Are you in a relationship with someone who seems to be too good to be true? Do they shower you with compliments and attention, only to suddenly become distant and uncaring? Pause for a minute and take a breath. You may be in love with a narcissist.
Narcissists have an inflated sense of self-importance, crave admiration, and lack empathy for others. They often come off as charming and charismatic at first, but their true colours eventually show.
Red Flags – Have you fallen in love with a narcissist?
Falling in love can be thrilling and exciting, but it’s important to stay vigilant for warning signs that your partner might be a narcissist.
Narcissists can come off as charming and charismatic at first, but their true colours eventually show.
Here are 8 red flags that indicate if the person you are in love with is a narcissist.
Entitlement: Narcissists often expect special treatment from others and feel entitled to certain privileges or concessions that they don’t believe they should have to earn.
Grandiose behavior: They may exaggerate their achievements or skills, talk excessively about themselves and their accomplishments, or brag about how great they are on an ongoing basis.
Manipulation: Narcissists tend to manipulate others to get what they want, employing tactics like guilt-tripping or gaslighting to control their partners into doing things their way.
Lack of empathy: They usually lack the ability to put themselves in other people’s shoes and truly understand how other people feel. This makes it hard for them to relate to or empathize with their partners in any meaningful way.
Unaccountability: They rarely take responsibility for their actions or mistakes and will often blame others instead of owning up to the consequences of their own behavior.
Self-centeredness: Narcissists are so focused on meeting their own needs that they fail to consider their partners’ feelings or perspectives when making decisions together as a couple.
Criticism: If your partner constantly puts you down and makes disparaging remarks about you in front of other people, then you need to seriously reconsider the relationship.
Cold detachment: When faced with difficult situations, narcissists may seem emotionally detached or uninterested in finding solutions together as a couple. They may even go so far as to shut down communication entirely and not even try to resolve conflicts or problems in the relationship.
The Potential Impact of Loving a Narcissist
Being in a relationship with a narcissist can have deeply damaging effects on an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health.
Narcissists lack empathy, so they often do not take their partner’s needs or feelings into account when making decisions. This can lead to the partner feeling disregarded, invisible, or unheard.
Being in such an unhealthy relationship can also lower someone’s self-worth and cause them to doubt themselves and their capabilities.
Additionally, victims of narcissistic abuse may develop depression, anxiety, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, sleep disturbances, and even thoughts of self-harm or suicide as a result of having such a toxic person in their life.
Will the relationship survive?
It is possible for a relationship with a narcissist to survive, but it takes an immense amount of work from both parties and a willingness to explore why the narcissistic behavior exists in the first place.
If both partners are willing to make an effort, there is potential for growth and even healing.
However, it is important to remember that progress takes time and if your partner does not show any signs of wanting to change, then the chances of survival are slim.
Final Thoughts
It can be difficult to stay in a relationship with a narcissist because they tend not to prioritize their partner’s needs or feelings. Remind yourself of your worth and seek out supportive friends and family members who can help remind you of your value if needed.
No one deserves to stay in an unhealthy or unfulfilling relationship. If you think that your partner is exhibiting narcissistic traits, it might be time to consider seeking professional help or ending the relationship altogether.
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