Living with a narcissist is, in and of itself, tough. But so is parting ways with them, especially if you were romantically involved. If your relationship with your narcissistic spouse is no longer tenable, and you decide to divorce, you justifiably fear what the process will be like.
Divorce is, by all accounts, a difficult experience. However, if your soon-to-be ex is a narcissist, you can expect the process to be even more nerve-racking. So how do you end your marriage with a narcissist without going crazy?
Here are three steps that can help navigate the waters when divorcing a difficult spouse:
Be prepared for the journey ahead
Divorcing couples generally do not have a difficult time keeping up with the court process and court orders. However, narcissists are never good at this. In fact, you can expect to fight over pretty much everything. As such, being prepared for the journey ahead can help you build the mental and emotional stamina to deal with a difficult spouse.
Document everything
Narcissists are never good at keeping their word. In fact, you can never expect them to go down without a fight. For this reason, you need to prepare yourself. And one of the best ways of safeguarding your interests is documenting everything you agree on. This is especially important if your spouse is abusive or if they are consistently dishonest.
Be clear on your boundaries
Boundaries are important whether the divorce is contested or not. If your spouse is meddling in your affairs, you need to stop this from happening. This is important both during and after the divorce, especially if children are involved.
Safeguarding your interests
Divorcing a difficult spouse can push you over the cliff. Learning more about Virginia family laws can help you safeguard your rights and interests while severing your ties with a difficult spouse.