Narcissism is a mental disorder that causes people to become self-centered and lack empathy for others. Many believe that it’s healthy for people to have some narcissistic behavior but once you reach a certain limit, it becomes too much. Around 5% of people in the world deal with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), although it does affect men more than women.
Of course, not all people who suffer from NPD ruin relationships because some aren’t as bad as others, but in most cases, it can negatively affect any relationships they may have. Due to most narcissists lacking empathy for others, they seem to invalidate their loved one’s feelings and they don’t show as much affection which could cause the other person to feel unimportant.
In worse cases of NPD, it can cause people to neglect or abuse others. They always feel the need to control and dominate, yet in their head, they feel they are perfect and doing everything they need to. People in relationships with narcissists don’t deal with physical abuse as much but deal with mental and verbal abuse. Once again, they invalidate the other’s feelings and degrade them by saying horrible things to make them feel bad about themselves.
Studies have shown that those who are in a relationship with someone who deals with NPD tend to deal with depression, anxiety, and stress more than a person in a normal relationship.
Audrey Austin, a senior, has had her own experience with a narcissist.
“You sometimes feel like everything you say will be used and taken against you. You constantly walk on eggshells in fear that they will manipulate the situation to make it seem like you’re at fault when you’re not. When you tell them that they need to seek help, they believe that they do nothing and you or someone else are the problem. The only way for them to get better is for them to admit that they are in the wrong. Narcissists, however, never admit that fact,” Austin stated.
I have also had my own personal experience within the past year, and I do agree that narcissists refuse to believe they’re the problem. While narcissism cannot be cured, over time it can get better through therapy, but it’s hard to do so when they won’t accept the fact they need help.
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