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Narcissistic Personality Disorder - How to Recognize a Narcissist Print E-mail

 

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The goal of this website is to give support to people who are facing problems in their relationship related to cheating, abuse and narcissism. I am living in Europe and English is not my native language, I wish you will excuse me if I make some grammatical errors. I have a background in neuroscience and behavioral sciences and I am currently doing brain research related to these topics in university in my home country. I decided to write in English because I wish to reach as many people as I can around the world. 

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder - A Narcissistic Spouse

You may have navigated to these pages while looking for information regarding the disturbing behavior of your spouse or someone close to you. You may feel there is something wrong with your spouse, but you cannot quite figure out what it is. All you know is that you are not feeling happy and you are having hard time understanding the strange behavior of your partner. If you have observed some features in the list below in your spouse, you might be dealing with a narcissistic person. The aim of this website is to offer help and support to people who are experiencing narcissism, cheating or mental abuse in their relationship.

What is narcissism?

Narcissism is a term that refers to a certain kind of a personality disorder (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, NPD) and a narcissist is a person suffering of this disorder. As you continue reading, please keep in mind that the purpose of this website is not to mock or judge narcissists since they are considered to be mentally disturbed individuals. The purpose of this website is to help the victims of narcissists by providing information regarding this personality disorder along with support and individual feedback regarding one's situation.

There are countless of men and women in the world who are suffering in their relationship without understanding that they are involved with a mentally disturbed individual. These "victims of narcissists" are often depressed and anxious and they often blame themselves of the problems in their relationship. The aim of this website is to spread the information of this personality disorder that is affecting so many people around the planet. If you find this website to be helpful for you, please feel free to spread the word so that more people can find help from here. 

Are you in a relationship with a narcissist?

In order to "qualify" as a narcissist, a person must meet some or all of the below criteria:

  • Inability to empathy
  • Expects special treatment
  • Feeling of entitlement
  • Inability to admit that he or she is wrong
  • Inability to receive criticism
  • Unexpected, strong bursts of rage in situations that would not trigger rage in normal people. These aggressive outbursts are referred to as narcissistic rage.
  • Does not react to tears. If other person starts crying due to the cruel behavior of a narcissist, that may even aggravate the rage of a narcissist
  • Perceives oneself as omnipotent, superior individual
  • Strong need for admiration. Admiration serves as a form of a narcissistic supply. Without sufficient amount of narcissistic supply a narcissist feels empty and unsatisfied. A narcissist is like a drug addict, and narcissistic supply in its different forms is the drug.
  • Is often envious and mocks other people (often behind their back)
  • In the beginning of the relationship idealizes one's partner and often talks about supreme, never-ending love. However as the relationship proceeds a narcissist often withdraws his or her attention and may become cold and uncaring, even cruel.
  • Is often untruthful and due to this often ends up cheating in a relationship. Cheating is often a consequence of other traits of a narcissist, such as the feeling of entitlement (it is impossible for a narcissist to do anything wrong and so a narcissist does not perceive cheating to be a huge "crime"), inability to emphasize with the cheated partner and the need for admiration (narcissistic supply).
  • Double standards: A narcissist twists the rules so that they fit to the current needs of a narcissist. For example, if the spouse of a narcissist is cheating on a narcissist, the spouse is considered to be dishonest and bad person, whereas if a narcissist is cheating it is not wrong, because a narcissist simply "fell in love" and followed his or her heart. Double standards also apply to other areas in life.

 

In a relationship with a narcissist - The different phases

Idealization

During this phase a narcissist is very loving and is in his or her best behavior. A narcissist can be extremely charming and lovely, which often makes one to fall head over heels in love with a narcissist. If a narcissist is cheating on his or her present partner with a new lover, it is often more due to the actions of a narcissist than the Lover that the secret relationship started in a first place. While pursuing a new Lover, a narcissist is often claiming that a narcissist is very unhappy in his or her current relationship, is about to get a divorce/separate, has never felt as strongly towards anyone else as he or she is now feeling towards the new Lover, etc. A narcissist knows how to say all the right things to disarm the other person and to make the other person to fall for a narcissist.

We all want to be loved and adored by the person we love. During the idealization phase a narcissist is fulfilling this need and is making us feel special. This is why it is so difficult to resist a narcissist. Unfortunately this "honeymoon" period never lasts for long. A narcissist soon grows bored and restless and starts to look for another provider of a narcissistic supply. This is when a narcissist enters the devaluation phase.

