What Happens During Narcissistic Rage? (Survey)

We surveyed 1,000 people who have experienced narcissistic abuse to answer a common question inside our community, “What happens during narcissistic rage?”

The typical manifestations of narcissistic rage reported by the participants were:

• Verbal abuse (80%)
• Silent treatment (60%)
• Physical aggression (40%)
• Manipulation (30%)

In this article, I will guide you through the details of our survey to help you understand what happens when a narcissist goes into a rage.

Narcissistic rage is an intense outburst of anger, aggression, or passive aggression exhibited by individuals with narcissistic traits.

It occurs when they perceive a threat to their self-esteem or self-worth. 

It can manifest in various ways, including verbal abuse, physical aggression, silent treatment, or manipulation. 

Understanding narcissistic rage’s triggers, manifestations, and impacts is essential for those experiencing narcissistic abuse.

Suggested Reading: What Is Narcissistic Rage? (A Complete Guide)

Purpose of the Survey

The purpose of our survey was to gather data on the triggers, manifestations, duration, impact, and coping strategies associated with narcissistic rage. 

We hope this data helps individuals recognize and deal with narcissistic rage.

Methodology

The survey was conducted online and involved 1,000 participants who self-identified as having experienced narcissistic rage from a narcissist. 

The participants represented various ages, genders, and relationship statuses. 

The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions and some open-ended questions to capture more nuanced experiences. 

The questions were designed to gather data on the incidence of narcissistic rage, the common triggers, the typical manifestations, the duration of the rage, the impact on the participants, and the strategies used by participants to cope with the rage.

Suggested Reading: 15 Examples of Narcissistic Rage

Of the 1,000 participants surveyed, 95% reported experiencing narcissistic rage from the narcissist in their lives at least once.

Common Triggers

The most common triggers for narcissistic rage reported by the participants were:

• Criticism or perceived criticism (70%)
• Rejection or perceived rejection (60%)
• Disagreement or differing opinions (50%)
• Failure or perceived failure (40%)

This suggests that narcissistic rage is often triggered by events threatening the narcissist’s self-esteem or self-worth.

Typical Manifestations

The typical manifestations of narcissistic rage reported by the participants were:

• Verbal abuse (80%)
• Physical aggression (60%)
• Silent treatment (40%)
• Manipulation (30%)

(please note the percentages don’t add up to 100 because we allowed participants to select multiple options)

This indicates that narcissistic rage can manifest in various ways, both overtly aggressive and passive-aggressive.

Duration of Rage

The duration of narcissistic rage episodes reported by the participants varied widely:

• Less than an hour (20%)
• Several hours (30%)
• A day (25%)
• Several days (15%)
• A week or more (10%)

This suggests that the duration of narcissistic rage can vary significantly, with some episodes lasting only a short time and others lasting several days or more.

Impact on Participants

The impact of narcissistic rage on the participants was significant:

• Emotional impact (e.g., feelings of sadness, anxiety, or worthlessness) (90%)
• Psychological impact (e.g., decreased self-esteem, increased self-doubt) (80%)
• Physical impact (e.g., physical injuries, stress-related health problems) (40%)

(please note the percentages don’t add up to 100 because we allowed participants to select multiple options)

This highlights the severe impact that narcissistic rage can have on the well-being of those who experience it.

Coping Strategies

The most common coping strategies used by participants to deal with narcissistic rage were:

• Setting boundaries (60%)
• Seeking support from friends, family, or professionals (50%)
• Practicing self-care (e.g., exercise, meditation, hobbies) (40%)
• Ending the relationship with the narcissist (30%)

(please note the percentages don’t add up to 100 because we allowed participants to select multiple options)

This suggests that setting boundaries, seeking support, and practicing self-care are essential strategies for dealing with narcissistic rage.

Suggested Listen: 75. Strategies for Healing from Narcissistic Abuse with Psychotherapist Cynthia Eddings

Conclusion

Narcissistic rage is a common and severe problem faced by individuals interacting with narcissists. 

The findings of this survey highlight the importance of recognizing and understanding the triggers, manifestations, and impacts of narcissistic rage. 

Criticism, rejection, and disagreement were the most common triggers, while verbal abuse and silent treatment were the most common manifestations. 

The duration of narcissistic rage episodes varied widely, and the impact on the participants was emotionally and psychologically significant.

These findings suggest that setting boundaries, seeking support, and practicing self-care are essential strategies for dealing with narcissistic rage. 

It is important for individuals who interact with narcissists to be aware of these strategies and to consider ending the relationship if necessary. 

Mental health professionals and others who work with individuals affected by narcissistic manipulation should also be aware of these findings and incorporate them into their assessment and treatment plans.

Limitations

While this survey provides valuable insights into the experiences of individuals who have encountered narcissistic rage, several limitations should be noted. 

First, the survey relied on self-reported data, which is subject to recall bias and may not always accurately reflect the participants’ experiences. 

Additionally, the survey sample may not fully represent the broader population, as it was conducted online and only included individuals who self-identified as having experienced narcissistic rage from a narcissist in their lives. 

Lastly, the survey did not capture detailed demographic information of the participants, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to different demographic groups.

Despite these limitations, this survey provides a valuable starting point for understanding the incidence, triggers, manifestations, duration, impact, and coping strategies associated with narcissistic rage. 

Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings and explore different demographic groups’ experiences.