STOP the narcissist from HOOVERING you
Resumo
TLDRThis content elaborates on the phenomenon of "hoovering" in narcissistic relationships, a manipulative tactic used to regain control over a former partner or individual after a separation. Hoovering typically involves tactics like charm, guilt, and victimization to lure the other person back in. Common forms of hoovering include love bombing and guilt-based manipulation. The content emphasizes the emotional struggles faced by those recovering from narcissistic relationships, notably the conflicting feelings of hope, fear, and guilt that contribute to the cycle of hoovering. Moreover, it provides guidance on recognizing hoovering tactics and maintaining firm boundaries to prevent falling back into toxic dynamics, underscoring the importance of self-awareness and healing.
Conclusões
- 🔍 Understand the term 'hoovering' as a tactic used by narcissists.
- 💔 Recognize the various forms of hoovering, like love bomb and guilt hoovering.
- ⚠️ Be aware of the emotional turmoil hoovering causes, including confusion and guilt.
- 🚫 Maintain your boundaries to protect yourself from falling back into toxic relationships.
- 💡 Know that hope and fear can make you vulnerable during hoovering attempts.
- 🌪️ Remember that narcissists may hoover to regain control and validate their sense of self.
Linha do tempo
- 00:00:00 - 00:05:00
The narrative begins with a confrontation regarding personal growth and forgiveness, hinting at disappointment in someone's once professed altruistic nature. This introduces the concept of 'hoovering', defined as the manipulative act of a narcissist trying to reel an ex-partner back into a relationship, often using guilt and emotional tactics.
- 00:05:00 - 00:10:00
Hoovering is explained as a narcissist's strategy to regain control over someone after a breakup. They might show charm or play the victim, leading the other person to believe they have changed. This creates confusion after experiencing the emotional rollercoaster of a relationship with a narcissist, who often employs gaslighting.
- 00:10:00 - 00:15:00
The idea that hoovering can take the form of 'love bombing' is introduced. When a narcissist tries to lure an ex back, they may express the recognition of past mistakes—words that are often yearned for by the victim, which can lead them to dismiss red flags that signal unchanged behavior.
- 00:15:00 - 00:20:00
Another form of hoovering discussed is 'guilt hoovering', where the narcissist plays on the victim's guilt to regain access to them. This strategy capitalizes on the tendency of many individuals to feel responsible for the emotions and situations of others, especially if they identify as empaths.
- 00:20:00 - 00:25:00
Fear, hope, and a desire for validation are highlighted as powerful motivators that keep individuals in toxic relationships. Narcissists leverage these feelings during hoovering attempts, drawing the victim back in with promises of change, only to eventually revert to old behaviors, often leading to further emotional damage.
- 00:25:00 - 00:34:19
The video concludes by emphasizing that hoovering occurs in various contexts, including family and workplace scenarios, showcasing how narcissists across different relationships can exert control and manipulate others to regain their supply or alleviate their feelings of rejection.
Mapa mental
Vídeo de perguntas e respostas
What is hoovering?
Hoovering is when a narcissist tries to suck you back into a relationship after a breakup or conflict.
What are the types of hoovering?
Types of hoovering include love bomb hoovering and guilt hoovering, among others.
Why do narcissists hoover?
Narcissists hoover to regain control, as a response to rejection, and to maintain their sense of supply.
How can I recognize hoovering?
Signs of hoovering include attempts to initiate contact, manipulative messages, and guilt-tripping.
What should I do if I experience hoovering?
Maintain your boundaries, avoid engaging with the narcissist, and focus on your healing process.
Is hoovering only relevant in romantic relationships?
No, hoovering can occur in family and workplace relationships as well.
What are the emotional impacts of hoovering?
Hoovering can lead to confusion, guilt, and emotional turmoil as it disrupts healing efforts.
Can hoovering succeed?
Yes, hoovering can be effective, especially if the victim is still emotionally bonded or feeling guilty.