Devaluation

During this phase the behavior of a narcissist changes. A narcissist may become cold and uncaring almost overnight. A narcissist no longer tells you how much he or she loves you, but instead becomes increasingly critical towards you. Suddenly a narcissist finds all sorts of flaws in your behavior and possibly also in the way you look. You start to feel increasingly unhappy and depressed, because you have no idea what you have done to deserve such treatment. You may try to please a narcissist and try to "make him or her love you again", however nothing you do seems to be good enough.

During this phase a narcissist may start to look for another provider of a narcissistic supply and may end up cheating or having an affair, however still keeping the current spouse "available", in case the new relationship does not work out the way a narcissist is expecting. A narcissist is getting "kicks" when he or she is thinking that two people (the current spouse and the secret lover) are "madly in love" with a narcissist. This feeling serves as the source of a narcissistic supply.

Discarding

During the phase of discarding a narcissist becomes totally indifferent to the needs and wishes of the (soon-to-be former) spouse of a narcissist. A narcissist is ready to move on after either finding another source of a narcissistic supply or simply having drained the current source (the current spouse) dry. The current spouse no longer serves as a source of a narcissistic supply and therefore the current spouse is no longer useful for a narcissist. When a narcissist reaches this phase, there is no chance to reason with a narcissist. If you try to beg a narcissist to get back together with you, you are only feeding the ego of a narcissist and providing him or her with a transient source of a narcissistic supply as a narcissist feels you are now devastated after loosing the Perfect Being (a narcissist).

 

Narcissists are not sadists

As I stated above, the purpose of this website is not to mock narcissists since they are considered to be mentally disturbed individuals. It is important to keep in mind that a narcissist is not a sadist: Narcissists do not experience pleasure when they see other people hurting. The problem with narcissists is that they are extremely self-centered and unable to put themselves into the position of another person. A person who is not narcissistic can relate to the people around, and due to this a normal person is usually not behaving in a way that is making other people feel bad.

A narcissist, however, cannot understand that his or her behavior is making the other person feel sad and depressed. Due to this a narcissist often gets angry when he or she feels that the other person is "making a huge thing out of nothing" of cannot forget the misbehavior of a narcissist in just 5 minutes. The spouse of a narcissist perceives this total lack of empathy as cruel and cold-hearted behavior. 

A Narcissist and cheating

A typical example of the inability to put oneself into another person's position is when a narcissist has been cheating on his or her spouse, but has returned back together with the cheated spouse after cheating took place. A narcissist cannot understand that it takes a long time for another person to get over the negative memories related to cheating. The process of getting over cheating in a relationship takes years. A narcissist does not understand that the other person must process cheating as long as is needed and during this time one must ask same questions over and over again in an attempt to rebuild the trust. On the contrary, a narcissist may get upset and angry, even revert to a narcissistic rage, if the cheated spouse cannot get over the cheating relatively soon after it happened. Sometimes a narcissist expects the recovery process to happen in just a matter of days, even though in reality the process takes on average 1-2 years.

Support and help for the victims of narcissists

The purpose of this website is to help the victims of narcissists by providing information regarding this personality disorder along with support and individual feedback regarding one's situation. It is fascinating to think that we can alter our own thought processes by using relatively simple methods and mental exercises. If you wish to read more about these issues and learn ways to influence the way your mind is working, please visit page Recovery After Cheating and Narcissism. Please keep in mind that you are the person who knows your spouse the best and hence you are the only one who can judge whether you might be dealing with a narcissist or not. It is not possible to make a "diagnosis" without knowing the person. However, it is possible to give certain probabilities regarding whether you might be in a relationship with a narcissist.

If you discover that your spouse indeed is a narcissist, you will find help and support from this website. You can read the stories of people who have been in a relationship with a narcissist to determine if you are dealing with a narcissistic person by going to page Stories - Narcissism. To read more about narcissism, visit page Narcissism. If you would like to get my feedback regarding your situation, please read instructions as to how to send your story from here: Send your story

 

