What should a person dealing with a narcissist needs to know? Other than trying to stay away as far as you can from them, here are 8 things that you should definitely NOT do when you are dealing with a narcissist.
1. DON’T TAKE THEM AT FACE VALUE
Presenting a perfect image is the number one thing narcissists are interested in. They do anything to present a façade of superiority to the outside world as a way of masking their deep insecurities and fears. The sparkly façade makes up for their empty interior. After all, all that glitters is not gold, right?
2. DON’T FEEL A NEED TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF
Don’t waste your time and energy by justifying your actions, feelings, and thoughts to a narcissist because it is pointless. The narcissist may trick you into explaining yourself because they want you to feel that you are the guilty one. Plus, a narcissist is only interested in winning and competing, not in listening or properly communicating.
3. DON’T EXPECT THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS
Narcissists think that they are above everyone else. Their grandiose feeling of importance and superiority makes them unable to own up to their actions, admit their mistakes, or say they are sorry. So, don’t wait for an apology from a narcissist because you’ll be waiting forever.
4. DON’T MINIMIZE THEIR TOXIC BEHAVIOR
A narcissist’s constant hunger for adoration and attention can suck the life out of everyone around them. So, it is safe to assume that with time, a person who is around a narcissist will become numb to the abuse and get a perplexed perception on what is a toxic and abusive behavior and what is a healthy one. So, be careful with this. Don’t get blindsided.
5. DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
Narcissists are like that – they abuse others for their own advantage, even their closest ones. I understand that being mistreated and abused is extremely painful and wrong, but if it happens to you – don’t take it personally. There is nothing wrong with you. Narcissists tend to misuse and abuse anyone that comes their way.
6. DON’T EXPECT FAIRNESS OR EMPATHY FROM THEM
Generally speaking, narcissists are people who are incapable of loving or being compassionate to anyone. Empathy is also a strange word for them. Why? Because having empathy means understanding that other people are worthy of love as well. And that’s something that a narcissist cannot admit or accept.
7. DON’T TRY TO BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME
However tempting it might be – don’t play their game. Stay out of it. Because narcissists have a great fear of losing and being inferior that they will do anything to not lose the self-imposed perfectly crafted but false image of themselves. So, don’t even bother trying to become like them and play their game.
8. AND FINALLY – DON’T EXPECT THEM TO CHANGE
Do you know a narcissist who became a good and nice person overnight? Me neither. People who are diagnosed with a narcissistic disorder rarely if ever change. They may alter their behavior if they are conscious about their condition, but their wicked mind dynamics is usually there for life.
Have you dealt with a narcissist? What’s your experience? Please share with us in the comment section below.