Ver mais resumos de vídeos
- 00:00:00I guess you don't believe in growing as
- 00:00:02a person
- 00:00:03or I thought you believed in forgiveness
- 00:00:06I guess you aren't that good person you
- 00:00:08said you were
- 00:00:10or looks like you don't even believe
- 00:00:12giving a person a chance to even talk
- 00:00:14with them after all we've been through
- 00:00:15you've changed
- 00:00:23so let's then start with this idea of
- 00:00:27hoovering in case you don't know a
- 00:00:29Hoover is actually slang for a vacuum
- 00:00:31cleaner in different parts of the world
- 00:00:32so to Hoover is to vacuum just to give
- 00:00:34you that back back story so have you
- 00:00:37ever been in a narcissistic relationship
- 00:00:39and finally find the gumption to send
- 00:00:42them packing to just sort of end the
- 00:00:44relationship or maybe you're in a
- 00:00:46narcissistic relationship and they
- 00:00:48discarded you
- 00:00:50perhaps it's a family relationship and
- 00:00:53you finally had the big Showdown with
- 00:00:55your narcissistic parent or your
- 00:00:57narcissistic adult child and you finally
- 00:01:00lay down the law and perhaps you even go
- 00:01:03no contact this can even happen with a
- 00:01:04narcissistic friend
- 00:01:06if you have done that then you know what
- 00:01:10can often happen
- 00:01:12they try to suck you back in like a
- 00:01:16vacuum cleaner and that is where the
- 00:01:19term hoovering comes from
- 00:01:23hoovering is a term used to describe how
- 00:01:27a narcissist may try to suck you back
- 00:01:30into a relationship whether or not you
- 00:01:33left them or they left you
- 00:01:35it works in part because they use the
- 00:01:38techniques they already have in their
- 00:01:40wheelhouse things like charm Charisma
- 00:01:43confidence or alternately
- 00:01:46they will use their own sense of
- 00:01:48victimization and how hard their life is
- 00:01:50to play upon your guilt or they do both
- 00:01:54but by the time hoovering happens they
- 00:01:58also have some definite advantages in
- 00:02:01terms of sucking you back in
- 00:02:03after you being and experiencing the
- 00:02:05utter confusion of a narcissistic
- 00:02:07relationship good days bad days
- 00:02:10gaslighting lies and guilt many people
- 00:02:14want to believe that the narcissist has
- 00:02:17finally come around has really finally
- 00:02:20made the changes
- 00:02:22it can be very powerful to believe
- 00:02:25that your words got through to the
- 00:02:28narcissist
- 00:02:29so let's say that you are in a
- 00:02:31relationship with a narcissist that got
- 00:02:34uglier and uglier and finally you
- 00:02:36decided I'm out and you even go no
- 00:02:38contact
- 00:02:39as part of that entire deterioration of
- 00:02:43your relationship you kept telling the
- 00:02:46thing you kept telling the narcissists
- 00:02:48the things that they're doing wrong the
- 00:02:50things that you need and you explained
- 00:02:52and you defended and you did all the
- 00:02:53things I tell you not to do and not
- 00:02:56surprisingly they didn't listen to a
- 00:02:58word you said
- 00:02:59so you had it and you decide I'm out of
- 00:03:03here I'm leaving I'm going no contact
- 00:03:05but you put an end to the relationship
- 00:03:08because you actually finally thought
- 00:03:10that they won't change
- 00:03:12good for you but then one day they come
- 00:03:15back with the words you desperately
- 00:03:18wanted to hear
- 00:03:20they say
- 00:03:21you were right
- 00:03:23I didn't treat you well
- 00:03:25Angels could not sing more beautiful
- 00:03:28words you wanted to hear those words for
- 00:03:31months or even years and here it is
- 00:03:35the smart part of you knows to doubt it
- 00:03:38but after that time away from the
- 00:03:41narcissist and after a little time under
- 00:03:43your wheels and you get that euphoric
- 00:03:46recall and you come back and you even
- 00:03:47might be feeling a little bit confident
- 00:03:50you may even want to believe them
- 00:03:53because you forget all the bad stuff
- 00:03:56and that's when the hoovering begins
- 00:03:58in this form of hoovering and something
- 00:04:01I call love bomb hoovering The
- 00:04:04Narcissist sucks you back in like they
- 00:04:07did in the first place
- 00:04:08they tell you what you want to hear and
- 00:04:12this time they know exactly what you
- 00:04:15want to hear because it was exactly the
- 00:04:17reason you left you did tell them
- 00:04:20you did show them but the same old red
- 00:04:23flags are there however now you're
- 00:04:25feeling a little smug like now you're
- 00:04:28finally Enough by the way you were
- 00:04:29always enough but now in their eyes
- 00:04:30you're enough and you're worthy of being
- 00:04:32heard by them you may now start love
- 00:04:35bomb phase two with them or phase three
- 00:04:37or phase four and they're going to start
- 00:04:39all the usual love bombing stuff they
- 00:04:41did the first time maybe a work uh maybe
- 00:04:44a vacation
- 00:04:46maybe make up sex you almost feel like
- 00:04:48you're dating again
- 00:04:50but the red flags are still there and
- 00:04:52before you can say Gaslight boom you are
- 00:04:56back in it with the same old
- 00:04:58invalidating patterns except that this
- 00:05:00time you feel more foolish
- 00:05:03but there are also other forms of
- 00:05:06hoovering there's also something that I
- 00:05:08term guilt hoovering
- 00:05:10despite how badly narcissists treat you
- 00:05:14part of the reason that many people stay
- 00:05:17in these relationships so long
- 00:05:19is because it's because of guilt
- 00:05:23they'll say things like oh I guess he
- 00:05:24did kind of try and she was going
- 00:05:26through a lot and she was going through
- 00:05:28a tough time and he did take me on
- 00:05:30vacation and she's really a secure she
- 00:05:33I'm sorry she's really insecure and she
- 00:05:35doesn't really mean the things she says
- 00:05:37and gosh we had so much fun going to the
- 00:05:39movies
- 00:05:41the vulnerable and covert narcissist is
- 00:05:45able to weaponize their sense of
- 00:05:47victimization and play upon that guilt
- 00:05:50of yours so even when you have hit your
- 00:05:53wall with them and you finally leave
- 00:05:55they will play on that guilt letting you
- 00:05:58know that it was so difficult for them
- 00:06:01since you left that they cannot find
- 00:06:03someone like you that they don't always
- 00:06:05know that they they know that they
- 00:06:07always don't get it right but they were
- 00:06:09always so grateful when you would give
- 00:06:12them a second chance and you almost feel
- 00:06:14like a little mini martyr like oh I
- 00:06:16guess I did I guess I am a good person I
- 00:06:18gave them a second chance
- 00:06:19guilt hoovering can Prey Upon Your need
- 00:06:22to be a rescuer your need to be a nice
- 00:06:25person or even again that personal
- 00:06:27martyr complex you may have inherited
- 00:06:29from your family of origin empaths in
- 00:06:32particular are very vulnerable to the
- 00:06:34guilt hoovering Dynamic it may have been
- 00:06:36literally a superhuman effort for you to
- 00:06:39pull yourself out of that relationship
- 00:06:40and after you did you were plagued by
- 00:06:43guilt
- 00:06:44so when the covert or even the overt
- 00:06:46narcissist tries to pull you back in he
- 00:06:49or she can masterfully play upon your
- 00:06:53guilt and before you know it you are
- 00:06:55right back in it listening to their
- 00:06:57angry Sullen resentful and victimized
- 00:07:00rants it's obviously not as slick as
- 00:07:03love bombing when a narcissist pulls you
- 00:07:05back in with guilt hoovering but as a
- 00:07:07hoovering strategy it works like a charm
- 00:07:09again especially for people who tend to
- 00:07:11be very empathic
- 00:07:13hoovering can be particularly intense if
- 00:07:16they find out you had been dating
- 00:07:18someone else
- 00:07:19narcissists do not like the idea that
- 00:07:23someone could replace them they have no
- 00:07:24problem replacing you by the way but if
- 00:07:27they hear about you dating someone else
- 00:07:29the hoovering may come fast and furious
- 00:07:32in fact many people have told me that
- 00:07:35they found it somewhat validating or
- 00:07:37exciting when the narcissist heavily
- 00:07:40Hoovers them after they learned
- 00:07:43that you're dating someone else it plays
- 00:07:46into some unhealthy need to have people
- 00:07:48kind of have a duel over you like the
- 00:07:50olden days but sadly if you fall for it
- 00:07:53you're going to slide right back into
- 00:07:55the toxic pattern with the narcissist
- 00:07:57and you even have to ask yourself was I
- 00:07:59dating that new person to kind of Hoover
- 00:08:01back to get hoovered back by my
- 00:08:03narcissist
- 00:08:04hoovering works for a few reasons the
- 00:08:07first reason is Hope
- 00:08:09I have said it a thousand times and I'll
- 00:08:11say it a thousand more narcissistic
- 00:08:13relationships are often kept in place by
- 00:08:16hope the hope that it will get better
- 00:08:18the hope that the idea that it'll get
- 00:08:21better can really be a fantasy that
- 00:08:23keeps these relationships going
- 00:08:25hoovering plays on that hope because the
- 00:08:28person is now doing many of the things
- 00:08:30you wanted them to do during the
- 00:08:31hoovering phase they might actually pay
- 00:08:33attention for a little while they might
- 00:08:34listen they might even try to correct
- 00:08:36some of their past errors it is more
- 00:08:39seductive than a seduction
- 00:08:41but the second reason that hoovering
- 00:08:44works is fear
- 00:08:46another reason that people stay in
- 00:08:48narcissistic relations probably in fact
- 00:08:50the biggest is fear
- 00:08:52fear keeps people in these narcissistic
- 00:08:54relationships because people are afraid
- 00:08:56of being alone they are afraid of the
- 00:08:58unfamiliar they are afraid of trying to
- 00:09:00make it on their own they're afraid of
- 00:09:02the guilt they will feel if they leave
- 00:09:04and hoovering can play on all of that
- 00:09:07fear
- 00:09:08after a break from The Narcissist even
- 00:09:12when your life starts feeling better and
- 00:09:14even when your life starts feeling
- 00:09:15better and you start feeling better and
- 00:09:17you feel relieved and you feel more free
- 00:09:19there are still those old fears maybe
- 00:09:23you try to date and you're finding that
- 00:09:25it's hard to meet new people maybe
- 00:09:27you're having trouble making ends meet
- 00:09:29maybe you're just lonely and feel like
- 00:09:32even a mean person to watch TV with is
- 00:09:35still a person to watch TV with
- 00:09:38so when they start to Hoover
- 00:09:42those fears of being alone can really
- 00:09:45get delayed now you're not as afraid of
- 00:09:48that and you want to Hope
- 00:09:49that their intentions are good that darn
- 00:09:52hope is Raising its head again and then
- 00:09:54your fear of being alone can just
- 00:09:57evaporate if you go with the hoovering
- 00:09:59this relates again back to that third
- 00:10:02reason of guilt that some narcissist can
- 00:10:04be just pathetic enough and victimized
- 00:10:08as we said talked about before and the
- 00:10:10fear of feeling guilty
- 00:10:13means that the hoovering works because
- 00:10:15then not only do you get to try again in
- 00:10:19a relationship but more importantly now
- 00:10:21you don't need to deal with that icky
- 00:10:23guilty feeling which is very
- 00:10:25uncomfortable for many people to feel
- 00:10:27guilty
- 00:10:28a fourth reason that hoovering works is
- 00:10:31that you still heal that you still hear
- 00:10:34the old stories in your head the
- 00:10:37rationalizations that you made for their
- 00:10:38behavior the importance of selling
- 00:10:41everyone on your whole happy family
- 00:10:43scenario if this is someone you're
- 00:10:45married to or the family you came from
- 00:10:46the image that you wanted to put to the
- 00:10:49world whatever it is those narratives
- 00:10:52and Second Chances were powerful enough
- 00:10:55to often keep you in the relationship
- 00:10:57for longer than you should have so it's
- 00:11:00not surprising
- 00:11:01that even when you got tough and you got
- 00:11:04out
- 00:11:06that there is enough of that stuff
- 00:11:08hanging out there to make you vulnerable
- 00:11:11to hoovering
- 00:11:13the concept of hoovering makes a lot of
- 00:11:16sense in romantic relationships right
- 00:11:18because uh you break up they try to suck
- 00:11:20you back in it doesn't always feel like
- 00:11:22it makes as much sense in other
- 00:11:24narcissistic relationships like
- 00:11:26workplace or family relationship but
- 00:11:29that absolutely does and for those of
- 00:11:32you in those kinds of narcissistic
- 00:11:34relationships family or work you've
- 00:11:36probably already seen it let's say you
- 00:11:38put up a boundary with a toxic or
- 00:11:41narcissistic parent you know that there
- 00:11:44are many ways that that parent may try
- 00:11:46to draw you back in a family event a
- 00:11:50family illness discussions around
- 00:11:52probate or other Financial or legal
- 00:11:55matters a concern about a more beloved
- 00:11:57family member like a grandmother or an
- 00:12:00aunt family hoovering is actually very
- 00:12:03powerful and it may not just be apparent
- 00:12:06it may be a sibling who tries to Hoover
- 00:12:08you back the tough part of families and
- 00:12:11parents is that as time goes on the
- 00:12:14relationships have new needs and for
- 00:12:16many people it can get very hard to keep
- 00:12:19their boundaries when for example an
- 00:12:22older parent gets sick or when there is
- 00:12:24a major family event you want to attend
- 00:12:28and will you know need to be present at
- 00:12:30that because you care about the other
- 00:12:32people involved for people from
- 00:12:34narcissistic families the grief of
- 00:12:37missing out on a healthy family system
- 00:12:39can take a lifelong toll and the
- 00:12:42childlike hope and dream of having
- 00:12:45loving and normal parents can be a very
- 00:12:48powerful tool so if a parent Hoovers you
- 00:12:51back in it can be very compelling it can
- 00:12:55also be possible that this happens when
- 00:12:59there's a real family crisis such as an
- 00:13:02illness or a death at that time you
- 00:13:05obviously can be involved with your
- 00:13:06family as you need but you can also
- 00:13:08maintain your boundaries you may
- 00:13:10recognize that your mother will never
- 00:13:13change but you may need to interact with
- 00:13:15her to ensure that your other parents or
- 00:13:18a grandparent or someone else in the
- 00:13:20family gets adequate medical care you
- 00:13:23can keep your boundaries and still be
- 00:13:26able to circumvent the hoovering process
- 00:13:28and of course when it comes to family
- 00:13:31hoovering families are masterful at
- 00:13:35using guilt-based hoovering they may
- 00:13:37play upon Survivor guilt oh so now
- 00:13:40you're too good to spend time with us or
- 00:13:43just good old-fashioned guilt how can
- 00:13:46you abandon your family what kind of
- 00:13:48person does that or you have time and
- 00:13:52money now you have more of that than any
- 00:13:54of us it sure is sad that you don't
- 00:13:57share it with all of us the people who
- 00:13:59sacrifice so much for you
- 00:14:02anyone from a narcissistic family system
- 00:14:04knows the lengths to which narcissistic
- 00:14:07parents and extended family will go to
- 00:14:10pull you back in and how hard it can be
- 00:14:14to resist it especially
- 00:14:16if it plays on your existing guilt
- 00:14:20but just as with all hoovering with
- 00:14:23family hoovering once they suck you back
- 00:14:26in not surprisingly they go back they go
- 00:14:29right back to their old patterns and
- 00:14:32this can often be more devastating than
- 00:14:36even traditional close relationship
- 00:14:38hoovering because it plays on lifelong
- 00:14:41guilt
- 00:14:42lifelong passive aggressive patterns
- 00:14:45you've observed in your family
- 00:14:48may become even more complex if the
