortly after, acting as a protective mechanism for their brittle sense of self.
Remember that what you’re doing is a healthy boundary, not an assault. It is not about their ego, but about your wellbeing.
6. Insufficient Empathy
Their shocking lack of empathy is another thing you’ll probably notice.
To be empathetic, we must put ourselves in the other person’s position and experience their emotions.
This is an area in which narcissists are severely deficient. They can’t truly understand the emotional pain their acts may have caused you when you block them.
Rather, they view the matter from the perspective of how it impacts them, failing to understand the core reason behind your sense of urgency in taking this action.
This lack of empathy can take many different forms.
Some people like to pretend to be victims, complaining about how unfairly they’ve been treated to everyone who will listen.
Maintain your resolve. Recognize that the narcissist’s responses are not a reflection of your value, but rather of their limitations.
Final Verdict
Making the choice to block a narcissist is not simple. It involves weighing the possible advantages of breaking off touch with the potential drawbacks of taking such a severe measure.
Blocking can cause strong emotions in the narcissist, ranging from rage to manipulation and vengeance, even if it may also provide them a sense of safety and empowerment.
But above everything, you must put your own mental health and wellbeing first and seek help in any case.
FAQ’s
Is it better to block or ignore a narcissist?
Blocking may be more appropriate when dealing with a narcissist who poses a significant threat to one’s mental health, safety, or personal boundaries. Ignoring may be a viable option in less extreme cases, where the narcissist’s impact is more manageable, and the individual can maintain emotional detachment.
Does a narcissist care if you block them?
Narcissists are easily offended by anything that threatens their self-image, so if you block them, they might become angry or try to make you feel guilty for doing so.
How do narcissists react to being blocked?
When a narcissist realizes they’ve been blocked, they can react with explosive anger. This intense rage is a response to the perceived threat to their control and ego. They may flood your inbox with furious messages, leave voicemails filled with expletives, or even show up at your doorstep in a fit of fury.
How does a narcissist react when you stop chasing them?
When you stop giving a narcissist attention, they often react negatively due to their intense need for validation. They might increase their manipulative behaviors or move on to seek narcissistic supply elsewhere.
