23/12/2025
When a narcissist insults you and then says, “I’m only joking,” it isn’t humour — it’s manipulation. A joke is meant to be shared and enjoyed. If you don’t find it funny, that matters.
This tactic allows narcissists to deliver a put-down while avoiding accountability. If you react, they accuse you of being too sensitive or unable to take a joke. The focus shifts away from what was said and onto your response. That is the trap.
Over time, these “jokes” chip away at your confidence. The comments are often targeted at your insecurities, appearance, intelligence, or worth. Each one is small enough to dismiss, but together they create doubt and shame. You may start laughing along just to avoid conflict, even though it hurts.
This is a form of gaslighting. You are encouraged to question your instincts instead of trusting them. The narcissist gets to insult you while maintaining plausible deniability.
Healthy humour does not leave someone feeling small or confused. It does not require you to silence yourself to keep the peace. If something feels cruel rather than funny, listen to that feeling. You are not overreacting. You are responding to disrespect disguised as a joke.
For more information about understanding and overcoming narcissistic and emotional abuse, click the links below.
https://overcoming-narcissist-abuse.teachable.com/p/break-free-from-the-narcissist
Check these out!
Behind The Mask: The Rise Of The Narcissist
https://a.co/d/czX7KT2
15 Rules To Deal With Narcissistic People.: How To Stay Sane And Break The Chain.
https://a.co/d/g4H2bxG
A Narcissists Handbook: The ultimate guide to understanding and overcoming narcissistic and emotional abuse.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C87NNBNP?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_VKQZHN0VXE8W4WXTQQ20
Boundaries with Narcissists: Safeguarding Emotional, Psychological, and Physical Independence.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ583RL8
Healing from Narcissistic Abuse: A Guided Journal for Recovery and Empowerment: Reclaim Your Identity, Build Self-Esteem, and Embrace a Brighter Future
https://amzn.eu/d/044yGFS8
(Sponsored.). https://betterhelp.com/elizabethshaw
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