Editor’s note: This story is from a Lovefraud reader whom we’ll call “Eve2014.”
I have what is known as Narcissistic Victim Syndrome, and have suffered from it since I was narcissistically abused* by my father, who was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.
I have been diligently and continuously working on myself in therapy for many years, with a slew of diagnoses that are all incorrect. It is only because of my involvement with a psychoanalytic therapist who behaved like a sociopath,** that I have reached the depths of emotional devastation and worked like a demon to solve the mystery.
I cannot say whether Dr. X is a sociopath, psychopath, or narcissist, as I am not qualified to diagnose, and he hid so much of his real character from me. Perhaps he is just an average abuser (still potentially deadly in his position), but by using psychoanalytic techniques without informed consent, comes across as a sociopath.
Let me tell you: the resulting pain and suffering are the same, if not worse because of the context.
My involvement with this man began when I was referred to a psychiatrist (Dr. X) for help with insomnia. I told him about my father, my symptoms, my history. He diagnosed me with C-PTSD (which is correct, and is a result of narcissistic abuse).
Dr. X, invited me to work with him in his private practice, which he called psychodynamic psychotherapy. His business card reads: “psychoanalysis.”
Dr. X wrote a letter about me describing how my ego strength was impressive enough to handle this type of therapy; the letter was read to me second hand by a therapist.
My doctor gave me a referral. Apparently this practice is considered legitimate medicine, and can be billed to government funded health-care services. I knew nothing about what I was getting involved in.
When I arrived for my first session, Dr. X refused to answer any questions I had about the therapy or my diagnosis. I assumed the secrecy was an aspect of psychoanalysis.
Because I am quite intelligent and intuitive, I thought I was understanding the meta-communication based in metaphors and allusions.
A few days later I would always realize that he had given me no real information. As my involvement progressed, I grew increasingly anxious and found I was unable to resolve any difficulties with Dr. X.
When I tried to terminate, he gave me the predatory stare and I jumped.
He told me that my response was a symptom of my condition and that in his professional opinion, I was making a huge mistake in leaving… that it would take a LONG TIME in therapy for me to recover.
I came to my senses after just over a year of weekly sessions.
By then I had extreme digestive distress and had become a shell. I realized that the answers and healing that he kept dangling in front of me were never coming.
My destruction was imminent, and I suspected he didn’t give a damn. In fact, he seemed to take pleasure in my struggling.
I went into shock and an image of a dictator emerged from my psyche. I phoned him two days later, and his cold, hostile tone turned my blood cold.
Once I left I had a nervous breakdown, and checked into the Emergency room. Luckily a psychiatrist there advised me not to go back to Dr. X. Once I very slowly started to heal and ordered a small fortune of books on Amazon, I was able to see in retrospect just how scary was the situation I escaped from.
He had used shock tactics, withholding answers to direct questions, the illusion of moral superiority, blaming, anger flare-ups when I didn’t “co-operate,” seductive behavior, abuse, gas lighting, manipulation, and emotional blackmail (I use these terms seriously, based on actual research.)
I had to solve riddle after riddle, meanwhile he remained stone-faced and kept his voice at a hypnotic monotone. I was assertive and had pretty good boundaries, but these just created problems for me. He would tell me that I needed to trust him, and the fact I didn’t was again due to my condition, and “because he reminded me of my father.”
In the end, the same critical thinking skills and instincts he tried to erode, ended up saving my life.
I got completely wound in Dr. X’s web even though I saw the signs, because I was led to believe it was all part of “psychoanalysis,” that it was for my own good, and that due to my mental health condition, my perceptions were false and paranoid.
Because I legitimately do suffer as a result of my childhood, I was hooked on the hope of rectifying the past. I understand that this is exactly how average people get drawn into cults.
I have filed a formal complaint and done a significant amount of recovery from the experience; I can see clearly how it correlates perfectly with all the research I’ve done on pathology.
I fervently, adamantly want to help raise awareness to prevent this from happening to others, if possible. Other professionals have tried to invalidate my experience several times.
