7 Signs You’re in a Narcissistic Relationship
What You Can Do to Escape
Narcissism isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Everyone has moments of narcissism throughout the day. It’s when those moments become constant that they become a problem.
Narcissistic relationships can be very unhealthy and often leave the partner feeling unappreciated, unheard, and not good enough. If you think you might be involved in a narcissist relationship, here are 7 signs to look out for:
They constantly put you down
If your partner regularly makes you feel bad about yourself, you are in a narcissistic relationship. A healthy relationship is built on love and respect. A narcissist will make you feel unworthy and like you aren’t good enough.
You’re always on edge around them
If you are constantly on edge around your partner, there is a chance that they are borderline or narcissistic. Narcissists can be very unpredictable.
If you are feeling nervous or fearful when you are around your partner, that is a sign that something is wrong. A narcissist will often use mood swings as a manipulation tactic. You’ll feel like there is no way out, and that you just have to ride it out.
They constantly require your attention
A narcissist will constantly require you to give them your attention. They will constantly want you to be at their beck and call. If your partner wants you to drop everything you’re doing to go with them, they are controlling. If you have a job, a hobby, or anything else that requires your attention outside of the relationship, your partner will shut you down and guilt trip you for not putting them first.
They make you feel guilty without reason
While guilt trips are often a part of daily life, there are some relationships where they are so common that they are basically a way of life. A narcissist will make you feel guilty for everything.
- If you’re five minutes late, they will accuse you of not having respect for them.
- If you don’t agree with everything they say, they will accuse you of being stubborn.
- If you simply refuse to do something, guilt trips will be thrown left and right.
In a narcissistic relationship, you will constantly feel bad about yourself for no reason. Your partner will constantly accuse you of being this horrible person. They will criticize you for every little mistake. This is often referred to as “gaslighting” or “crazy-making”.
They discard you when they’re done with you
One of the biggest signs of a narcissistic relationship is that your partner discards you when they’re done with you. They don’t care about you, they care about themselves. They just want to move on to their next victim. A healthy relationship is built on mutual respect and love. You should feel loved and respected by your partner.
You have to walk on eggshells to stay in the relationship
If you have to walk on eggshells around your partner, they are likely a narcissist. They will shut you out and make it impossible for you to access them. They may not even be aware that they’re doing it. When a narcissist shuts off, it can be very hard to get them back.
They will often shut you out to punish you for something that may not even be your fault. They will make you feel like everything you are doing is wrong. You will always feel like you’re walking a tightrope. You will feel like you have to watch your every move and make sure you’re doing everything exactly right so that you don’t upset them.
There is no empathy from them
A narcissist will have no feelings of empathy toward you or anyone else. They don’t have any remorse or guilt for the things they do. They act impulsively and rarely think of the future. They don’t care about your feelings, and they don’t care if they hurt you. Empathy is the ability to understand and feel what another person is going through. If your partner doesn’t have empathy, they don’t understand other people’s feelings.
If you recognize some of these signs in your relationship, you are likely in a narcissistic relationship. Narcissistic relationships are extremely difficult to get out of, and it can take a long time to heal from them. There are some things you can do to escape from a narcissist.
- You need to be aware of the situation you are in, and you need to be prepared to take action.
- Cut ties with anyone who brings you down.
- You also need to learn to stand up for yourself. So gaining self-confidence is a very important aspect of building healthy relationships. CBT sessions in the Sensera app can help you do this. In addition, you can find support from like-minded people in this app and understand that you are not the only one facing this problem.
This article is written by a therapist from Sensera – a self-help app that provides daily CBT audio sessions and exercises. The app helps people deal with a variety of mental issues (anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship problems). Download Sensera now to become happier!
