10 warning signs you are dealing with a Narcissist, Psychopath, or Sociopath

Narcissists, psychopaths, and sociopaths ate three entirely different groups of people.

However, they all have something in common – they are all toxic. Moreover, they are all extremely experienced when it comes to manipulating others. It is almost unbelievable how a single person can emotionally damage you so bad that you get to the point where you question what’s real and what’s not.

For instance, narcissists control their victims’ minds by convincing them of their fake glory and making them believe they are the only person they should listen to. They have massive egos and disturbing levels of self-centeredness. Unfortunately, they are also incredibly charming, which makes falling into their traps nearly impossible.

On the other hand, sociopaths and psychopaths have a lot in common. However, the main difference between them is that sociopaths have a conscience, unlike psychopaths, who don’t feel any moral hesitation. They would lie to you and observe your whole world falling apart without feeling a single drop of guilt. Meanwhile, sociopaths might feel guilty for hurting you, but it won’t stop them from achieving their immoral goals.

Do you fear there might be such a toxic person in your life?

Here are 10 alarming signs you might be dealing with a narcissist, a psychopath, or a sociopath: 

1. They make you feel worthless. 

Do you often feel as if your self-esteem is falling apart whenever you are spending time with them? This may be because they are constantly trying to put you down. Suchlike toxic people use others’ insecurities to gain control over their minds. For instance, they might tell you that you would be nothing without them, or that you wouldn’t survive a single day on your own. This way, they make sure you will always seek their company, no matter how bad they might be treating you.

2. They never show empathy.

If a person lacks empathy and compassion, they are most probably sociopathic, narcissistic, or even psychopathic. After all, being empathetic means being emotional, understanding, and caring. It takes a kindhearted soul to comprehend someone else’s challenges and be able to help them. These immoral beings are not capable of showing such affection to another human being.

3. They play with your feelings.

All of these three groups of people are experienced manipulators. At first, they make you believe they are decent and trustworthy. They may even make you feel sorry for them and see them as a victim. However, they do this only to control the way you view them. They use your natural compassion to ruthlessly take advantage of you.

4. They bring out the worst in you. 

These toxic beings know how to get under your skin. They are continuously coming up with new ways to put you on edge and make you snap. This way, they make you look like the bad guy and convince others into believing that you are not someone to be trusted.

5. They play the role of the victim.

Seeking sympathy is also one of the things narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths often do to take advantage of others. They repeatedly make themselves seem like the victims in various situations, especially when they are the ones who have caused the problem. This is another one of their strategies to play with your feelings and use them to manipulate you.

6. They talk only about themselves.

Even if you’re having a conversation with someone else, they would hijack it and make it all about themselves. In their minds, there is not a single topic more intriguing and fascinating than their own lives, accomplishments, and glory. And if somehow they cannot relate to the subject you are discussing, they would instantly lose interest and walk away.

7. They are natural liars. 

Toxic people lie. They lie a lot. Nearly every single word they say could be deceiving. They are masters at embellishing the truth and adding misleading details to completely confuse the ones around them. What’s more, they often withhold valuable information to control not only the minds of others but also the course of the situations they are involved in.

8. They gaslight their victims. 

Gaslighting is one of the most dangerous forms of manipulation. It could become so extreme that the victim of the gaslighter can start questioning their own reality. When someone is trying to gaslight you, they will use false accusations, lies, deception, and many other misleading tactics to make you believe whatever they want. By altering the truth, they can also alter what you think, feel, and see when you look around you.

9. They never take responsibility. 

Owning up to their mistakes is not something toxic people do. Instead, they avoid taking responsibility and apologizing for their actions like the plague. So, if you ever hear them expressing remorse over something they did, have in mind that it would be most probably nothing but a fake apology. That’s because they are not empathetic enough to understand that hurting someone’s feelings is wrong and insensitive.

10. They are desperate for validation. 

Regardless of how tough and untouchable they act, narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths hide deep insecurities. That is why they are in constant desperate need of recognition. They want everyone around them to know who they are and to praise their greatness, even if it’s fake. Perhaps that is why they are always talking about themselves as if there is no one more exceptional than them in the whole world.

Do you recognize some of these behavioral traits in someone close to you? Leave a comment to let us know!