Living in a relationship with a narcissistic personality is not a pleasant experience and usually the negative effects are in all areas of your life, from work to emotional and physical health.
The tricky part of the situation is knowing if your partner is really narcissistic or just overconfident. Even more difficult is how you should handle the situation if you are a narcissist.
Do you feel guilty about things and situations for which you are not responsible? Do you think that what your partner told you last week now tends to deny it?
What is it like to live with a narcissist?
In the following article we will try to point out some signs that highlight the characteristics of a narcissistic personality, without this being always absolute.
1. Alienation of friends and family
Time spent away from them is not easily accepted. Because self-promotion is a key feature, they feel that you can easily cheat and lie to them, just like they would. Plus, time away from them means less attention for themselves, which they hate. They need every day to feel that they are the priority, and they will do whatever it takes to achieve it.
2. Everything revolves around themselves
Narcissists have a constant need for attention and admiration and if this need is not met it results in their dissatisfaction and irritation. Being in a relationship with them means that you will not only constantly talk about them, but every decision you make will be guided by their own benefit, marginalizing your own needs.
They don’t have the ability to take your feelings into account because they are too concerned about their own.
3. They are very charming at first
In the early stages of your relationship you will feel like the most special person on the planet. Her natural appeal and social courage will seduce you. However, narcissists are specialized in activating their charm to get what they want.
4. Negative feelings towards others.
Many narcissists enjoy spreading negative emotions to keep you insecure and weak and to get much needed attention. They are easily disturbed by any real or perceived feelings of indifference and are particularly sensitive to criticism. On the other hand, they are experts at criticizing, accusing and ridiculing others. Making you feel inferior strengthens their fragile ego and they become emotionally manipulative.
5. On a daily basis, they show their lack of limits
People with narcissistic tendencies display a deliberate violation of other people’s boundaries. They show that they ignore the limits of others in many different ways, including: borrowing items or money without paying it back (and without intending to), showing little or no remorse, and accusing the other person of exceeding the limits.
6. Ideas of greatness
They believe that they are superior to everyone and anyone else, and this magnificence is the main reason why they cannot experience love. They do not see others as equal to them in any way, and truly consider themselves superior in almost every way.
7. They have fragile emotions
They have great difficulty regulating their emotions and behavior and can feel intense anger at any time, for no particular reason. They can also be affected if they don’t get the treatment they expect.
8. They only take responsibility when something favors them
In a relationship with a narcissist, you will notice that they are very quick to take responsibility, when everything is going well, as the praise they receive feeds their ego. On the other hand, They will never take responsibility when something goes wrong. They will try to blame others, truly believing that they have no responsibility anywhere.
The narcissist’s lack of empathy makes the relationship difficult and painful for their partner. Living in such a situation on a daily basis is really exhausting and seeking help from oneself or from one’s partner becomes necessary.
You will not be able to change a person with narcissistic personality disorder by loving them enough or changing yourself to suit their wants and whims. Set appropriate boundaries and seek specialist help if needed.