The Covert Narcissist's Playbook

By Diane Lee

A covert narcissist exposed: this is what emotional abuse and coercive control looks like

No one goes into a relationship expecting to be a victim of emotional abuse and coercive control. Diane Lee certainly didn’t.

Ten months after meeting her handsome Vietnamese partner in Hanoi, she was in a very dark place. She had learned – to her horror – that he was a covert narcissist and he had been manipulating and emotionally abusing her since the start of their relationship. She knew there was something wrong, but she ignored the red flags, thinking the issues were hers. She understood much later that this self-doubt is exactly how people with covert narcissistic personality disorder groom their victims.

The traits of a covert narcissist

This is mini-memoir is written from two perspectives: before Diane discovered her seemingly kind and reliable partner was a covert narcissist—and after. An honest and courageous account of a dangerous and confusing nightmare, this memoir is a first hand account of how covert narcissists think, their traits and the damaging effects of narcissism, manipulation and coercive control on your spirit.

Recovery from covert narcissistic abuse

If you’re in a relationship and you believe your partner is a covert narcissist and you’re suffering passive aggressive coercive control and emotional abuse, this memoir will prove that you can heal and move on with your life.

You too can be narcissist free.

Please note: this books contains a graphic sex scene, told in context to explain what a narcissistic person is like and how covert narcissists think.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane Lee
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215449615

Diane Lee

Diane Lee is the author of the Love & Other Stuff series and Queen Bee at Delicious Publishing.A former English teacher, she now works part-time in corporate learning and development. Diane has a Master of Arts in a Communication Management and has been employed in various public relations and marketing communication roles over the years. She is grateful for this experience, because it means the business side of publishing isn’t at all scary.Her main claims to fame are serendipitously touching Benedict Cumberbatch at OzComicCon in 2014 and making Markus Zusak--author of The Book Thief--guffaw at his book signing.She lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her daughter and cat.

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 Diane Lee

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher other than the use of brief quotations in book reviews. If you have acquired this book without buying it or without the author's permission, please respect her hard work and purchase a copy.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

First printed 2021.

Delicious Publishing

Adelaide, South Australia

www.deliciouspublishing.com.au

Dedication

For all the survivors of narcissistic abuse. You are the bravest, strongest people I know.

Table of Contents

1. (Before)

i. (After)

2. (Before)

ii. (After)

3. (Before)

iii. (After)

4. (Before)

iv. (After)

5. (Before)

v. (After)

6. (Before)

vi. (After)

7. (Before)

vii. (After)

8. (Before)

viii. (After)

9. (Before)

ix. (After)

10. (Before)

x. (After)

11. (Before)

xi. (After)

12. (Before)

xii. (After)

13. (Before)

xiii. (After)

Epilogue

Other books

About the author

1.

(Before)

He was the second person I called. He would have been the first, but we had broken up two weeks before.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘It’s me.’

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘How are you?’

‘Not good. Have you posted my keys back to me yet?’

‘No. Not yet. I’m sorry.’

‘Good,’ I said. ‘I’m just about to be admitted to hospital and I need you to pick up a few things for me. And check on Bella.’ I fought back the tears. ‘Here. Speak to my doctor.’

And I handed my phone to the doctor standing near me, and there was an animated conversation in Vietnamese before the phone was handed back to me.

‘Oh my God,’ he said. ‘You are so sick. Don’t worry. Just tell me what you need, and I will bring it to you.’

‘Thank you,’ I said and burst into tears, relieved.

‘You’re welcome. Just text me your list. I’ll be there soon.’

i.

(After)

He had proved himself to be dependable in a crisis. Three months previously I had been stuck in Thailand for four weeks with visa problems. I had