- 00:14:51family system was not just characterized
- 00:14:54by narcissism but also other forms of
- 00:14:57trauma and abuse
- 00:14:59the child part of you always gave your
- 00:15:02parents a second chance and that part of
- 00:15:05you may be at Play Again here so it can
- 00:15:09be quite devastating to get pulled back
- 00:15:12in and have it all go back to the way
- 00:15:15that it always was you may literally
- 00:15:18experience that childlike sense of grief
- 00:15:21and loss and helplessness and
- 00:15:24powerlessness that nothing you can do
- 00:15:27will make it better
- 00:15:30so that begs the question why do
- 00:15:32narcissists Hoover well there's multiple
- 00:15:35reasons is noted above narcissists don't
- 00:15:38like being rejected and if you do set
- 00:15:40boundaries or you leave them or you go
- 00:15:43no contact they not only don't like the
- 00:15:46rejection they hate the idea that they
- 00:15:49didn't win
- 00:15:50so hoovering can be part of their need
- 00:15:53to win
- 00:15:54and feel confident that they can get you
- 00:15:57back
- 00:15:58many times
- 00:15:59if they're hoovering actually works
- 00:16:02they're relieved that they won and then
- 00:16:05they'll pretty quickly discard you it's
- 00:16:06all about the win not that they want to
- 00:16:08keep you around they want to just think
- 00:16:09that they can suck you back in and
- 00:16:11another reason that they Hoover is
- 00:16:13control control and being controlling
- 00:16:16are key Dynamics in narcissism and
- 00:16:18narcissistic abuse again just like their
- 00:16:21need to always win they also don't like
- 00:16:24losing control and if you are stepping
- 00:16:27away from the relationship or leaving or
- 00:16:29frankly even when they leave you the
- 00:16:31idea that they can no longer control you
- 00:16:34does not work for them so hoovering not
- 00:16:38only serves the role of sucking you back
- 00:16:40in so they can control you but to feel
- 00:16:43the sense of control of Simply being
- 00:16:46able to suck you back in
- 00:16:49hoovering also feeds that entire
- 00:16:52addictive Dynamic of narcissistic
- 00:16:54relationships it's a part of all of them
- 00:16:56if you are a Survivor or a victim of one
- 00:17:00of these relationships then you know
- 00:17:02that your sense of being addicted to The
- 00:17:06Narcissist makes you vulnerable
- 00:17:09to the hoovering and the entire Dynamic
- 00:17:12of hoovering but for the narcissist
- 00:17:14their addiction to the cycle of highs
- 00:17:17and lows in the relationship absolutely
- 00:17:20feeds their addiction cycle in this
- 00:17:23relationship too narcissists actually do
- 00:17:26not do well in relationships that are
- 00:17:28stable and steady and free of drama the
- 00:17:32approach and the avoidance and the ups
- 00:17:34and the Downs are are kind of almost a
- 00:17:37draw for them and often it's sadly the
- 00:17:39only thing that keeps them engaged the
- 00:17:41drama kind of keeps them hooked in and
- 00:17:44narcissists also Hoover when they are
- 00:17:47running out of narcissistic Supply it
- 00:17:50may simply be that other people don't
- 00:17:52want to put up with their BS and so if
- 00:17:54you were a steady and consistent source
- 00:17:57of supply for them in the past they may
- 00:18:00come sniffing around again
- 00:18:03hoovering is very much a part of the
- 00:18:06cycle of the narcissistic relationship
- 00:18:09and and frankly of almost all abusive
- 00:18:12relationships the way it sort of plays
- 00:18:13out is tension abuse honeymoon the
- 00:18:16honeymoon period is the hoovering and
- 00:18:19also plays on the almost addictive cycle
- 00:18:22of these relationships the high you get
- 00:18:26from the ups and downs the hoovering is
- 00:18:29the part that comes after the Downs so
- 00:18:33it's very very seductive and very
- 00:18:35compelling but the fact is these Cycles
- 00:18:38are not healthy and as seductive as
- 00:18:41hoovering can be in some cases it is
- 00:18:44also very unhealthy you know unless I
- 00:18:47forget I also want to say a few words
- 00:18:48about workplace hoovering because it
- 00:18:50does happen it's a bit more of a rare
- 00:18:52Dynamic but it may be that you work in a
- 00:18:54place
- 00:18:55where you actually recognize that your
- 00:18:58value isn't being recognized you start
- 00:19:00to realize other people make more they
- 00:19:02have different responsibilities or
- 00:19:03better responsibilities or just better
- 00:19:05and so one day you say I'm out of here
- 00:19:07but it may very well be as often happens
- 00:19:10in narcissistic workplaces or with
- 00:19:12narcissistic bosses they may need you
- 00:19:15but they never admit to that but if you
- 00:19:17do step away you may have an interesting
- 00:19:20experience where they try to Hoover you
- 00:19:22back in
- 00:19:23they may offer you more money or the
- 00:19:25responsibilities or perks that you
- 00:19:27wanted but what ends up happening is you
- 00:19:30may get those things
- 00:19:32but then you'll go back to being treated
- 00:19:34the same way just making a few more
- 00:19:36bucks an hour you really have to ask
- 00:19:38yourself if that's worth it and because
- 00:19:40the narcissistic boss or supervisor or
- 00:19:44leader is a narcissist in other areas of
- 00:19:46their lives they also hate that idea of
- 00:19:48not being in control for example
