How a Narcissist's Smear Campaign is Designed to Destroy You!

It's no secret that narcissists are some of the most manipulative people out there. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want, and they don't care whom they have to step on in order to get it. If you cross a narcissist, be prepared for them to start a smear campaign against you.

But what exactly is a smear campaign, and why do narcissists use them?

A Narcissist's Smear Campaign

A smear campaign is an orchestrated effort to spread rumours and lies about someone in order to damage their reputation. Narcissists will often use smear campaigns against their exes, co-workers, or anyone else whom they perceive as a threat.

Smear campaigns are used to silence victims and protect abusers.

The goal of a smear campaign is to discredit the victim by making others mistrust or discount what they say. This can be done by spreading false or unflattering information about the victim, in an attempt to damage their character. It is used against whistle-blowers or victims of abuse, to silence them and prevent others from believing their story. In some cases, smear campaigns may even employ character assassination, to totally destroy the victim's reputation.

Regardless of the purpose, smear campaigns are always designed to cause harm and damage to the victim's reputation.

How a Smear Campaign Works

A narcissist's smear campaign typically consists of three components:

1. Chaos

2. Rumours

3. Isolation

The first step is CHAOS. A narcissist spends months or even years sowing the seeds of discord by attacking their victim's weakest points. They look for signs of vulnerability and exploit them mercilessly. Once they've found your weak points, they will go in for the kill. The goal is to make you second-guess yourself and your relationships until everything feels like it's spiralling out of control.

The second step is RUMOURS. Once the narcissist has you doubting yourself, they will start spreading rumours about you behind your back or making public statements about you. These rumours will be designed to ruin your reputation to further undermine your self-confidence and cost you valuable relationships. The narcissist will take special care to target the people who are closest to you, in the hopes of isolating you from their support network.

The final stage is ISOLATION. Once the narcissist has created enough chaos and disseminated enough rumours, they will start to withdraw their support from you publicly. This can come in the form of gaslighting, silent treatment, or public humiliation. The goal is to leave you feeling alone and isolated so that their manipulation can go unchecked.

Why Do Narcissists Use Smear Campaigns?

Narcissists are typically characterized by their inflated sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, and need for attention and praise and are known for their manipulative and devious behaviours.

Narcissists often use smear campaigns as a way to distract from their own shortcomings. For example, if a narcissist is facing criticism for their behaviour, they may try to deflect attention onto someone else by starting a rumour about that person. By doing this, the narcissist hopes to take the focus off of themselves and onto someone else.

Narcissists may also use smear campaigns as a way to make themselves look better by contrast. For example, if a narcissist is being criticised for being manipulative, they may try to discredit someone else by spreading rumours that that person is manipulative too. By doing this, the narcissist makes themselves look less bad by comparison.

Narcissists may also use smear campaigns as a form of revenge. If someone has hurt or rejected them in some way, they may try to ruin that person's reputation as punishment. This can be particularly damaging because it can prevent the target from being able to lead a normal life or have healthy relationships with others.

Protecting Yourself From a Smear Campaign

If you are being targeted by a narcissist’s smear campaign, it is important to remember that everything they are saying about you is likely false. Do not let their lies define you or cause you to doubt yourself.

It’s also extremely important not to engage with the narcissist directly. This will only give them more ammunition to use against you and will make it harder for you to defend yourself later.

It is also important to document everything so that you have evidence that proves that the things they’re saying about you are false should you need to take legal action against the narcissist.

Finally, surround yourself with supportive people who will believe you and stand by you during this difficult time. These people will help you weather the storm and come out on the other side stronger than ever before.

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a narcissist's smear campaign, know that it's not personal. The narcissist is just trying to protect themselves and their ego by taking you down. The best thing you can do is stay strong and remember: the truth always comes out in the end!

Kylie xo