Comments (25)
  • John  - Trust Me
    I was married for 26 years knew my wife for 32 had 3 kids,big house,finacial security,good health,vacations,I thought everything was great. our relationship was not easy at times but it was wonderful for 20 years then it fell apart I found my wife was cheating on me when I found out she never admitted who,why,and never commiktted to say it was over with her lover.I caught her in lies,2 phones,computer flirting it was one thing after another . She lied to me and my children I tried to work it out but she was coming home at 2 in the morning at least once a week along with secret phone calls. I stood around for my children and tried to keep things going for my kids to have that feeling of a family but I was living in hell everyday. I stood around until my daughter turned 13 my boys are in college now. I left my houise 14 months ago and now finalizing my divorce. Your site helped me come to terma with my decision I tried to stay but she never tried I could not figure out but she is a true narcissist everything that decribes a narcissist is her behavior she feels that she is entitled to everything.
    My advice is never to change yourself for a narcissist you become someone you are not if you can not live your dreams with your spouse that includes love,honesty,going out of your way for the other ,being there when needed,having no secrets get out of the relationship the longer you stay the worse off you will be. Its hard because you feel betrayed but surround yourself with honest friends and family you will be so much better off. My new life is a adjustment but I feel so much better I look better, went back to school,enjoy my kids, I used to walk around mad everyday never able to enjoy anything but in time it will get better.
    JD image:
  • terri  - your comment on narcissistic spouse
    I am in the same boat, I am trying to leave my husband for the fact of my children, he has drained me , every which way, if you tell him he is wrong, he will tell you of an excuse saying i did something to make him do it. i wanted to see how you are doing now, I am trying to get out of here, he has killed us financially, i am trying to sell our house, we have equity in it, i just want out.
  • Nancy
    Hang in there girl. I dated a major narcissitic guy. All he did was discuss hmself, project his negative vibes that someone else owes him for anything that goes wrong in his own life. The sex was awful and actually a true narcissitic personality withdraws from sex with their current partner to get admiration and glory from someone else and fails to recognize their own short comings. They do not have the ability to reason. They thing they have such entitlement to do whatever they want. Funny, in time after a year I have become much stronger thankfully from not seeing him and yet he is doing it now to another gal. He is online on dating sites and yet he supposedly is committed to this gal. I feel for her but she is so manipulated by him she probably started to think its her own fault. There is no reasonging with a narcissitic person. You will be fine in time.
  • Nigel  - "You're my soul-mate"
    Interesting post John, there is no point changing for the narcissist, but I'm afraid when you are with such a person your core being has already altered, boundaries are pushed to one side, lines are crossed, and gradually your self-worth is left gasping for air in the gutter - to be with a narc is to accept crumbs..

    It took me eighteen months to break-away from my narc. I can't say she fits all of the traits associated with the disorder but definitely exhibits over 90% of them. The relationship was fabulous for the first three months, but then the mask started to slip, by that point she had me in her confusing, ugly and torturous web. As the abusive incidents escalated my confidence diminished. Before I embarked on a relationship with this woman I had a firm set of boundaries and a moral code that no person would ever infiltrate. I let myself down badly, I confused love with need, she didn't love me she needed me (supply), she knew I would take her back time-after-time so in effect I assumed the role of the enabler. Of course I understand why I continued fuelling the relationship, I thought she could change, I believed she loved me absolutely, but I now know different, when you love someone you don't hurt them physically or emotionaly, you honour and cherish them. This person wasn't capable of loving anyone because of her own deep-rooted mental health issues, and contrary to popular perception narcissists don't love themselves AT ALL, they are self-loathers, you never see their true-self, they mirror you, they applaud, and detest you in equal measure.
    It all ends the same with a narc, there is only one way out and that is to extricate yourself completely and never EVER look back.
  • Spartens25  - It's like the Chinese water torture
    Nigel and John,

    You are both so right. The only way out is to get completely out. I now realize that over the years my self esteem has been eroded like a Chinese water torture. It is insideous like a cancer. I kept trying to compensate for what she identified as shortcomings in my personality, I lost my boundaries and self along the way. I know it will be a long road back.

    The final straw was she took $10,000 of my money by cashing a check without telling me. (We were not married) This is after I had bought thousands in jewelry and trips to keep her happy and show I was "worthy". When I challenged her and said i wanted my money back she said "That's just the cost of the divorce, I've waited years for you to become the man of my dreams" and refused to pay it back.

    To anyone reading this who sees a similar pattern - get with good friends - listen to your gut. And believe the pain of leaving the person you thought was your soul mate is nothing compared to living each day unsure of what you have, is she cheating? and just feeling like you are not a priority.

