3 Ways SMART People Deal With Narcissists and The Holidays -

In this article, I outline three ways smart people deal with narcissists and the holidays, so you can enjoy more peace and come through the holiday season intact.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why does the narcissist ruin holidays?” And if you’ve ever wondered what you can do about it, this article is for you!

The holiday season is a time of year when the narcissist will be most likely to ramp up classic narcissistic manipulation tactics like narcissistic hoovering and gaslighting.

The person with destructive narcissism will do this with deliberate intent to have a negative impact on you. And the truth is, you don’t have to play!

You can choose to no longer be a source of narcissistic supply for the destructive narcissist, even during the holidays.

This is true, even with your narcissistic inlaws, your narcissistic parents, your narcissistic mother, your narcissistic father, and even your narcissistic sibling.

Understanding the Situation

During the holidays, it’s more important than ever not to slip into what I call “codependent amnesia,” especially when dealing with narcissistic individuals in your life. Narcissists derive satisfaction from creating chaos and drama, and they revel in pushing your buttons. This tendency becomes even more pronounced during highly charged occasions like holiday gatherings.

Remember, narcissists crave attention—positive or negative—and have a pathological need to feel superior, dominant, and in control. If they view you as a threat, they will target you, directly or passively, and any pushback can and will be used against you. That said, setting healthy boundaries is essential, even if it feels challenging.

However, it’s crucial to pick your battles wisely. For example, a Christmas dinner might not be the best time to assert your boundaries for the first time. Instead, proceed cautiously and ensure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared to handle the dynamic.