Narcissists generally dislike spending too much time alone. They crave attention from others because it provides them with validation.
Originally Answered: Are narcissists afraid to be alone? Yes. They are loners at times ..But they don't like being alone. They constantly need someone to boost their ego and give them attention.
Vulnerable narcissists try to defend themselves through Isolation and avoidance of social relations as they feel afraid of being let down and ashamed of needing others (Bernardi & Eidlin, 2018).
Sociology. "Narcissists will isolate themselves, leave their families, ignore others, do anything to preserve a special [...] sense of self".
Although narcissists do well for a certain amount of time during their isolation, they'll soon take up their narcissistic ways again. In fact, their isolation will not exceed 1 week max, because they cannot fight off temptation to manipulation any longer.
Narcissists may use the silent treatment to communicate they are unhappy with you, to control you, or as a form of punishment. If the narcissist uses the silent treatment to deflect responsibility for something they have done wrong, it can also be a form of narcissistic gaslighting.
Often, a narcissist will retaliate by ignoring you. This is a means to punish you for puncturing their delusions. They're also avoiding you because a narcissist's sense of self is too unstable to resolve conflict. They are putting you in a position to make you desperate for their approval.
One of the distinctive behaviors of a narcissist is self-obsession. They can be so self-obsessed that they only like to talk about themselves and are hardly interested in listening to you. When you speak, they may often cut you off and divert the conversation to the topic they are interested in.
Depending on your age and stage, you might have a few relationships that haven't worked out. But narcissists keep up the pattern — often right through until old age. Because they can't (and have never been able to) love, and they need constant adoration/validation, they can't sustain intimate relationships.
Some people get married to narcissists and stay with them for years, while others leave or are left after a few weeks or months. As long as the narcissist is getting their needs met by their partner or the partner does not find a way to leave, the relationship will continue.
Put Your Needs First. Narcissists make others feel guilty about being happy because they expect everyone to put the narcissist's happiness first. If you're not constantly praising them or accepting their criticisms that make them feel superior, they won't be satisfied.
In order to deal with the problem, it's important to be able to recognize the signs of being married to a narcissist. One of the first things a narcissist does it isolate you from family and friends. They want you to be completely dependent on them and eliminate any support system you have in place.
Emptiness. Narcissists lack a positive, emotional connection to themselves, making it difficult for them to emotionally connect with others. Their undeveloped self and deficient inner resources require them to be dependent on others for validation. Rather than confidence, they actually fear that they're undesirable.
Cerebral narcissists, in particular, value intellect above anything else, and they look down on people who don't seem as brilliant. As a result, they may spend most of their time alone reading, studying, or learning. They don't bother connecting with others because relationships seem immature.
Much of the time, a narcissist's behaviour isn't driven by self-love – rather, self-hatred. New findings reinforce this idea, noting that narcissistic behaviour like flexing on social media might come from low self-esteem and a constant need for self-validation.
Narcissistic collapse occurs when a narcissist's ability to uphold their grandiose, confident image is threatened. As a result, they often become enraged, resulting in impulsivity, intense lashing out, or harm to others.
It may sound harsh, but many of the features of NPD are antithetical to love. Narcissists may show you love and act in loving ways, but this tends to be conditional, in that displays of love depend on what you can give them in return. For people with NPD, relationships tend to be transactional.
Narcissists can love, but this superficial and momentary affection serves as a way to get what they want from others. While their role as caring partners, parents, or friends may appear genuine, a lack of empathy and devotion to themselves renders narcissists unable to develop meaningful relationships.
Ultimately, it is important to remember that narcissists can and do love—but their love may never be the same as a healthy, unconditional bond. The best way to know if a narcissist loves you is by looking at their behavior over time rather than just relying on words or expressions of affection.
Although narcissists act superior to others and posture as beyond reproach, underneath their grandiose exteriors lurk their deepest fears: That they are flawed, illegitimate, and ordinary.
Idealization. The first stage in a narcissistic relationship is “idealization” and is perhaps the most dangerous of them all. This is how they hook you! This phase always occurs right at the beginning of any relationship with a narcissist, and is where they will make you feel truly special.
They Feel a Loss of Control
If the narcissist feels like they are losing control of the situation, a rage fit allows them to regain power over those around them.
Beware of narcissists trying to lure you back with hoovering. Breakups with narcissists don't always end the relationship. Many won't let you go, even when it's they who left the relationship, and even when they're with a new partner. They won't accept “no.”
If you remember to wish them a happy birthday, they may downplay it and pretend not to care about such frivolous things. But if you fail to make a big enough deal of it, or forget entirely? That's where conflict can arise, and the narcissist may behave even more poorly than usual.