Narcissists are found everywhere. They are always ready to get you and make your life miserable. But wait! The grey rock method is here to the rescue!
We dislike narcissists for many reasons. Their presence is like cancer that sucks the life and positivity from the people around them. And to deal with narcissists, people usually choose confrontation or complete avoidance, not knowing the grey rock method.
Funnily enough, many people have been using this method to avoid being the “hot topic,” and it actually works! Confrontation is mentally and emotionally exhausting, while avoidance may work to some degree unless the narcissist takes the form of someone unavoidable, such as a family member.
However, there is another way of dealing with them. One without the pressure of confrontation and the helplessness of constant avoidance. Have you ever heard of the grey rock method?
Learn more about it here, discover the techniques, and use them as your weapon when needed. [Read: The biggest signs pointing to a toxic friend and how to move on]
What is the grey rock method?
When dealing with aggressive or manipulative people, the grey rock method is used to communicate boringly. As the term “grey rock” suggests, those who use this strategy become as immobile as a rock when they use it. Avoiding interaction with the abusive individual may be a part of the strategy.
Surprisingly, the grey rock method is not the product of academic study but a pretty unique idea by a blogger that goes by the name of “Skylar” that was published in this article. The term and the concept surrounding it were formed after a meaningful conversation with a stranger at a bar on the topic of narcissists and psychopaths.
In a nutshell, the grey rock is a mental model. It allows the practitioner to understand the unique thought and behavioral patterns of unpleasant individuals such as narcissists, psychopaths, stalkers, drama queens, and gas lighters.
You use that knowledge in coming up with practical ways to counter their negative effect on you. The grey rock method allows a person to deal with narcissists in their life without the emotional and mental cost of accustomed strategies such as confrontation and avoidance.
For comparison, think of it as something similar to the martial art Aikido. The grey rocking works by neutralizing the opponent’s attack by using their own force or energy against them while expending little of your own power. [Read: How to start a new life and move on from the toxicity for good]
Understanding the mind of a narcissist
The first lesson the grey rock method teaches you is understanding the mind and behavior of narcissists. Living with a narcissist can be emotionally and physically draining to deal with. The fact that you’re connected might be because of them. It might also leave you feeling condemned and exhausted.
As mentioned, narcissists are like cancerous tumors, feeding off their host while releasing poison to eventually wear down their target. Narcissists are addicted to drama and attention. They crave feeding off their heightened sense of self-importance.
A great feeling of grandiosity is a characteristic of narcissists. That means they believe they are more important than others, and they often seek attention and praise. To accomplish this, they trigger emotional responses from people around them.
And whatever the reaction they receive: positive praise, pity, or even aggression, any kind of attention satisfies their addiction. Additionally, narcissists *and psychopaths* manipulate their victims at the first hint that they avoid them.
They apologize, promise to change, and even come up with self-destructive threats just to keep leeching off their victim. Narcissistic people will go to any lengths to achieve their goals. As a general rule, they lack empathy and cannot form strong relationships with others, even with those they consider their closest allies.
That’s why the grey rock method has grown so popular, given the big help it gives. [Read: 16 clear signs you’re in a narcissistic relationship]
Why confrontation or avoidance may not work against a narcissist
A narcissist is many things, but a narcissist is not stupid. Their affinity towards manipulation is a testament to their intelligent nature. Aside from being nefariously smart, they are also keen observers of people’s behavior. That is why people who opt for the usual ways of dealing with narcissists often fail in trying to free themselves from their influence.
1. Confrontation
Calling out a narcissist is the least favorable option for anyone. Remember that narcissists feed on drama, so exhibiting any emotional response towards their behavior will only encourage them. When called out, a narcissist will deny, appeal to your empathy, and even manipulate the facts to make it appear that you are in the wrong.
Try to come up with other strategies or use the grey rock method. That seems like it would work out pretty effectively! [Read: Relationship with a narcissist and what it means to love one]
2. Avoidance
This has a certain degree of success. Most people choose this option by opting to ignore, cut off communications, and even relocate just to get that narcissist out of their life. However, resetting your relationships can also be tiring in the long run. In fact, those who adopt the grey rock method find this solution very helpful as they feel relieved and have the freedom to live their lives in peace.
If you are unfortunate enough to have the narcissist take the form of a parent, a special someone, or a superior at work, avoidance is not a feasible option. [Read: Signs a narcissist is playing mind games with you]
Why is a narcissist harmful in your life?
Living or working with a narcissist may be very difficult, resulting in feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and worry. Exposure to a narcissist under challenging situations might lead to clinical depression because of the emotional abuse and torture that a person has had to suffer.
