How to Avoid Falling Into a Narcissistic Relationship Pattern
Are you frequently in relationships where you give much more than you receive? Do you feel that your needs are never satisfied while your partner is always the center of attention? Do you ever feel like the relationship's inanimate object? If you tend to associate with persons that exhibit narcissistic characteristics, this might be the case.
Some of the signs that indicate that you are in a relationship with a person who has narcissistic tendencies -
- Your partner has a strong need for approval, which might make you expend a lot of emotional energy on them. You may have noticed that their objectives and driving forces for making judgments are dependent on getting other people's approval.
- You can have the impression that the connection is merely surface-level or artificial. You could feel like an object in the relationship since it might look that your partner is only marginally interested in you and simply uses you for status and self-promotion.
- Your partner anticipates receiving special treatment from others because they feel special and unique. They frequently seek out high-status individuals, gatherings, and objects since they tend to be haughty and entitled. They may have grandiose beliefs despite not having much success.
- Your partner may be very aware of how you respond to them and may use your responses to ascertain how they feel about themselves and how valuable they are. They could be too sensitive to criticism and frequently respond when challenged with shame or humiliation or by denying their errors.
Some of the strategies that can help you to avoid a narcissistic relationship pattern are -
- You could find it difficult to recognize your emotions and express them to your partner. It's critical to clearly define your demands, acknowledge their validity, and begin communicating them to your spouse.
- Take a step back and establish some distance in the connection when you catch yourself doubting your thoughts and perceptions or feeling pressure to act in ways that are not in your best interests. You can reset your perspective and gain a clearer understanding of things with time and distance.
- Being the caregiver may make you feel more at ease because it protects you from the discomfort of exposing your vulnerability and requesting that your needs be addressed. Do not forget that you are searching for a partner, not a caregiver. Your companion does not need to be fixed or healed by you. Once they make the decision to, only they may act on their behalf of themselves.
- Pay attention to your own emotions and viewpoints so you can get more self-assurance in trusting your own emotions and views without your partner's prodding.
- Let your partner know what is and is not appropriate conduct around you, set firm, clearly defined boundaries.
A WORD FROM SOCIALLY SOULED
If you frequently find yourself in relationships with persons who suffer from a narcissistic personality disorder, reality may seem skewed once the initial excitement wears off, and it may be challenging to identify your own needs and feelings.
It's critical to recognize the trend and alter it. In any relationship you're in, recognizing unsolved issues from your past can be a great place to start, along with figuring out your needs and prioritizing them.