**Narcissists are bottom feeders.**

They play dirty and catch you by surprise, using the shock factor to keep you off-balance and disoriented. Their tactics aren’t just cruel — they’re calculated. They initiate contact that appears friendly, calm, even warm. It might be a text out of nowhere, a casual comment, or a seemingly innocent question. But don’t be fooled. This is not kindness — it’s bait.

Their “communications” are never about reconciliation or peace. They are psychological weapons disguised as small talk. Their real goal? To remind you of your supposed inferiority, to make you feel like you’re still beneath them, still broken, still not enough. They will subtly — or not so subtly — hint that you're unstable, that your emotions are excessive, that your reactions are the problem. It’s not direct enough to call out easily, but it’s sharp enough to cut deep.

And the worst part? They act innocent. They play the calm, reasonable party. They gaslight you into thinking you're the aggressor. They pretend they never laid a hand on your psyche — while simultaneously digging into it with a scalpel.

That’s how dirty and nasty they play it.

But they don’t stop with just you. **They spread lies about you to your family and friends**, slowly poisoning the well. They hand-pick their narratives with precision, choosing the lies that will do the most damage. They’ll say you’re unstable. That you overreact. That you have deep character flaws. That you’re manipulative or even abusive — accusing you of the very things *they* did to you. It’s projection at its most dangerous.

They thrive in secrecy and shadows, pulling strings behind the scenes while maintaining a perfect public image. By the time you realize what’s happened, people you thought you could trust are looking at you differently. Judging. Doubting. And that’s exactly what the narcissist wants — to isolate you, discredit you, and ensure that *you* are the one left picking up the shattered pieces of your life.

But make no mistake — their lies don’t make your truth any less real.

What they fear most is exposure. That’s why they smear you. That’s why they attack. Because deep down, they know what they’ve done — and they know you have the power to reveal it.

So hold your head high. Speak your truth with clarity and strength. Refuse to sink to their level, but don’t stay silent. You’re not flawed — you were *targeted.* And while they feed on manipulation, control, and deception, **you’re choosing truth, healing, and freedom.**

That makes you powerful — and that’s what they can’t stand.