- 00:19:50narcissistic bosses don't do well with
- 00:19:53having employees that work from home
- 00:19:54they need to control them they need to
- 00:19:58monitor them so if you're looking for
- 00:20:00that kind of workplace setup and it's
- 00:20:02sort of the standard for your particular
- 00:20:04kind of industry that that can be done
- 00:20:05it's the narcissistic bosses that often
- 00:20:07will not allow that they may try to
- 00:20:10Hoover you in and say sure you can do
- 00:20:12that but within a few weeks and months
- 00:20:14may use techniques like guilt and shame
- 00:20:16to pull you back into the workplace so
- 00:20:19please put aside the fantasies and pay
- 00:20:22attention to this Dynamic of hoovering
- 00:20:24because if you don't understand it you
- 00:20:27can easily get caught in a cycle that
- 00:20:29feels impossible to break and Trust me
- 00:20:32you do not want to get sucked back in
- 00:20:36and today we're going to talk about the
- 00:20:38many different faces of hoovering
- 00:20:41hoovering is something we often view as
- 00:20:43almost like an afterthought but it's
- 00:20:45actually a really profoundly important
- 00:20:47part of understanding narcissistic
- 00:20:50relationships and just as an aside
- 00:20:53would love to just keep reminding you
- 00:20:54that I do have a new podcast uh called
- 00:20:57navigating narcissism you can get more
- 00:20:59information by going to the video notes
- 00:21:01and you can listen to it and subscribe
- 00:21:02anywhere you listen to your podcasts but
- 00:21:05let's talk about hoovering uh hoovering
- 00:21:08right again it's that relapse that
- 00:21:10moment of relapse and the healing
- 00:21:12process of narcissistic abuse and
- 00:21:15frankly it's a very human response to
- 00:21:17fall back in a hope to work it through a
- 00:21:20fantasy that somehow it can be different
- 00:21:23an attempt to get it right or a moment
- 00:21:26of weakness so let's break down the six
- 00:21:31maybe even seven faces of hoovering
- 00:21:34number one
- 00:21:36the my life is awful without you I was
- 00:21:39wrong Hoover
- 00:21:41it could also be called the fantasy
- 00:21:43Hoover it's what all of us ever wanted
- 00:21:46to hear when we were in these
- 00:21:48relationships I was bad you were good I
- 00:21:51don't deserve you but I want to devote
- 00:21:52my life to loving you and making you
- 00:21:54happy that's what we want to hear we
- 00:21:56wanted to hear them say I'm miserable
- 00:21:58without you I cry I'm sad I can't stop
- 00:22:00thinking about you right that's the
- 00:22:03fantasy that they would miss us that
- 00:22:05much hearing that especially if it is
- 00:22:07early enough in your healing process is
- 00:22:10dangerous
- 00:22:11actually I am sure their life is awful
- 00:22:14without you in it but they don't
- 00:22:16actually mean it in that good way but
- 00:22:19they are going to make your life awful
- 00:22:20again if you let them back in and when
- 00:22:23they say their life is awful without you
- 00:22:25they don't mean it the way you want it
- 00:22:28to mean in losing you they lost Supply
- 00:22:32they lost a punching bag they lost a
- 00:22:35source of Regulation that's what they
- 00:22:37mean do you really want that role again
- 00:22:41number two is the please help me things
- 00:22:44are so dire in my life Hoover
- 00:22:47if they really can't get to you you
- 00:22:50really block them you don't respond they
- 00:22:52double down they'll say strange things
- 00:22:53like people are after me or I'm not safe
- 00:22:56or I feel like I could hurt myself they
- 00:22:58might ask for money I just need a little
- 00:23:00money because I'm in a tough spots and
- 00:23:02things since things ended you're not
- 00:23:04Emergency Services nor are you Social
- 00:23:06Services if they're in danger then tell
- 00:23:08them to call 9-1-1 or call it for them
- 00:23:11if you're actually concerned about their
- 00:23:12welfare narcissists do this because they
- 00:23:15know it works they know you have empathy
- 00:23:17you know you once cared about this
- 00:23:20person you may still and frankly you
- 00:23:22don't want to live with the regret of it
- 00:23:24all you're nice so you want to help and
- 00:23:26in the blink of an eye by reaching out
- 00:23:28and offering to help you may be back in
- 00:23:30the mess and on the Chain financially
- 00:23:32with time or with mental energy if you
- 00:23:34truly believe someone's at harm it's not
- 00:23:36your responsibility you should really
- 00:23:38call Emergency Services number three the
- 00:23:41I have changed Hoover no they haven't so
- 00:23:45if those are the grounds on which you
- 00:23:46are taking them back it's a false
- 00:23:48assumption the amount of change
- 00:23:50necessary could never have been enacted
- 00:23:53in a brief period of time they may tout
- 00:23:56having gone to therapy life coaching
- 00:23:58taking Ayahuasca a trip to the moon
- 00:24:00whatever it's easy for them to say
- 00:24:03they've changed all probabilities
- 00:24:05against it having happened in a
- 00:24:06meaningful way and especially
- 00:24:09if you're still struggling with your
- 00:24:11trauma bonds this is a risky letting
- 00:24:14them back in right and then you're going
- 00:24:16to have to waste time in that entire
- 00:24:17cycle again and having to get out again
- 00:24:20number four is the the you think you are
