Being around a toxic narcissist is one of the hardest things that anyone can ever go through. They’ll do whatever they can to manipulate and control their victims, no matter what the cost of it may be. At every single turn, they’ll use devious methods and terrible deceits just to hurt and silence others.
Sadly, many people don’t even know that they’re being manipulated until it’s too late. To find out if it’s happening to you, watch out for these 5 malicious tactics a narcissist will use to destroy you.
1. Shaming
Although you may think that this would be an easy tactic to spot, narcissists are masters at doing this subtly. They’ll shame you either in private or in public and do whatever they can to make you feel embarrassed and inferior. By doing this, they make you believe that you’re weak and that you can’t accomplish anything on your own. Then they swoop in and take full control over you and make your life a living hell.
2. Projecting
A toxic narcissist is full of negative emotions and insecurities. However, instead of dealing with them as any normal person would, they use them to hurt the people around them. They’ll take out all their anger, fear, and jealousy on you and project their insecurities onto you as well. Along with that, they’ll even accuse you of doing terrible things that they’re actually guilty of doing.
3. Gaslighting
This tactic is one of the most damaging and terrifying of them all. When a narcissist gaslights their victim, they make them believe that that they’re going insane. They’ll convince you that you can’t trust your own judgment by lying and bending reality. Once they have you at your most vulnerable, they’ll make you believe that they’re the only person that you can trust. Afterward, they’ll use you for their own personal gain.
4. Triangulation
Narcissists will often bring a third person into a conversation that isn’t really relevant. For example, they could accuse you of something terrible, then when you deny it, they’ll claim that someone else also accused you. The reason that they do this is to add more credibility to their evil lies. Along with that, in a relationship, they may even try to make you jealous of another person so that you’ll fight harder for their love.
5. Diversion
Of all the horrendous thing a narcissist will do, this is hands down the most frustrating of them all. When they feel like they’re losing an argument or that they don’t have enough control, they’ll completely change the subject. Even though you may have had something important to say to them, they’ll just derail the entire conversation.
There is no room in a healthy relationship for any of these 5 things. If you notice that someone that you’re close to is playing these games, then cut them off immediately. Although you may be tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt, please don’t. The only thing that a narcissist will ever want is to destroy you. Despite what you may think, you do not deserve that kind of treatment.
Share this article with your friends and family. Anyone could be suffering at the hands of a narcissist and not understand what signs to look out for.
