This Is Why The Narcissist Leads to Hoarding (No One Talks About THIS!)

5. Emotional Numbing Through Stuff
When you have been through narcissistic abuse, your emotions can feel too heavy to deal with. The pain, the anger, and the grief are all there, but facing it head-on feels overwhelming. That’s where hoarding comes in. Instead of sitting with those painful emotions, you focus on things. Dr. Joonni Webb, author of “Running on Empty,” explains that emotional neglect can make people unconsciously seek distractions to avoid dealing with their wounds. Sorting through piles of clothes, collecting trinkets, or constantly reorganizing your space gives you something else to focus on.

But here’s the problem: the more you accumulate, the more trapped you feel. What started as a distraction becomes a new source of stress. Yet letting go feels impossible. Dr. Robert T. Muller, a trauma psychologist, explains that hoarding can serve as a protective layer, keeping people too busy to acknowledge their pain. Your pain is real, but so is your ability to heal, and that healing doesn’t come from objects; it comes from allowing yourself to finally face what you’ve been avoiding.

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