Having your child struggle with their mental health, and not knowing how to help, is one of the most terrifying things you’ll ever go through as a mom. It’s even harder if you’re a single mom, and you’ve left an abusive marriage.
You don’t know where to turn, the online resources are confusing, and you cringe in even reading them. You feel sick to think it could happen to your child. The fear is intense.
I remember what it was like when I went through it with my child.
According to research by the CDC here (and here), kids who are abused at home are at greatest risk for anxiety, depression and suicide. This is a complex issue, yet very few are addressing it. If your child has a narcissistic parent, the abuse can be silent. It takes place slowly, over time.
Your child is developing and doesn’t know what’s happening. If you’ve divorced your narcissistic partner, you may not know either. But the child knows. The deep pain builds up over time. They start to think that something is wrong with them, but they don’t know what it is. They hold the pain because they don’t know how to express it.
For my child, the pain became so intense that he wanted out. He went though two suicide attempts. His second attempt was successful, but just as he started losing consciousness from his Tylenol overdose, he decided he didn’t want to die. He called 911, and they got to him just in time. That’s the only reason he’s still here today.
We all have a life purpose, and if it’s not our time to cross over, our angels will step in to intervene. I believe this is what happened for him, and I will forever be grateful.
My hope is that no mom has to go through an experience like this with her child. We can learn about the toxic, emotional abuse that happens with a narcissistic parent, and we can work to support our kids in developing the tools they need to protect themselves and navigate this very difficult family dynamic.
If you’re going through something similar and would like to talk about it, don’t hesitate to reach out.
“One of the beautiful things about human existence is how powerful we are when we come together.”