There’s a particular trauma that narcisissts leave that even after you walk away or cut them off, it’s still there. Narcisissts are experts in manipulation, gaslighting, and control. So having a narcisisst in your life is guaranteed to be destructive and sabotaging.
Want to outsmart a narcissist? Read further so you can discover excellent tips on how to deal with narcissists using the grey rock method.
How to use the grey rock method
The grey rock method gives an alternative that doesn’t require people to aggressively confront or flee from narcissists’ presence in their lives. The idea is to make yourself inert to the narcissist’s addiction.
Cutting off the source of their influence on you by denying them their much-needed drama and attention without them knowing will make you “useless” to them. And when that realization kicks in, they make the decision to leave you in peace. They search for other people to satisfy their need for drama.
But how does it work? Find out below how you can handle a narcissist using the grey rock method.
1. Make yourself the “boring topic”
From the name itself, practitioners of this method are encouraged to “be as disinteresting as a grey rock.” Grey rocks are ordinary and boring. By presenting yourself as someone who lives their life as such, the narcissist or psychopath eventually leaves you alone.
2. Make your conversations boring
The best way to accomplish this is by avoiding open-ended responses. Don’t provide information that allows the narcissist to dig deeper into you. By withholding information from conversations, narcissists have less ammunition to use against you.
You may either avoid sharing your hobbies, personal experiences, relationship information and just ply them with the most mundane and boring news you can conjure.
3. Make it appear as if you’re living a monotonous and uninteresting lifestyle
By appearing that you do the same activities all over again alone and lacking interest in establishing a social life, you fade into the background from other people. As a consequence, other people stand out, which attracts the narcissist to prey on them instead of you.
Sometimes, you just have to be very clever and think harder of an “uninteresting” story about yourself. The more dull your life is, the safer you are from these narcissists! [Read: 23 secret signs of narcissism people overlook until it’s too late]
4. Use what the psychopath or narcissist wants from you against them
By presenting yourself as a boring person with a boring life, the narcissist or psychopath will eventually realize that you are wasting their time and will soon leave you alone.
You lived with a narcissist for years. How did you cope with being left alone but yet feeling safe and secure? What type of grey rock method did you use? [Read: The 14 ways to win over a narcissist’s manipulation]
5. Avoid eye contact
Narcissists are always looking externally, and they want to see in your eyes that you admire and accept them as the fantastic person they have portrayed. Ultimately, they are looking for affirmation.
However, if you avoid looking them straight in the eyes, they may think you are bored or uninterested. Eventually, narcissists will go away and leave you behind. This grey rock method is AWESOME!
6. Respond briefly to direct questions without an elaboration
Narcissists love to do a background check. Literally, like all the time, it’s frustrating trying to explain everything to them, especially when you’re not that close.
But since you came across this grey rock method, you can save yourself time from endless and nonsense conversations with these people. Whew! [Read: 20 signs of a narcissistic relationship that’ll destroy you slowly]
7. Shrugging or nodding
Admit it; we all do this when we are bored or simply not showing any interest. Shrugging or nodding helps if you want to avoid narcissists tearing your ears off. In fact, this grey rock method is one of the basics yet very impactful.
8. Use noncommittal phrases and responses
This method is similar to shrugging or nodding. The only difference is that most of your responses are nonsense. You can use noncommittal responses like “eh,” “Uhm,” “well..”
At any minute, they’ll be walking out on you and finding another person to piss off. Good thing? At least, you know you’re safe! [Read: What causes narcissism? The facts & theories to read a narcissist]
9. End interactions as soon as possible
“Hey, I’m kinda late for dinner. Gotta go” “Sorry, I have to use the restroom.” Lots of people use these excuses not to be rude but to actually save themselves.
Remember that once you get into a conversation with a narcissist or anyone you dislike, it’ll be hard to get out of it, so be prepared. Narcissists can strike anytime from anywhere!
10. Show no interest at all
Sometimes, you’re better off not dealing with narcissists at all. Let them see you as you really are and observe what their reaction would be. Narcissists are naturally born chatty, but they need to realize that respecting other people’s space is still necessary.
[Read: 15 off-putting and obnoxious symptoms of narcissism in a person]
Everyone can deal with narcissists using the grey rock method.
For short-term, urgent situations, the grey rock method may be helpful. Yet, it is not recommended to use it often or as a “default mode” for dealing with an abusive or narcissistic person.
Whether or not you’re planning to use the grey rock method, it is essential to evaluate its advantages and disadvantages first. [Read: The 14 ways to win over a narcissist’s manipulation]
Dealing with narcissists is a fact of life. Sometimes, giving them a fight or choosing flight is not a solid option to get rid of them. The grey rock method provides an alternative not as emotionally and mentally draining as the usual options.
