In West Virginia, being married to, and subsequently divorcing, a narcissist can be anything but easy. When children are involved, the process can be downright difficult.
Narcissists and high-conflict divorces
Narcissists seem to thrive on the concept of “winning” or being better than others. This may be something you noticed during your marriage. The entire feeling of being in competition with your spouse may have even been the reason you chose to get a divorce.
Unfortunately, this desire can cause the narcissist to avoid compromising, collaborating or even communicating during your divorce. By not working with you, your not-yet-ex-spouse can effectively draw out the divorce process indefinitely.
Your spouse may choose to disagree or challenge elements of the divorce that you had previously agreed upon. They may find something that you desire most like additional parenting time or a certain material possession and try to keep it for themselves.
The emotional and financial tolls of a high-conflict divorce
Not only can purposefully delaying a divorce be stressful in an emotional sense, but it can also stress you financially. A litigated divorce is costly even if you are expecting it. When it is drawn out for a lengthy period of time, you face additional legal fees.
In the end, your spouse may try to make themselves look like the victim in the divorce. It won’t matter how the marriage ended. This can be especially frustrating if you are doing everything you can to protect yourself and your children from the emotional havoc of divorce.
Moving forward
You may never feel like you’ve won when dealing with a narcissist. It is important to take care of your and your children’s emotional well-being during this time. Providing stability when their world feels as if it is crumbling is of utmost importance.