Narcissistic relationships are incredibly toxic and damaging to one’s mental and physical health. One of the scariest parts of being in a relationship with a narcissist is that it can be challenging to spot. There’s a reason for this, as they use many forms of manipulation to reel you in and then confuse you to keep you trapped in this toxic cycle.
Before you plan to move out with the help of https://blacktiemoving.com, let’s be sure your partner is a narcissist. Here are 6 signs you may be dating a narcissist.
It Starts Out Hot and Heavy
Narcissists are incredibly charming when they first start dating someone but don’t be fooled by this persona they put on. Relationships take time to develop, but a narcissist wants to reel their partner in quickly, as they have a need for control. During the start of a relationship, narcissists do what’s called love bombing. Love bombing is when they shower you with gifts, say “I love you” early in the relationship, and want to spend all their time with you.
Things Turn Quickly and Suddenly
After the love-bombing phase, you might be startled by drastic changes in your partner. Instead of treating you as if you’re the most important person in the world to them, they flip a switch. Instead, you’ll notice they start criticizing you, putting you down, and making you feel as if something is wrong with you.
You Start to Question Your Reality
When a narcissist feels they have you hooked, they start to use manipulation tactics, so you question your own reality. Often, this is in the form of gaslighting. The narcissistic partner doesn’t want you to catch on to them, so they try and confuse you to make you feel like you’re trapped in a toxic relationship.
There’s a Lack of Trust in the Relationship
The manipulation, lies, and emotional abuse cause an enormous amount of distrust in the relationship. You start to be confused and have no idea what to believe when it comes to your own thoughts and feelings and those of the narcissist. Narcissists are notorious for not having actions that match their words, so you never know what to expect when it comes to what they’re telling you.
You Feel Like You Aren’t Understood
One of the hallmark traits of a narcissist is that they lack empathy. They aren’t able to step into the shoes of their partner, and this causes the partner of the narcissist to feel like they aren’t ever understood. This is because they aren’t. The narcissist can feign empathy, but they aren’t ever able to feel it. It’s not uncommon for a partner of a narcissist to express how they feel to the narcissist only to be met with anger and manipulation from them.
There’s a Lack of Accountability from Them
Shame is the underlying feeling of a narcissist, and this is what makes them project their unobserved, deep-seated negativity on those closest to them. They don’t have the awareness or desire to observe and work through their feelings of shame, lack, or insecurity, so they will never take accountability for their actions. If you accuse a narcissist of any wrongdoing, no matter how small, be prepared to be met with defensiveness and attack.