A narcissistic person is a very complicated thing. It is a personality disorder marked by an inflated sense of self-importance coupled with an overwhelming need for admiration and an absolute lack of any genuine concern for the well-being of others. Such an emotionally exhausting and confusing relationship has some indications that your partner may be a narcissist:
1. They Dominate Conversations
Narcissists tend to be very self-presenting, with lots of discussion about their achievements, appearances, or intelligence. They hardly give importance to what you think and feel, and will, most probably, steer the conversations back to themselves.
2. They Lack Empathy
Your partner brushes you aside when it comes to your emotions, ignores the battle you fight each day, or seems indifferent to all your pains. This is your big red flag: narcissists are too self-absorbed to relate to how anyone else feels.
3. They Crave Constant Admiration
Narcissists feel like praise and validation should be endless. They may fish for compliments or otherwise be upset if they are not the center of everyone’s world. Over time, this may leave you feeling like you are constantly filling them up.
4. They Gaslight You
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that makes you doubt your reality; a narcissist does not admit to having said your hurtful thing, will twist or deny facts, or simply say everything was your fault, which will lead you to be confused and self-insecure.
5. They Have a Sense of Entitlement
Sports is a narcissistic fortune. As if to say, self-centeredness and thinking the world should revolve around them. Such a person will even want you to make the first sacrifice for their desires while ignoring yours, as though the rules of life don’t apply to them.
6. They Love-Bomb, Then Devalue You
At first, a narcissist may smother you with love (love-bomb); once they feel they have you in their grip, however, they will start to tear you down by way of criticism, neglect, and miniature putting down, keeping you constantly feeling that you need to prove your worth to them.
7. They are Judgment-Defensive
No matter how small the comment, it can easily throw a narcissist into a defensive anger or rage. Faced with their behavior and needing to do some personal soul-searching, they will instead blame others or come up with excuses and then hit back at the accuser.
8. They Isolate You from Others
A narcissist would often love their partner to be isolated from friends or outsiders. They could say nasty things about your friends, make you feel ashamed of your friends, or stage a drama about the time you spend with others.
The Final Thoughts
Living with a narcissist isn’t easy, and if you recognize traits in your partner, it may be time to consider whether this relationship is beneficial for you. Setting boundaries, getting help, or even walking out of the relationship could become one’s major steps toward self-protection.
