This article was co-authored by Vernita Marsh, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Dr. Vernita Marsh is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the CEO and Founder of Dr. Vernita Marsh & Associates and The Marsh Clinics®. With over 30 years of clinical psychology experience, she specializes in relationship therapy, grief counseling, family therapy, and intimate partner abuse counseling. Dr. Marsh offers consultation for therapists, coaches, and trainees of mental health. Dr. Marsh earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Michigan State University and completed both her postdoctoral and fellowship training at Harvard Medical School. She also has expertise in the area of Telehealth and has received Clinical Telehealth Health Provider Certification from Evergreen.
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Did you just get a text from a narcissist, and you’re wondering what to write? Now, you have an opportunity to practice some self-empowerment strategies. There are many ways to answer a narcissist’s text calmly and protect yourself. Read on for some tips about how to respond, ranging from no-contact methods to low-contact interaction. Use one of these tactics whenever a narcissist reaches out so you’ll feel confident and strong.
How to Respond to Text from a Narcissist
- Leave them on “read” and don’t respond.
- Give short replies if you have to talk to them.
- State your boundaries in your response.
- Prioritize your point of view.
- Compliment them if you need something from them.
Steps
wikiHow Quiz: Am I Dating a Narcissist?
Expert Q&A
Tips
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Avoid confronting the narcissist in a harsh way. Instead, point out something good about the narcissist before adding some gentle feedback at the end of your message.[14]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.foxnews.com/tech/how-ignore-your-friend-text-messages-pretend-you-never-saw-them
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/25/etiquette-expert-use-this-3-word-response-when-someone-is-rude-to-you.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/narcissism-demystified/202006/7-ways-set-boundaries-narcissists
- ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/dyzknx/how-to-argue-with-a-narcissist
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2016/04/how-to-work-for-a-narcissistic-boss
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stress-fracture/202212/how-to-communicate-with-a-narcissist
- ↑ Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.
- ↑ https://lesley.edu/article/the-psychology-of-emotional-and-cognitive-empathy
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-narcissism/201908/10-stages-in-the-treatment-narcissistic-disorders
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/strategies-controlling
- ↑ https://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/the-psychology-of-venting
- ↑ https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/counselling-for-narcissistic-abuse
- ↑ https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/counselling-for-narcissistic-abuse
- ↑ Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.