    Strength to you both!!
  • Amber  - Wow the ways it messes with your mind!
    I was with my ex for a total of 6 years (being married for 3 of them) We divorced pretty recently (August of 2009) due to apparently my ability to be "worthy enough" for him and his cheating issues. It shockes me how many warning signs I let pass by about my ex. Honestly, just like this article, our problems started right around the 3rd month of dating. He would cycle through many various "fixations" that ALWAYS had priorities and then would make off handed remarks how I need to up my social and financial status so that we could be on the same level (otherwise, he was embarrassed to be seen with me). It was 6 years of me consistantly trying to "earn" his love and affection yet always falling short, always devistated that I wasn't good enough, and repeating the same fights, cycle, etc. It wasn't till our divorce convo when he said he didn't want counseling, he just wanted to "observe me to see if I was worthy enough"...Then I found out he was cheating which he reasoned with "It's not cheating because I was already emotionally un-attached!"...This site REALLY helped me see how he truely is and its sad because he will never find true love and happiness. As for me, I'm picking up the pieces and realizing every day that I really do have a lot to offer and some one will truely love me for me! It's been a hard road and my self esteem still isn't great...But no kids, so I was able to make a clean break! Thanks for this article! It really has opened my eyes and helped the healing process!!
  • Nancy
    Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery.
  • Tellmemore  - So enlightening
    I am so grateful to have found this website!!! To learn more about mental abuse & manipulation confirms that everything i have experienced is "real", and that there are names for these "conditions". To this point I haven't ever read, or heard about the "Narcissistic Personality" being key to all this confusion, and madness. The person that said the narcissistic person doesn't actually love themselves is so true to my situation. They don't love themselves, but it's always about them, and they're never wrong.
  • harold samms  - blind
    I thought it was me. My wife insulted me belittled me, even hit me on occassions.
    I did everything i could to make our marriage work not it was not enough.
    We split up on numerous occassions,always her making it impossible for me to stay.Everytime she had a new bloke within a matter of weeks.
    We got back together at xmas and she told me she loved me and we would never part but once again made it impossible for me to stay and 2 days after i left she returned to her new bloke.
    I dont know if she is narcissistic but reading your article has certainly given me food for thought! and some comfort. Thanks
  • Wendy  - What a wonderful website!
    I have been (and still am) involved in a relationship (of sorts) with a narcissistic man for the last 4 and a half years. This website is fantastic as it has really helped me understand why he behaves the way he does, and given me so many answers to my questions. All the aspects of behaviour that have been described here fit so perfectly...but it is so sad that nothing can ever really be done to help people with NPD, and I know I have no option but to end the relationship.
  • janet skeyhill  - How do i survive this hell.