- 00:24:24healed and can manage them this time
- 00:24:26Hoover
- 00:24:27you may be but they haven't changed so
- 00:24:30let's say you are stronger and now
- 00:24:32you're much more understanding of trauma
- 00:24:34bonds and narcissism and all the rest
- 00:24:36what does that look like was the sex
- 00:24:39really that good is anyone that
- 00:24:42attractive
- 00:24:44is it really worth taking them back your
- 00:24:47being stronger is great and sure you can
- 00:24:49radically accept to the ends of the
- 00:24:51Earth but getting out was not easy
- 00:24:54healing was not easy so when they come
- 00:24:57rolling around and your rationale is
- 00:24:59that I can handle it this time I won't
- 00:25:02go deep I will radically accept Okay but
- 00:25:05then ask yourself is that really a
- 00:25:08relationship
- 00:25:10the number five kind of Hoover is that
- 00:25:12you are happy and I'm going to mess it
- 00:25:14up Hoover this Hoover kind this kind of
- 00:25:17hoovering is so big that it actually is
- 00:25:19its own video that's going to come out
- 00:25:20very soon it might even come out
- 00:25:21tomorrow
- 00:25:22they are allergic to your happiness in
- 00:25:26fact I would argue they are disgusted by
- 00:25:28your happiness so they're going to come
- 00:25:29for it they see your social media posts
- 00:25:32they may talk to your friends they know
- 00:25:34you're happy listen to that video that's
- 00:25:36about to come out because this is a
- 00:25:38bigger topic but it's real
- 00:25:40number six is the self Hoover
- 00:25:43if you aren't ready to let them go it's
- 00:25:46easy for you to go sniffing around to
- 00:25:49look at their social media to set up
- 00:25:52your schedule in a way that oops here we
- 00:25:54are running into each other at the gym
- 00:25:56at the same time or to send some texts
- 00:25:59to them yourself or heaven forbid that
- 00:26:01you drunk text them the trauma bonding
- 00:26:04means that these relationships are
- 00:26:06extremely confusing and at times of
- 00:26:08loneliness or euphoric recall it is easy
- 00:26:11to reach back out try not to do this it
- 00:26:15often won't work but if your timing is
- 00:26:17unfortunate it might and they'll start
- 00:26:20looping back into your life or you may
- 00:26:23get caught into a one night or a one
- 00:26:25weekend hookup that leaves you feeling
- 00:26:27even worse
- 00:26:29this is also tough because people may
- 00:26:32feel a sense of Shame after doing this
- 00:26:34and it makes the self-blame worse if
- 00:26:38this relationship you already got out of
- 00:26:40ends up having an act two or an act
- 00:26:42three or an act four
- 00:26:44hoovering is simply a part of the trauma
- 00:26:48bonded cycle that can make these
- 00:26:50relationships feel
- 00:26:52like an eternal recurrence keep it in
- 00:26:55mind because getting sucked back in
- 00:26:58is not only not good for you it takes
- 00:27:00all of those Cycles around self-blame
- 00:27:03and makes them far far worse
- 00:27:05so
- 00:27:06imagine that you are or were maybe you
- 00:27:10don't have to imagine it
- 00:27:11but imagine you're in a narcissistic
- 00:27:13relationship that has broken up or
- 00:27:16you're taking a break but it's ended at
- 00:27:19least for the foreseeable future
- 00:27:21and let's imagine it's broken up because
- 00:27:24of their bad behavior and then as it
- 00:27:26often does at some point a Hoover will
- 00:27:28begin so you may be living your life
- 00:27:31maybe even starting to enjoy the peace
- 00:27:34and quiet of not having to deal with
- 00:27:35them for a minute
- 00:27:38there may have been some angry texts and
- 00:27:40messages from them for a while they're
- 00:27:42dysregulated it's what they do
- 00:27:44maybe they're angry that they are no
- 00:27:46longer in control
- 00:27:48this may be more pronounced if you ended
- 00:27:51it but even if they did
- 00:27:55they just don't like having their supply
- 00:27:58be responsive they're not thinking about
- 00:28:00you as a person they're thinking about
- 00:28:02you as Supply
- 00:28:04then one day you might say those angry
- 00:28:06texts
- 00:28:07the tone sort of changes and they're
- 00:28:10sort of sending you a touch base text
- 00:28:11how you doing
- 00:28:13what are you up to
- 00:28:15they may even send you a picture that
- 00:28:17you don't want I don't even mean a
- 00:28:19sexual one it just might even be a
- 00:28:21picture of a place or even themselves
- 00:28:24they may say hey I saw someone someone
- 00:28:27that you both know
- 00:28:29you may or may not respond of course my
- 00:28:33hope is you don't but you have to make a
- 00:28:35decision on what feels best
- 00:28:38you don't respond then they may strike
- 00:28:41just like a cobra
- 00:28:43and they might start to say hey why
- 00:28:46don't we talk
- 00:28:47want to chat
- 00:28:49can we clear the air
- 00:28:52and especially
- 00:28:54if it was one of those more toxic
- 00:28:57breakups or one where you might have
- 00:29:00felt really unsettled by what happened
- 00:29:02in the relationship or they betrayed you
- 00:29:05then you may think wait what you may
- 00:29:08stay silent you may even say no thank
- 00:29:12you
- 00:29:14well you might even say something angry
- 00:29:15like are you out of your mind whatever
- 00:29:17you say it's your right to do what you
- 00:29:19will
- 00:29:21and then what happens William if this