My formal complaint is well-articulated and still in process, and outlines the dire need to implement obligatory informed consent procedures at the very least for this highly questionable type of therapy. Only then can we minimize the damages and prevent sociopaths from using this avenue to exploit vulnerable people.
Sincerely,
Eve2014.
*Narcissistic abuse has been studied extensively but knowledge on victimology seems lacking among mental health professionals.
**I use the term sociopath for the purposes of understanding. What I mean is a person who lacks a conscience and tortures others for entertainment, in a highly devious manner that is hard to detect.
I have heard of quite a few psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists who are actually disordered themselves. One would hope that the mental health profession would police its own, but plenty of manipulators get away with their actions.
This may sound cynical (which I may suffer just a tad from) but, that would be like expecting men in general to police “their own”. As in if a guy is a jerk to women they should let them know that what they are doing is so, so wrong and write them off as a friend. Instead most give them an admiring slap on the back and say, “Way to go. What a stud to bag that many women”. Like that’s going to happen. Yep…a little angry today.
Sadly, there are people in the mental health arena who are there to look for victims, just as they can be found in childrens’ sports and religious organizations and law enforcement and such. My sociopathic ex was a clinical psychologist, and a university professor. He played with his patients and his students in inappropriate ways. When I learned of this I was called paranoid and jealous of his vast amazingness. I was cast aside and took off running. He lost his tenured university job, gave up his license to practice, and ended his life in disgrace. It took more than a few years, but eventually justice may find the one it seeks. There is hope for that.
This is a beautifully written, extremely insightful article. After surviving emotional abuse at the hands of a psychologist I had originally taken my two small children to see, I know first hand just how painful it can be for even the healthiest of survivors to overcome the predatory and destructive behavior of therapists such as these. Just the simple fact that Eve2014 entitled her article, “The critical thinking skills and instincts he tried to erode ended up saving my life” shows just how far she herself has come in this process of healing- she has deciphered the riddle of insanity. Her courage and strength in writing this piece is incredibly inspirational. My hope is that as more survivors of this terrifying form of abuse tell their stories of abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to protect the vulnerable people who come to them that the licensing boards who hold the power to put a stop to this type of abuse will do everything within their power to protect the countless innocent people who have no idea that predators like this even exist. Eve 2014- you are an inspiration to me!
Michelle,
Your reply is also poignant.
I know after leaving my now ex husband, I NEEDED, for my own sanity, to solve the riddle. That’s exactly what it was, a RIDDLE of Insanity.
Eve2014 This therapist needs to be prosecuted or have his license revoked. He sounds like an old school “Freudian Analyst” on steroids and what he did was abusive and unethical. Good for you for trusting your instincts and getting out. I agree, he sounds like he is using his profession to practice his psychopathy. Very well written article. Thank you for sharing it.
I can relate. It was the 1970s and I had looked up the therapist’s name in a book written by a famous psychologist. The book was about anger control. I actually went to the therapist’s private residence. That was something else, and even he admitted that it took ‘hutzpa’ to do that.
He ‘forced’ me into group therapy (which it was not…it was a mixed bag of confused and lonely people whom he had coerced into coming together). During one group meeting he had pointed me out to the others and made me feel small (used me as an example of what not to be like). I was infuriated and told him off in one of our private sessions, but he was laughing at me underneath.
The worst thing he ever did was invite my parents into counseling with him…after he said he would not do that. He was so classless and ignorant that he even made an appointment for them following right after one of mine…thank God I did not bump into them. I lambasted him for that but I was weak enough to keep seeing him. I wish now that I had reported him.
My brother was smarter than me…he left this guy in the dust a whole year before I did and never went back.
I also had seen a psychiatrist at the tender age of 19. Another rip-off. He kept his feet up on his desk during our sessions and never made a single significant contribution.
Folks…like buying a car or anything else we do…only much harder but we need to be on guard. I guess we have to go by our instincts.
I quit a female social worker about a year ago after she failed to meet our sessions on time. And her overall arrogance and righteousness floored me.
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker. I highly recommend it.