TEN CRUEL WAYS NARCISSISTS PUNISH YOU

By: Khalif Barkhadle,
Digital Journalist

Published On: 8th May 2025

Hi everyone, Today I’m diving into a heavy but important topic: the ways narcissists punish their victims. If you’ve ever wondered how a narcissist might react when they’re upset with you, I’ve put together a comprehensive list of 10 tactics they use to manipulate, control, and hurt. These behaviors are designed to make you feel small, confused, or powerless, and it’s crucial to recognize them to protect yourself. Let’s get into it.

1. Stonewalling: The Silent Wall of Rejection
When you try to hold a narcissist accountable, they often resort to stonewalling. This means they shut down communication entirely, walking out mid-conversation, refusing to let you finish a sentence, or hanging up the phone. Stonewalling is their way of avoiding accountability and shame while invalidating your feelings. It’s a clear sign of their inability to engage in healthy communication, leaving you feeling unheard and dismissed.

2. The Silent Treatment: Emotional Abuse in Silence
Another favorite tactic, especially among covert narcissists, is the silent treatment. They go completely dark, refusing to communicate for days, months, or even longer. This cruel form of emotional abuse is meant to make you feel desperate enough to apologize or chase them, reinforcing their sense of superiority. The silent treatment trains you to walk on eggshells, afraid to speak up for fear of being ignored again.