Brinkmanship: The Crazy-Making Skills of a Covert Narcissist (Special Throwback Episode)

Sep 8, 2023

The podcast explores the concept of 'brinkmanship' and how it is used by covert narcissists, illustrating personal experiences of living with a manipulative spouse. It discusses the frustration and anger that arise from these tactics, but ultimately emphasizes the importance of reclaiming control and choosing who you want to be.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Manipulative Tactics of Brinkmanship

01:42 • 4min

Living with a Covert Narcissist: Walking on Eggshells

05:51 • 4min

Navigating Frustration and Maintaining Self-Respect with a Covert Narcissist

10:01 • 4min

Empowering Yourself and Choosing Who You Want to Be

13:52 • 3min

My covert narcissistic husband loved the word "brinkmanship." He bragged about how no one knows what that word means and how great he is at it. This should have set alarm bells off in my head!! But it didn’t. Sure, I thought it was strange. This seemed like an odd word and an odd concept.

Brinkmanship is the art or practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety, especially to force a desired outcome, the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises.

Little did I know, he had been practicing brinkmanship since his childhood.
He would push situations to their breaking point. He would push me and our kids to the brink, edge of a cliff to get the outcome he wanted. Make us as uncomfortable as he possibly could until we gave in. We gave in to make peace and to keep our sanity. And once again he got what he wanted, to feel in charge, to feel superior, to get out of all responsibility.

Take charge of your life back! The narcissist shows their true colors over and over. Let them. That is theirs to own. Don't let this decide who you are. Don't give them that power over you!
You get to choose who you are! You are in control of your life! Not them!

I am Renee Swanson, and I help people recover from covert narcissistic abuse.

Are you tired of feeling isolated and alone?
Are you searching for people who get it?
Are you confused, reactive and unsure what to do?
Are you running in circles in your mind?
Are you worried for your kids and the effect this is having on them?
Do you want to know how not to raise another narcissist in this world?

I can help you! I offer both group and individual coaching, which you can find at www.covertnarcissism.com

Renee Swanson, Certified Coach and Advocate for Victims of Covert Narcissistic Abuse

http://www.covertnarcissism.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@cngreneeswanson

https://www.youtube.com/@cngreneeswanson

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