Navigating the challenges of divorcing a narcissist

Nick. But I decided to go with Josh. And I put so much of myself into this character. Everything I do, it’s only a piece of who I am. It’s a piece of the whole and only so many people in my life know who Josh is completely.

“But I put all of my hard work into this role every single day. And we’re very similar in how silly we are and how physical we are. But yeah, there’s a lot of method acting because I’m typically a very dark and brooding person. So, I’m glad that finally somebody asked me (about it).”

With Josh on board, audiences from the U.S. and around the world have been enjoying a taste of Filipino culture through the show.

Having the chance to share a part of his heritage through this platform is so important to Josh. “I’m so honored to be here. I’m so honored to have had this opportunity, that I was prepared, that all the right people were in the room when they made the decision. And that I have the support system that got me here. I’m so honored and I’m so blessed because it is important to know that we’re not just villains,” he said.

“We’re not just people that know martial arts, even though martial arts is amazing. We’re not just Asian, we’re Filipino to be specific. I think the more specific we are, the more people can realize like oh, so much like me, you know? The fact that we get to say, loud and proud, ‘Lola,’ is incredible, because no one knew what Lola was. What’s a Lola? ‘That Lola?’ No different (laughs). Different, it’s my grandma.

“And now people are saying, oh your Lola is on there. And it makes me think about my lolas and I’m just so thankful for them. I wouldn’t be here without them. They’re no longer with us. But I’m just filled with so much joy and so much gratitude that I get to do this. I work hard every single day to make sure that I do the very best I can so that we can keep doing this and so that I can keep representing Filipinos and the potential that we have. This isn’t the end, you know. This is just the beginning.”

NARCISSISTIC behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Many divorcing spouses would point to the other spouse’s personality as the reason they decided to file for divorce.

When describing their spouse’s personality, it often fits many of the characteristics of Narcissism. Narcissism is a personality disorder characterized by a grandiose sense of selfimportance, a lack of empathy for others, and a need for admiration. Narcissists often have an exaggerated sense of entitlement and may exploit others for their own gain.

Narcissistic behavior can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

1. Lack of Empathy: Narcissists often lack the ability to empathize with their partners, making it difficult for them to understand their partner’s feelings and needs.

2. Manipulation: Narcissists are often skilled at manipulating others to get what they want. They may use emotional blackmail, guilt-tripping, or other tactics to control their partner.

3. Gaslighting: Narcissists often use gaslighting, a tactic where they deny or distort reality to make their partner doubt their own memories or experiences.

4. Blame-Shifting: Narcissists may frequently shift blame onto their partner, making it difficult for them to take responsibility for their actions.

5. Lack of Commitment: Narcissists often struggle with commitment, preferring to keep their options open and maintain their independence.

All of these behaviors can take a toll on a marriage, leading to feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. Eventually, these negative emotions can become too much to bear, leading to the breakdown of the relationship and ultimately, divorce.

Furthermore, narcissists often struggle with intimate relationships and may struggle to form deep, meaningful connections with their partners. They may see their partner as an extension of themselves rather than as a separate individual with their own needs and desires. This can make it difficult for the relationship to thrive and grow over time.

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist and are considering divorce, it is important to seek professional help and support. Divorcing a narcissist can be challenging, and it is important to have a support system in place to help you navigate the process. A therapist or counselor can help you work through your emotions and develop strategies to cope with the challenges of divorcing a narcissist. This may also apply to the minor children in the family who become victims of the narcissistic spouse.

Narcissistic spouse’s also have a tendency of weaponizing the judicial process against the other spouse rather than focusing in resolving he divorce case. This may be in the form of over litigating a case for purposes of racking up legal fees for the other spouse. Fabricating false allegations against the other spouse in the context of custody or domestic violence. Refusal to engage in good faith settlement negotiations. They will take unreasonable positions without any willingness to compromise. This will leave you with no option but to either roll over to their unreasonable positions or take the case to trial and get a ruling from the court.

Narcissistic behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Recognizing the signs of narcissism and seeking professional help can help you navigate the challenges of divorcing a narcissist and move forward with your life.

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Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com.

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