Chinese coaches help women heal from narcissists; spot signs, escape toxic relationships
Some Chinese women are investing thousands of yuan (equivalent to several hundred US dollars) to learn how to heal from the scars inflicted by narcissistic partners, recognise their behaviours, and even counter them. On Chinese social media, multiple coaches offer guidance to those struggling with “people with NPD” (narcissistic personality disorder) in their intimate relationships. NPD has…
Numerous Chinese women are spending substantial amounts of money to gain knowledge on how to recover from the impact of narcissistic partners, identify their traits, and even counteract them. On Chinese social media, multiple coaches are providing guidance to those dealing with individuals who have Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in their personal relationships.
NPD has gained significant popularity on Chinese social media, with the hashtag #NPD receiving 630 million views and 4.7 million discussions on the social media platform RedNote. One such coach, Yanan, is considered one of the first to share information about toxic individuals with NPD in relationships. She started sharing her insights on social media in 2021, following the high-profile divorce of Mandopop star Wang Leehom from his ex-wife Lee Jinglei, who accused Wang of having NPD.
Yanan herself was a victim of NPD in her past relationships and went through a divorce and remarriage to a man who also displayed narcissistic characteristics.
Yanan, a journalism graduate, began exploring psychology in 2017 as she navigated toxic relationships. Despite her awareness of personality disorders, she admitted that she struggled to see the bigger picture. To assist others, Yanan started offering products such as a guidebook against narcissists, priced at 19.9 yuan (US$3), and courses ranging from 699 yuan (US$105) to 5,980 yuan.
However, her sessions are more like fast-paced crash courses rather than traditional psychology consultations. Yanan's sessions often include template responses to help clients handle common situations, such as when their partner insults, berates, or emotionally abuses them. In her videos, Yanan often wears expensive items to inspire her clients, many of whom feel "powerless."
In one video, Yanan compares the conflicts between her clients and their partners with NPD to a "war," urging them to exploit their partners' narcissism if they cannot leave, by flattering them to make them spend more money.
Yanan has garnered 15,000 followers on her social media platform. Similar to Yanan, other influencers, including renowned Chinese psychologist Wu Zhihong and leading Chinese stand-up comedian Li Dan, also share insights on recognizing and escaping relationships with individuals exhibiting NPD. Although the scientific credibility of this content might be questioned, many believe it is providing valuable support to victims of narcissism.
One netizen remarked, "It does not hurt if an abuser is misidentified as having NPD, as their victims are truly suffering. This content addresses their plea for help."
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
