Being in a relationship with a narcissist can be detrimental to your wellbeing.
Narcissists are some of the most difficult people to deal with. This is especially true for romantic and long-term relationships. People who suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) tend to have a lack of empathy for those around them as they view themselves as superior, special, and entitled to everyone’s attention. Their disorder means that they have an inflated sense of their importance and thus, they believe everybody else is inferior to them. Unsurprisingly, being in a relationship with such a person can be extremely difficult.
Here are the 10 things you should expect when you are dating a narcissist:
1. They do not know how to apologize and compromise.
The belief that they are superior makes them view themselves as always being right. This means that they will never want to compromise and what is worse, they will never say that they are sorry. In their eyes, they never make mistakes and it is those around them who are to blame when things go wrong.
2. They will never understand you.
This realization will be heartbreaking and painful. No matter how much you try to explain your emotions and let them see how they are hurting you, a narcissist will never even try to understand. The reason for this is their lack of empathy and compassion.
3. To them, your needs will be irrelevant.
As a consequence of their belief that they are special and superior, narcissists view their own needs and wishes as more important than the ones of those around them. For this reason, your wishes and needs will often be ignored, dismissed, and viewed as irrelevant.
4. They will use control tactics and manipulation.
Narcissists are masters at manipulation and deceit. They will go to great lengths in order to get what they want without any regard for who they hurt along the way. Without even realizing it, you will be subject to various and numerous thought control tactics.
5. You will get used to their silent treatment.
This is one of the aforementioned manipulation techniques which they use to get what they want. Instead of communicating and resolving issues, narcissists use silent treatment and make their partners walk on eggshells around them. In doing so, they make them feel guilty and eventually get what they want.
6. You will lose your confidence and self-esteem.
In order to make themselves feel even more superior, they will constantly point out your flaws and tear you down. This not only makes them feel like they are better than you but also gives them a great sense of power.
7. They will make you doubt your sanity.
As a result of their thought control tactics and gaslighting, you will find yourself questioning reality. Taking this further, their abuse will make you feel as though you are crazy and unstable.
8. Despite all of this, they will be the ones who are viewed as the victim.
To those who do not know them as intimately as you do, the narcissist will seem attractive and charming as a result of their extreme confidence. This means that when you complain about how they treat you, you will sound crazy to people. In addition to this, a narcissist will talk about the way you react to their abuse without admitting that they are abusing you. Subsequently, you will be perceived as the mentally and emotionally unstable abuser while the narcissist gets away with looking like the victim.
9. The only way to save yourself is by leaving.
No matter how much you love them, the only way you will survive and protect yourself is by ending the relationship. Admittedly, this is more easily said than done as narcissists make it extremely difficult to leave them.
10. After the relationship, you will be left with trauma.
Months or years of exposure to a narcissist’s words and actions will leave you dealing with intense trauma. Many people resort to professional help as after a relationship with a narcissist, they lose their dignity, confidence, and self-esteem.