A Narcissistic trait is said to be a personality disorder which is often characterized by self-obsession and self-admiration. Dealing with a narcissist is a difficult task in hand and needs to be done carefully.
Researchers have suggested that narcissists can be divided into two categories:
They are the ones who have a hard outward shell made of self-centeredness and self-absorption which helps them in hiding their fragile inner core.
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They are the ones who truly believe in their superiority over others and do not mind boasting about their greatness all the time.
People who are high on narcissism are the ones who really get under your skin. Their antagonism makes them hard to live with because they cause hindrances in your way to achieve your goals.
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Narcissists are difficult to handle because their minds are restricted in a way that prevents them from looking outside their own self-absorbed shell. Their world is usually limited to the internal, excluding everything external.
There are many circumstances that could have caused someone to develop into a narcissistic personality, and many forms of narcissism, but there are also a few basic practices that you can implement when dealing with just about any narcissist.
Personality Disorder is one amongst the various personality disorders that are found in almost every one of us. Personality disorders usually provoke people to behave and feel awkwardly in social situations. This limits their abilities to sustain their relationships in their personal as well as professional life.
If you are suffering from narcissistic personality disorder, you might often be judged as conceited, boastful or pretentious. Regular indulgence in monopolized conversations and belittling or looking down at other people becomes your regular thing.
You might feel a sense of entitlement and divided, or no attention causes anger and impatience. You may wish to receive the best of everything; be it the best car, the best medical care, etc.
Also, a person suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder faces trouble in handling criticism. You might feel shame, insecurity, and humiliation at times of criticism. To overcome the fear of vulnerability and insecurity, you might end up reacting with contempt and anger, or if you believe in passive aggression, you might feel depressed or moody.
A Narcissistic Personality Disorder can be traced through the presence of the following characteristics.
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#. An exaggerated sense of self-importance.
#. An inclination towards feeling superior.
#. An urge to exaggerate their achievement and accomplishments.
#. A willingness to be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, intelligence, and beauty.
#. A sense of entitlement.
#. A desire of receiving special favors and incentives for their brilliance and outstanding performances.
#. An arrogant and haughty attitude towards others.
is a common trait and is found in everyone to a more or a less degree. It is not until you have gotten involved in a serious relationship that you realize your own personality traits.
If not yourself, you might have a sibling, a parent or any other family member who has narcissistic qualities that are annoying, but you are forced to deal with it. But just because someone is a narcissist, does not make them unlovable. People who are fun, interesting and charismatic can be narcissists too. So how do you deal with them?
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A narcissist is bound to belittle or look down upon other people. While dealing with a narcissist, you are sure to get interrupted or made to feel inferior while you talk or share anything. They do it with an intention of stealing the spotlight, and therefore need to be pulled down there and then.
Narcissism may or not be a natural personality disorder. For some, it is situational and occurs due to the person’s insecurities. Any unfavorable situation, say an unfair promotion can lead to you becoming defensively narcissistic, spiteful, jealous and even vindictive.
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While dealing with a narcissist, it is important that you keep a hold on your own sense of purpose. You are not bound to attend to everything that this person asks you to because they only need attention. You can also try to balance out between your own goals along with alleviating the anxieties and insecurities of your narcissist friend.
While dealing with a narcissist may cause annoyance, it is advisable that you joke around about their ego-centric behavior. You can use this technique to pin point their behavior without being rude about it. Especially in case of a grandiose narcissist, poking jokes about their personality traits could be both entertaining and instructive for them.
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Some narcissist behaves so because they suffer from low esteem and inadequacy. As a friend or a family member, you should look into the real cause of their insecurities and try to help them out if possible. Bolstering one’s self-esteem cannot happen overnight, but can be worked upon with external help.
While praising a narcissist might add fuel to their already kindled fire, a genuine compliment might be helpful. For instance, if you have a friend who is a writer and a narcissist, you can always tell them that they write well, or they articulate well. A genuine comment will ensure that you do not attack you.
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A narcissist’s biggest craving is attention, so give him some. They may not be necessarily wrong about what they say, so instead of an argument you can always smile and give a nod of approval and validation. You will never gain anything out of arguing with a narcissist because they will ensure to win it. Smiling is a good way to give them the attention while making way for others to interact.
A narcissist would never agree to their faults and flaws, leave alone criticism. They will either consider it jealousy or simply ornery, and hence will devalue and pay no heed to your opinions.
Avoid causing them any direct humiliation; it will only lead to an embarrassing situation. Try to be humble and indirect in your criticism. Frame things in a manner which makes the narcissist believe that they still have an upper hand in the situation. Give them gentle reminders of things that they promised to do and haven’t done yet. Avoid defaming or insulting them.
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may not be as much fun when dealing with a narcissist. The characteristics that initially attracted you towards your self-absorbed partner might now be causing problems. While dealing with a narcissist may cause frustration, breaking up with them too isn’t an easy job. Here’s what to expect when breaking up with a narcissist.
Breaking up with a narcissist will never ensure your breakup with the nightmares. They are mostly inclined towards ramping up their abusive tendencies during a breakup. While others may settle down with their breakups, narcissists continue their struggle against fear and insecurities.
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A narcissist is in it to win it. While a breakup does not imply one’s victory over the other, a narcissist always believes that it is an unfair agreement or deal. They can never agree to a compromise which can be considered as their defeat. They need the validation of always being right. They can go up to any extent to win their argument.
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As a self-obsessed person, your narcissist partner won’t mind dragging you to the court. Winning is all that matters to them. They will sling whatever mud they can get their hands on to see what sticks and hat flow away.
A narcissist is most likely to disagree to settle or negotiate during a breakup. They only care about winning and getting what they want. They will keep dragging the matter until they get what they were looking for. They keep on playing games until they receive the attention and validation that they crave for. A breakup with a narcissist can have ever-lasting wounds.
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A close friend or a family member can help you handle such a difficult breakup.
While narcissism may just be considered a personality order, excess of self-absorption might lead to severe psychological repercussions. As a narcissist, you would never want to do anything that proves you wrong or something that doesn’t fit your image.
If you are able to recognize these traits of your personality, which have been causing you excessive sadness, it is better that you reach out for a doctor. Getting the right treatment and advice will eventually bring you out from the situation.
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