If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a narcissist, you may have experienced more than emotional turmoil. You may have felt detached, numb, or as if you were losing touch with reality. These are signs of dissociation, a protective response the brain uses to shield itself from overwhelming stress and psychological harm. Narcissists, through tactics like gaslighting, shaming, and projective identification, can trigger this response, leaving their victims emotionally fragmented and confused.

Gaslighting, a hallmark tactic of narcissistic abuse, is the manipulation of someone into doubting their own perceptions, memories, and reality. A narcissistic partner may deny events that happened, blame you for overreacting, or accuse you of being “too sensitive.” Over time, this persistent manipulation can fracture your trust in your own mind.

Why It Leads to Dissociation:

• Cognitive Overload: When your brain constantly tries to reconcile conflicting versions of reality (your own versus the narcissist’s), it becomes overwhelmed. The brain’s natural defense against this overload is to dissociate, temporarily “checking out” to protect you from the psychological stress.

• Underlying Neuroscience : Studies have shown that chronic stress and invalidation activate the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, while suppressing the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought. This combination can result in depersonalization (feeling disconnected from yourself) or........

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