“A self-defense technique”
Common triggers tend to be a romantic breakup or being laid off at work. But they can also seem small. For instance, a child disobeying is a massive trigger if the narcissist identifies as being the perfect parent. “A collapse can also be triggered as a self-defense technique if they feel their self-image or self-esteem is being threatened,” explains Dr. Alexander Lapa, a psychiatrist at Ocean Recovery Centre in the UK, to Psych Central. Therefore, a loss of validation or a wounded ego can crush their confident facade.