The Narcissistic Addict They are addicted to attention, drama, and chaos. They also have a deep hatred of the self which they cover with a highly extroverted persona. A narcissist will believe that they are prevalent and well-liked and deserve to be a leader without necessarily having the traits.
As the co-narcissist you feel important by association. Just like with a drug addiction, where people are addicted to the dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and other brain chemicals released in their brain when using their drugs, a relationship with a narcissist does the same. This toxic relationship offers a promise.
Toxic relationships feel so addictive because you don't know where you end and the person begins. If you have spent years with the narcissist, you have built a life together. You may only know yourself as their partner or spouse. If you're with a narcissist, you probably struggle with your self-esteem.
Many people with narcissism may also have an addiction to alcohol, sex, drugs, or social media.
Narcissism and Addiction
When symptoms of addiction begin to set in, such as cravings, heightened tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and negative impacts on the person's life, the narcissist will often deny that they have a problem in the first place.
Individuals who are in recovery after a relationship with a narcissistic partner describe feelings of confusion, procrastination, low self-esteem, fear of failure, and worthlessness. A narcissistic abuser may use financial abuse to keep the victim trapped in the relationship.
As narcissists age, they tend to become more demanding and less patient. Their entitled behavior escalates, and they expect the people around them to cater to their needs. Their lack of empathy also become more pronounced.
They only want to associate and be associated with other high-status people, places, and things. Narcissists also believe that they're better than everyone else and expect recognition as such—even when they've done nothing to earn it.
Attention-seeking behavior—positive or negative—is essentially narcissistic supply. Wanting attention, accolades, and validation are not inherently narcissistic. We all need to feel heard and accepted, but narcissists crave this attention constantly.
Most narcissists enjoy an irrational and brief burst of relief after having suffered emotionally ("narcissistic injury") or after having sustained a loss. It is a sense of freedom, which comes with being unshackled.
If you were strong enough to survive loving a narcissist, you are strong enough to break your addiction to one. Remind yourself often of this strength within and that you're better off without that pain in your life. Look in the mirror every single day and tell yourself: I am worthy. I deserve so much more.
Fear of being alone – Narcissists are skilled at destroying their partner's social circles and relationships with family members. The prospect of leaving may equate to a feeling of being truly alone; Fear of reprisals – The narcissist may have created a culture of fear and anxiety in their partner's life.
Narcissists have a unique ability to entertain others, as it helps them satisfy their grandiose cognitions, says an article published in Social Psychology and Personality Science. This makes them an attractive choice for those seeking constant stimuli from a partner.
While people with narcissism aren't devoid of emotions, their motivations may be self-focused. They can know they're hurting your feelings, but as long as it elevates their status, they may not care. Someone living with narcissism does cry. They can feel regret, remorse, and sadness.
The longer the lack of Narcissistic Supply, the more the narcissist glorifies, re-writes, misses and mourns this past. This nostalgia serves to enhance other negative feelings, amounting to clinical depression. The narcissist proceeds to develop paranoia.
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.
They Are Criticized. When a narcissist is criticized, their inflated sense of self is damaged. Any perceived negative feedback, even if offered in gentle or productive ways, can easily result in outbursts of narcissistic rage. A narcissist cannot tolerate threats to their massive egos and grandiose self-image.
They will often deploy a variety of narcissistic relationship patterns such as manipulation, charismatic, and exploitational tactics in order to ensure that their own needs and wants are met. As a spouse, you may be the subject of their manipulation and abuse, while your partner treats everyone else positively.
Narcissists all follow the same patterns — here are some of the most common phrases they use to manipulate you. Narcissists often follow the same pattern in relationships: idealize, devalue, discard.
People high in narcissism tend to have a distinct preoccupation with being the center of attention. They are highly skilled at making themselves the star of the show, whether by writing the script themselves or hijacking another person's scene. Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from other people.
They physically abuse pets.
If a narcissist's dog has urinated on the carpet while the narcissist was out, the narcissist sees it as a personal affront—even though the narcissist left the dog alone for 12 hours. The narcissist then hits the dog and calls it names. The dog learns to fear the narcissist.
3% of subjects showed increased narcissistic traits between the ages of 18 and 41. The belief that one is smarter, better looking, more successful and more deserving than others — a personality trait known as narcissism — tends to wane as a person matures, a new study confirms.