- 00:29:23has happened to you that you've started
- 00:29:24having this Hoover experience where
- 00:29:26they're trying to reaching out hey do
- 00:29:28you want to get together you want to
- 00:29:29talk it out
- 00:29:31I'd be curious to see what has happened
- 00:29:33to you my guess is more often than not
- 00:29:36they will shame you
- 00:29:38they might things like oh I guess you
- 00:29:41don't believe in growing as a person
- 00:29:44or I thought you believed in forgiveness
- 00:29:47I guess you aren't that good person you
- 00:29:49said you were
- 00:29:51or looks like you don't even believe
- 00:29:53giving a person a chance to even talk
- 00:29:55with them after all we've been through
- 00:29:56you've changed
- 00:29:58or so much for you having all that
- 00:30:01empathy why they'll text you what after
- 00:30:04all this time you don't even want
- 00:30:05closure
- 00:30:07yeah that would be sort of really
- 00:30:09precious that they're lecturing you on
- 00:30:11empathy
- 00:30:13when their Hoover fails when they feel
- 00:30:16like they're trying to reach out in a
- 00:30:18peaceful way to you
- 00:30:20you have to be prepared for shaming
- 00:30:22because it is their Gambit and
- 00:30:24especially if you are staying quiet and
- 00:30:26not engaging well they don't like that
- 00:30:29they would rather get into a nasty and
- 00:30:32angry back and forth with you than have
- 00:30:35you go silent and if you give a simple
- 00:30:38and clear response like no thank you to
- 00:30:41their booby-trapped Olive Branch with
- 00:30:44thorns then you are painted as a
- 00:30:47monument to incivility and callousness
- 00:30:50now obviously this is gaslighting on one
- 00:30:54level the things they are saying to you
- 00:30:56are not only not nice they're not true
- 00:30:59and it's also a bait because at some
- 00:31:02level they're trying to get a rise out
- 00:31:05of you they want the response it may be
- 00:31:09that they want you to give in and meet
- 00:31:11up with them maybe they just maybe they
- 00:31:14want to start up again just to betray
- 00:31:16you again or leave you again maybe they
- 00:31:18want to just have control of the
- 00:31:20narrative or maybe they want to start it
- 00:31:21again so they can just end it on their
- 00:31:23terms whatever it is
- 00:31:25any Hoovers with their agenda in mind
- 00:31:27with little regard with how this contact
- 00:31:30or this attempt to reconnect will impact
- 00:31:33you what gets interesting is if other
- 00:31:36starts other people start to shame you
- 00:31:38too saying things like oh come on you
- 00:31:40guys were together for a while what harm
- 00:31:42could a conversation be or I bet if you
- 00:31:46forgive them you'll feel so much better
- 00:31:48I'm thinking not so sure about that or
- 00:31:51some someone will say sometimes we have
- 00:31:52to be better or go higher when they go
- 00:31:54low which is code for go talk to them
- 00:31:58deal with the Fallout and have to go
- 00:32:00through the whole damned cycle again
- 00:32:03falling for a Hoover is not going high
- 00:32:06it's self-sabotage
- 00:32:08so between their texts telling you that
- 00:32:12you are cold and unempathic and
- 00:32:14unwilling to get closure because you
- 00:32:16won't talk to them you desperately want
- 00:32:18closure but you should know you can't
- 00:32:20get it and others saying oh no go on
- 00:32:23meet with them what's the harm what's
- 00:32:25the harm Lots
- 00:32:26getting those trauma-bonded pullbacks
- 00:32:29doubting yourself again questioning the
- 00:32:31days the weeks the months of healing and
- 00:32:34practicing a boundary having that
- 00:32:36ruptured that's harmful to you
- 00:32:39being hoovered can be really challenging
- 00:32:43especially after a betrayal Laden
- 00:32:46breakup from a narcissistic person it
- 00:32:49can raise a confusing mess of Hope anger
- 00:32:52fear confusion and if it has been hard
- 00:32:55for you to not have contact but you
- 00:32:59pushed yourself and had the discipline
- 00:33:02to protect yourself and then this
- 00:33:04happens even if you don't respond you
- 00:33:08may stare at your phone for hours
- 00:33:10ruminating about their motivations and
- 00:33:13their intentions and all the rest of it
- 00:33:15that part is easy it's a game domination
- 00:33:19control but for folks who are still
- 00:33:22struggling it can be harder then you
- 00:33:25throw in there that accusations those
- 00:33:28accusations about things that are not
- 00:33:29true about you it's messy and it feels
- 00:33:32awful
- 00:33:33the hard work after a narcissistic
- 00:33:36breakup is you getting to know you
- 00:33:40getting more clear on who you are doing
- 00:33:42the work of individuation and not having
- 00:33:45your moods and feelings and life be
- 00:33:48dictated by the whims of an unempathic
- 00:33:52and egocentric other that's the work and
- 00:33:55when these Hoovers pop up and you are
- 00:33:58shamed and blamed it can make this work
- 00:34:01harder but please keep persisting if you
- 00:34:05can resist it can get you to the other
- 00:34:07side and in most cases after their
- 00:34:11hoovery text you don't respond they get
- 00:34:13bored and they simply move on to new
- 00:34:16Supply give it a shot and thanks again
- Hoovering
- Narcissism
- Relationships
- Manipulation
- Emotional Abuse
- Boundaries
- Healing
- Gaslighting
- Empathy
- Trauma