Zero Contact
As Narcissistic Personality Disorder gains traction among the armchair diagnosis crowd, some of the terms connected to coping with Cluster B personality disorders have gone into high rotation. It doesn't take long to acquire a good working understanding of the lingo. Flying monkeys, gaslighting, supply, gray rock, and zero contact have taken on new linguistic functions as parts of this diagnostic lexicon.
NPD is just one of many reasons a person might decide to cease or limit contact. Sometimes the decision to go zero contact follows after years of emotional or physical abuse. It might be a situation that seems like a small matter to those on the outside looking on, but not into the hearts and minds of those involved. I have clients who sometimes want to process what this means to them. They might address the root causes, but the conversation inevitably goes to the reactions they get from others when friends, acquaintances, and family learn that their status with someone they know is not just a case of growing apart, but a deliberate measure adopted as an act of self preservation.
They are often met with challenges from people who are disturbed by those who do not share their idea that any and all behavior from family and friends is acceptable because they are family and friends. They may just express disapproval and move on. Some may feel it is their place to fix the situation, fix the person who has made this decison,
NPD is just one of many reasons a person might decide to cease or limit contact. Sometimes the decision to go zero contact follows after years of emotional or physical abuse. It might be a situation that seems like a small matter to those on the outside looking on, but not into the hearts and minds of those involved. I have clients who sometimes want to process what this means to them. They might address the root causes, but the conversation inevitably goes to the reactions they get from others when friends, acquaintances, and family learn that their status with someone they know is not just a case of growing apart, but a deliberate measure adopted as an act of self preservation.
They are often met with challenges from people who are disturbed by those who do not share their idea that any and all behavior from family and friends is acceptable because they are family and friends. They may just express disapproval and move on. Some may feel it is their place to fix the situation, fix the person who has made this decison,