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Hoovering: How the Narcissist Keeps Sucking You Back In

cartoon drawing of hoovering woman being sucked in by vacuum cleaner

Hoovering

How the Narcissist Keeps Sucking You Back In

Written by Randi Fine, Narcissistic Abuse Expert

Narcissistic Abuse Awareness and Guidance with Randi Fine

The actual definition of hoovering is “vacuuming.” In more recent years it has become a slang term used to describe the “sucking back in” maneuver narcissists use with their victims. Through hoovering, they are able to regain control of people, against their will, who have escaped or gone no contact.

How many times have you separated from your narcissistic abuser and then got pulled right back into his or her web of deceit before you even knew what happened to you?

Every victim of narcissistic abuse has had that repeatedly frustrating experience and felt more and more idiotic each time for once again falling prey to the manipulation. Once you understand what the narcissist is up to your abuser will lose all power over you. As the famous poet Maya Angelou said, “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” You will know better and do better.

Narcissistic hoovering tactics include: