How the Narcissist Plants a Mind Virus in You, and How You Can Break Free
An Unseen Epidemic
In the post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction show The Last of Us, a fungal parasite causes a pandemic, turning people into zombies. This fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, exists in real life, but it’s not able to infect humans. However, it does infect other animals. It infects ants by hijacking their brains and controlling their actions from the inside. Once fully in control, it directs the ant to climb to the top of a plant—then bursts from its head, releasing spores into the air to find new hosts.
I believe we are in the midst of an epidemic much like that depicted in The Last of Us, one caused by a parasite which infiltrates the human mind. Psychologists call this phenomenon the narcissistic introject—a parasitic mental and emotional influence that distorts your sense of self and self-worth.
“I believe we are in the midst of an epidemic much like that depicted in The Last of Us, one caused by a parasite which infiltrates the human mind.”
It often starts as projection, because the narcissistic parent projects his or her own wounds onto the child. Over time, these projections become internalized as the child’s inner voice. But that voice is not their own. Children of narcissists carry this into adulthood, Just like Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, takes control of the ant’s mind, a narcissistic parent uses the introject to control his or her child’s mind. Yet many people have no idea that the voice inside their head is not their own.
This parasite doesn’t just stunt their emotional growth—it stunts their spiritual growth too. It feeds off their inner wounds, creating a cycle where you pass the same brokenness down to the next generation.
How the Parasite Takes Hold
At first, the parasite tricks the child into believing its lies. The child thinks, if my parent says I’m selfish, worthless, too sensitive, or that I can’t live without them, then it must be true. The parent’s voice becomes the child’s internal voice, but it’s a distorted, broken version of reality created by an unhealed adult. This is where the real damage happens: the child learns to ignore their own voice, their own instincts, their own needs. They become unable to set healthy boundaries because they’ve been trained to believe their needs don’t matter.
“Over time, these projections become internalized as the child’s inner voice. But that voice is not their own.”
How It Reproduces
A dangerous aspect of projective identification is how it’s woven into the very fabric of a family system’s generational trauma. This form of abuse becomes ingrained in the family dynamic—parents pass down their patterns of manipulation, control, and self-doubt to their children, who then carry those beliefs forward into their own relationships and lives. Just as Ophiocordyceps uses the ant’s body to spread itself to new hosts, the narcissistic parent uses their child as a vessel for their unresolved pain, fears, and self-doubt.
“Just as Ophiocordyceps uses the ant’s body to spread itself to new hosts, the narcissistic parent uses their child as a vessel for their unresolved pain, fears, and self-doubt.”
The child internalizes these projections, creating a distorted sense of self that aligns with the parent’s broken worldview—a version of the self that’s not based on who the child truly is but on how the narcissistic parent sees them. The narcissistic introject takes over the child’s ability to think for themselves, trust their own instincts, and experience life through their own lens.
How I Awoke from the Trance of the Mind Virus
I know how this parasite works—because it lived inside me for years. For much of my life, I listened to an inner voice that told me the same negative things about myself that my mother would tell me. It wasn’t until my marriage started failing that I realized the voice guiding my decisions and thoughts was not my own. I was still listening to the voice inside telling me how undeserving, selfish, and worthless I was. When I had children, I noticed that my spouse treated me the same way my mother had treated me when I was a child. She would continuously disregard my authority as a parent. I was made to feel that I was always the one who was wrong, that I should feel shame for my decisions, my parenting. And I believed that voice.
“I did not want to unwittingly become the carrier, perpetuating the same patterns of disempowerment, self-silencing, and fear.”
What made this realization so painful was the possibility of passing down this toxic pattern with my own children. I wanted to be a role model for them, not someone who teaches them that masculinity is passive, who teaches them that a marriage is about one partner not having a voice and continually deferring to the other. I did not want to unwittingly become the carrier, perpetuating the same patterns of disempowerment, self-silencing, and fear. There was a damaged part of me. But there was also a healthy part of me. A part that saw how being berated and undermined was damaging our children. I realized I couldn’t allow this cycle to continue.
Breaking Free
The first step in breaking free from the introject was recognizing that it wasn’t my voice—it was the voice of an unhealed person who had been controlling me - a voice which had been passed down through generations. As a child, it wasn’t my fault, but now as an adult, it was my responsibility to break the cycle.