    My ex boyfriend a Narcissist has just sent a photo of himself with his latest enabler just one month after declaring true love and asking me to marry him.He has assaulted me five times deprived me of my liberty;the police and court were involved and yet still I long for the beautiful person I met originally.His entire life is a shambles in every way,he is an alcoholic and longtime drug abuser,but still I love him.I think of myself as obsessed,a Masochist and on the verge of insanity.I have been vengeful and fought back and am seeing a Psychologist.How do I handle this evil hideous situation,I am a spiritual person and ask for help daily for us both.We lived in different countries but still I flew over.I had not had an intimate relationship for four years and was meditating on relationship when we met.I can't bring myself to destroy photos texts and letters and wonder if he will contact me yet again when I am hopefully recovering.
  • Nancy
    Stop the torture. Go to therapy and listen to what the therapist has to say.
  • Sera  - Please Be Careful....
    I was married to a narcissist for 14 years, and because he was successful, had impressive friends and influence over professional, honest, successful colleagues - i thought something must be wrong with me. That i was not as smart as him, as strong as him, and i behaved like a child instead of a woman because i was insecure and confused. He cheated for the entire first 6 years we were together - with the same woman. He lied to us both. He was arrested when accused of fraud - and although he was not found guilty, a lot of his behavior, including the cheating, came out while he was in jail. He tried to dismiss it.. like he did everything and had no ability to accept true criticism. He felt he was born to rule over mankind. My experience was mostly 'shock'... and because i had been in a bad relationship just prior to this one... i was determined to change him. It never worked... i just became weaker and have finally decided to get a divorce. I actually feared for my life. The good news is that he no longer lives in the house, and i purchased the house without his involvement because he refused to buy a home in my neighborhood (he believed it was below him... but when he ran out of money... pressued me to believe the house belonged to him as well as me due to the marriage.) I am so happy to be relieved of the relationship. I have been completely happy for the year that he has been gone. Here is the warning!!!!! The pain has only now started to build up inside me. I recognize that i am hurting because of the emotional abuse i suffered and so i am seeking help (and ran across this website.) I advice anyone who is involved with this type of individual to RUN and to understand that the damage could be long term if not dealth with. Bes wishes to all.
  • melissa
    How did you break away? I need ADVICE ... I am going through this as I write! My significant other is calling and yelling at me for something he thinks I sent to his " Ex", yet currently won't admit he is cheating on me with. Confusing I know I barley get it myself. My heart has been taken out and put through a blender. My mind has been played with in a way I never thought possible. My anxiety and depresson are things I have never had. I feel guilt just going to dinner with my friends for even an hour, during this hour my anxiety is so horrific that I can't enjoy my time. I am afraid of what he is doing or what I will be accused of doing. I have been friends with mine for 5 years...three of which we played the dating game. the past year 1/2 we lived together, engaged, and I took in him and his 2 children into my house. Many of these stories are identical to what I have been going through. The definition that says they getoff with having 2 women fight over them is about right on!!!! I knew he liked to drink, but "wanted to change", and he could do it with my help or so he said. THe relationship began with him being Charming, wonderful, went out of his way to make me feel like I never have, played the family man, made promises of children, and a love like no other. After two months he asked me to marry him... talked to my parents about helping him buy a ring. He didn't work from July - Dec. I provided fr all of us. I was in an apartment for 5 years, he insisted we get a house on a lake for 975.00 which was my entire paycheck. I was the only one with a truck...his got taken back. Yet it was my fault because I didn't help pay it!! He played the poor him card with his ex girl friend and how bad she treated him. Things were wonderful.... fairytale is how I would explain it. four months later...began lieing, staying out all night, always having an excuse as to where, yet ex girlfriend was now calling and texting. If I asked for him to tell her to go away I was in the wrong, controlling and insecure. THe lies kept flowing and his anger was amazing! I would ask a question and he would blow up! I actually moved out just 4 months ago, over the reason I asked him what he had for dinner, he blew up began to scream and yell in a way I had never experienced before. His anger grew to where he was throwing stuff, abusive, and loss of voice. Within a day he was over it and didn't understand why I moved out. He will call me up and beg for me to comce back, how he loves me and that he can't live without me. SO I have taken him back a couple different times and have caught him cheating on me with his Ex that has never gone away. He always claims I am dreaming up what I saw. I have actually began believing I am Crazy and seeing things. I recently caught him again and took pictures of his truck in her driveway. He still tried to get me to think I was nuts. I changed my number but we live only 4 miles away, so it was 2 weeks before I talked to him. The hurt is horrible beyond words. He has called begged me back, told me he did stay at her house only to piss me off, but didn;t do anthing with her.?. He blamed me for Everything...not trusting him, skeptical, then it went back to that I was crazy. He plays mind games and emotional beatings. He calls makes me feel like I did something wrong, when I haven't done anything but call and say how is your day. Tonight for example.. he is out golfing, I am at my house, he calls accusing me of calling and texting the "Ex" and out prostituting myself when I have done nothing! Yet screams and yells at me that I am the reason we can't ever work, and that he is getting rid of both of us (if that isn't admitting) and he hates me. This is after we have jsut been together for 3 days including this mornig and I haven't talked to him since 6 am.
    I am confused, depressed, anxious, and having a hard time finding the person who needs to say LEAVE ME ALONE! I am addicted I guess you could say to him. I have a very difficult time telling him no when it comes to making him dinner, washing his clothes, doing him favors, and of course inimate times.
    Please give me some advice as to how to break free from this cycle that is destroying me.
  • Pat  - Oh SO TRUE!
    I was married to a narcissist for 39 years...it took me that long to realize what was really happening in our, so called, relationship. The mental and emotional scars will take a long time to heal, but the best thing I ever did was to get up the courage to leave him. After years of feeling inadequate I now know that he was the one with the 'problem'. Everything everyone has said is oh, so true! My best advice is get out of the relationship it can do nothing but tear you down and apart.

    Recovering Victim
  • Amanda  - Ex spouse, Parent
    I was married to a man who was diagnosed with NPD only after I finally grew a backbone and told him I wanted a divorce. He suffered a breakdown of sorts, was admitted to the hospital overnight, and his phych eval revealed his narcissism.

    I threw him out when our daughter was 7. Other than phone calls, there has been very little visitation between them, mostly due to distance, an inconvenience for which I am grateful.

    I no longer feed into his demands. Remaining calm and detached is difficult, but necessary. My greatest issue is our daughter, now 13. She hasn't seen her father in 2 years, but she will this summer. I am sick with worry, but there is little I can do but be here and hope for the best.

    My one saving grace is that I remarried a wonderful man who has a strong and loving relationship with her.

    I can only hope he's on his best behavior, and that she wont get hurt.

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