The Lasting Ways A Narcissistic Parent Destroys A Child

The duty of a parent is to raise a child who could become a well-rounded adult. But a dysfunction can breed in a household where the narcissistic parent always has the final word. Its effect on the child is lasting and will carry over in adulthood.

At age 12, a child begins to develop critical thinking and expands his experience as he widens his social circle. He forms ideas that are different from his parents as he slowly charts his independence.

From a healthy parenting point of view, this is the natural progression and development of a person. Yet a narcissistic parent doesn't see it this way. Instead, the 12-year-old is viewed as becoming defiant and the only way to deal with this is through control in ways that can possibly destroy the child, according to Psych Central.

For instance, a narcissistic parent controls a child by establishing idealistic values that demand perfection or there could be consequences. A narcissistic parent will constantly expect the child to excel in school, or become a model member of the community, or have such high standards himself to match and reflect his parents' own standards.

Having standards is good but it can also breed a child who could become overly critical when he's a teenager or adult. From this type of parenting breeds insecurity, anxiety, mistrust and despair that also affect the child's relationships with others — his friends, partners or co-workers.

Due to the fact that narcissistic parents do not acknowledge weaknesses, a child could feel that he won't be loved and appreciated by his parents when he fails. When a child of a narcissistic parent does fail or encounter problems and frustrating situations, he is likely to descend into self-blame, according to Huffington Post. His self-esteem is so crushed from the constant criticisms and nagging that he got that he is resigned from the fact that everything is his fault instead of fixing what's wrong with the situation.

The damage of narcissistic parenting can run deep but there is hope in reversing the effects. For many people, it's counseling and therapy.

Do you think you have become subjected to narcissistic parenting? What measures have you done to counter its effects? Tell us in the comments!