I began nurturing my inner child—learning to listen to my true voice and show up for my own needs in ways I never had before. I had to give myself permission to be authentic, to speak my truth, and to trust that my voice mattered—not just to others, but to myself. Actually, my books, my blog, and this post are ways I am trying to heal. They help me reflect on my life and evaluate how I am doing. Writing helps me recognize patterns. It gives me space to reflect and grow. If you’ve never tried journaling your inner voice, try it—it can be the first step in learning what’s really yours.
“As a child, it wasn’t my fault, but now as an adult, it is my responsibility to break the cycle.”
I began to develop my own voice by pursuing goals which benefited me, even when others didn’t like it. I had to learn that emotionally healthy people don’t share a sense of self with others. I am entitled to my own opinions, beliefs, and goals. I know that idea might be shocking if you have been raised to focus only on the needs of others, neglecting your own. If you have trouble digesting that, say it aloud as an affirmation. Say it again. Let it settle into your nervous system. Let it feel unfamiliar—and still true.
Passing On a Healthy Voice
I can help my children to develop a strong sense of self by encouraging them to share their feelings. Especially if they are angry at me. I have to put my own ego aside and listen to them. I needed to change the dynamic from using fear, shame and guilt, to openness, vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional support. Of course children should be held accountable for their words and actions, but I don’t want them to internalize that shame, fear and guilt and pass that on. I want them to pass on a love they have for themselves so they learn to love others and not be scared or anxious of intimacy.
“I don’t want them to internalize that shame, fear and guilt and pass that on. I want them to pass on a love they have for themselves..”
I don’t blame my mother. She is a victim of the Beast. And not only do I heal for my kids, but I heal for her, because she was not able to break the cycle on her own. But I can and I will. God gave me 2 hands, so I will hold my son with one and my daughter with the other. And we will continue to stand as one, and heal together.
The Parasite that Infiltrates the Hero’s Mind in Unbroken Legacy
Carl Jung believed that the collective unconscious is a shared part of the human psyche, where ancient archetypes, universal symbols, and inherited memories exist. It is the unconscious mind of humanity, a place that stores the core elements of our shared experience, the emotional and psychological residue of all humans throughout time. However, within this collective unconscious, there is also room for negativity—the dark side of human experience, fears, traumas, and destructive patterns
In my upcoming book, Unbroken Legacy: The Divine Seed, the Beast is the manifestation of unprocessed collective trauma—the fears, hatred, guilt, and unresolved conflicts that are passed down through generations. The Beast doesn't remain confined to the collective unconscious; it infects individuals, becoming internalized as part of their unconscious mind. That is why it is the curse which affects three generations of the De La Fleur family.
“The Beast doesn't remain confined to the collective unconscious; it infects individuals, becoming internalized as part of their unconscious mind.”
The Beast begins as an outside force, slipping through the cracks of personal awareness, subtly altering the individual's thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Over time, the Beast takes over the individual. In a sense, the Beast embodies the internalized negative voices which are passed down from a parent to child. It grows stronger with each generation, influencing decisions, relationships, and self-worth.
When the protagonist, Horatio De La Fleur, finally breaks free from the Beast’s control and renders it powerless, it symbolizes someone breaking free from the narcissistic introject which has had a stranglehold for years. And when Isabella helps Horatio to do this, it symbolizes the power which one’s own child can have, because it allows the parent the opportunity to finally nurture his own inner child, in a way that he missed when he was young. We see this when Horatio doubts himself because he is overcome by fear of the Beast, and Isabella helps him remember his own advice to her when she was younger. He learns to nurture himself the way he has nurtured her. The lesson is that we all have the potential to break free, become our own person, and render the voice that limits us powerless.
You Are the One Who Can End the Cycle
The most powerful part of healing is realizing that you have the power to stop the cycle. You may have been victimized by toxic, unhealed family members when you were a child—but you are not a victim. You are not powerless. You can choose to stop being complicit in passing on the narcissistic introject to the next generation. You can decide: It ends with me.
Your children, your relationships, and your life no longer have to be shaped by the voices of the past.It begins with recognizing the patterns, reclaiming your voice, and learning to trust your own truth. You can break free from the parasite that has held you captive for so long. And in doing so, you create a life where you are no longer the host—but the one in control. Free to be yourself. Free to pass down a legacy of health, authenticity, and self-trust.
“Your children, your relationships, and your life no longer have to be shaped by the voices of the past.”
