Holiday with a Narcissist: The Gift of Boundaries

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of setting boundaries during the holidays, especially when dealing with narcissists.

Happy Holidays, everyone! This season can be especially triggering, so it’s important to carry strong boundaries—particularly when dealing with narcissists who may try to dominate the spotlight, love-bomb with gifts, or create emotional chaos. Protect your energy by choosing how much access they get to you. In some cases, the healthiest choice may be avoiding them altogether. If you do attend gatherings, set yourself up for success: sit away from them, keep interactions brief, and stay in a calm, neutral “grey rock” mode. Avoid sharing personal feelings; instead, keep conversations light—commenting on the food works great. Remember, holidays often activate a narcissist’s core wound of “never enough.” No matter how much they receive, it won’t fill their emotional void, and you don’t need to exhaust yourself trying. Preserve your energy and invest it in people who uplift you, create synergy, and enhance your life instead of draining you. Wishing you a joyful, peaceful holiday season—one where you are the cause of better outcomes in your life.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Judy WT

Topics covered

• narcissism
• boundaries
• holiday stress
• mental health
• emotional well-being

Keywords

• narcissist
• boundaries
• holidays
• emotional chaos
• self-care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UBNGO

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