Developing superpowers as a result of growing up with a toxic person
Have you ever thought about how someone’s toxicity has affected you?
I have. If you have too, you might’ve first realized all of the negative ways your life was impacted by someone else’s untreated issues, faulty perceptions, or negativity.
But what if you turned those around and gave them a positive spin?
This list was compiled from responses given in a support-group for Scapegoat Adult Children of Narcissists. They were asked the question: What superpowers have you developed because you lived with a toxic person?
Here are some of the responses these incredible people provided. I hope this list gives you a new sense of personal power and helps you recognize more of what makes you awesome!
Claim your superpowers
- Dark sense of humor
- Able to sense toxic people
- Able to detect mental illness or something mentally wrong with a person
- Able to easily read body language
- Able to sense danger
- Fierce independence
- Resourcefulness
- Resilience
- Psychoanalyzes everyone
- Strong intuition
- Self-sufficiency
- Good at pretending to be asleep
- Self mothering/nurturing
- Anticipate multiple outcomes and prepared for almost anything
- Content being alone
- Able to tolerate high stress
- Knows when something bad is going to happen
- Feel other peoples energy
- Feel calm in an emergency or crisis
- Able to figure out complicated things
- Nurturing
- Patient
- Able to read micro facial expressions
- Able to detect changes in people’s energy
- Can hone-in on certain sounds: keys, footsteps, voices, car engines
- Move stealthily/silently
- Become invisible/unnoticeable
- Able to sneeze, cough and cry silently
- Good at keeping other’s secrets
- Empathic
- Remember every detail of events and conversations because of former gaslighting
- Great at dealing with angry people
- Ability to sense a con-artist
- Great at cleaning
- Great at anything to do with image: interior designing, decorating, styling clothing, accessorizing
- Great at detecting narcissists
- Able to hide emotions
- Able to detect untrustworthy people
- Able to lie well if needed
- Able to manipulate others if needed
- Very discerning
- Well organized
- Ability to admit when wrong
- Resourceful
- Quick thinking
- Ability to escape situations
- Able to see other’s perspectives
- Able to manage people
- Ability to emotionally detach
- Able to tune people out
- Can switch emotions on and off
- Adaptable to any surroundings
- Able to dissect a situation in seconds
- Able to diffuse arguments
- Good emotional control
- Cook well and able to make meals out of “nothing”
- Outspoken
- Great self-preservation skills
- Super observant
- Deep self-awareness
- Able to save money for unforeseen trouble
- Thrive under pressure
- See the “red flags” (but don’t always follow through)
- A problem solver
- Perfectionistic
- Successfully sneaky when needed
- Have bionic ears
- Diplomatic
- Empathetic
- Can get along with literally anyone
What superpowers do YOU have? If you send them to me at [email protected], I’ll add them to this list. (anonymously of course!)
Tools for healing:
Conscious awareness: Be aware and make conscious choices before acting. Self-awareness releases us from making impulsive and potentially damaging decisions.
Understand the abuse cycle
Learn about codependency
Learn about letting go of what you can’t control, by using loving-detachment
Learn about expectations
Learn about setting boundaries
Self-care: We can only choose to focus on and be responsible for ourselves, our own thoughts, actions, and behavior. The good news is that we can change ourselves with patience, persistence, and practice. We can take responsibility for getting our needs met, instead of waiting for someone to change or meet our needs for us. We are in control of ourselves and no one is responsible for us but us.
Practice mindfulness
Learn about codependency and maladaptive coping skills
Take the Adverse Childhood Experiences quiz
Learn about Narcissism Awareness Grief
Lemon Moms: Resources to guide you in healing from childhood trauma, abuse or neglect. Available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. (Kindle, Audiobook and paperback format.)
About the author
Diane Metcalf is an experienced advocate, speaker, and writer on the topics of domestic violence, abuse, and family dysfunction. Currently, she writes about toxic relationships and recovery tools. Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and has worked in numerous fields, including domestic violence and abuse. She holds a Master of Science degree in Information Technology.
As a result of growing up in a dysfunctional home, and with the help of professional therapists and continued personal growth, she has developed strong coping skills and healing strategies. She happily shares those insights with others who want to learn and recover.
Her books and articles are the results of her education, knowledge, and personal insight regarding her own abusive experiences and subsequent recovery work. She is no longer a practicing Social Worker, Counselor, Program Manager or Advocate, nor is she or has she ever been a licensed psychologist.
Currently, Diane runs her own website design company, Image and Aspect, and writes articles and tutorials for Tips and Snips, her inspirational blog for creative people. She continues to learn and write about Emotional Healing.
This website is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy.
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