Going through a divorce and its consequences can be a difficult time for anyone involved, but for those seeking a divorce in Georgia, there are a number of resources that can help ensure your safety, recovery, and security. When it comes to divorcing an abusive and narcissistic partner, seeking out help through these resources is even more important.
What is Abuse and Narcissism in a Divorce in Georgia? Notes from Albany Divorce Lawyers:
Categorized as a personality disorder according to psychology, narcissism includes traits that show that a person is greatly appreciative of their own worth, to an extent that it is damaging and reduces their empathy towards other people. A narcissist thinks no one is better than them, and this has an obvious effect on all relationships, especially their relationship with their spouse. As listed below, some of the traits that an abusive narcissist will show include:
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Having Unrealistic Expectations:
A narcissist partner will often have highly unrealistic expectations especially from their partner, and failure to meet any criteria they have set can lead to further abuse, which can be mental or physical.
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Focus on Denial Over Acceptance:
In the many issues that a married couple can face together, they go through several stages. Focusing purely on denying an issue rather than finding solutions to it can be detrimental to any couple and is also a clear indicator that a person is a narcissist when they do not admit to having any faults of their own but will find a number of faults in the people around them, especially their partner or spouse.
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Gas-Lighting Others:
Gas-lighting is a form of manipulation when a person starts questioning someone else in a way that makes them doubt their own thoughts and hence their own sanity. By casting doubt on the events that have occurred and whatever they have witnessed or heard about, a narcissist and a gas-lighting person will go to any lengths to make the other person doubt themselves.
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Artificiality:
Artificial behavior happens when you are different in how you treat a person privately from when you are in the company of others. For example, a narcissist will treat you very kindly when there are other people around you, but in private they may be very mean and degrade you openly. Such behavior can be included in emotional abuse and can lead to victims being entirely separated and isolated from seeking help from their friends, family, and colleagues because they always see your perpetrator’s best behavior.
Protecting Yourself From Narcissists and Abusive Partners:
Where recognizing abuse is the first step towards regrowth and recovery, seeking protection from it is equally important. If you think you are in an abusive relationship with a narcissist, you can use many techniques to help get a divorce in Georgia, as well as getting through them:
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Protect Your Mental and Physical Health As Well as Your Safety:
Prioritizing your mental and physical health is highly important to seek other forms of recovery in a divorce in Georgia. For any victim, staying safe physically and mentally is the biggest concern, and a safe space is highly important. This space can be found with a friend, family member, or shelter.
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Escape Your Abusive Spouse/Partner:
Because abusive acts and outbursts can happen at any time, make sure you have a way out of such a situation by packing an emergency bag and having trusted friends know your location and where you are going to go.
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Seek Help from Domestic Violence Shelters and Helplines:
These services provide access and information about shelters, social workers, help centers, etc. Victims in Georgia can contact the State domestic violence hotline at 1-800-33-HAVEN, and can also use the national hotline for domestic violence.
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Seek Help from Divorce Lawyers:
An experienced Albany divorce lawyer can help you get legal and police protection through a Protection Order from your local court, or through a Restraining Order placed on your abuser. A Protection Order is put into place by a court and forbids your abuser from contacting you or approaching you, hence giving you protection under the laws of the state.
Contact Us Today for Qualified Albany Divorce Attorneys:
At the Joe Durham Law firm, our compassionate team of divorce lawyers in Albany, GA, are driven by justice to protect all victims of domestic violence. For help in finalizing your divorce, contact us today so that your path to recovery can begin and you are protected from future abuse of all kinds. We are only here to ensure that justice is served.