If You Have to Stay with a Narcissistic Partner, Psychology Says You'll Need These 5 Superpowers

It goes without saying that the decision to leave a narcissistic partner is an extraordinarily delicate one. One thing that helps is to watch for signs of a serious personality disorder. According to research in 2012In such cases, you will likely see emotional instability, distorted thought or perception patterns, impulsive behavior, and intense but unstable relationships with others.

I share your belief Dr. Craig Malkinwarns: “If your loved one is physically or emotionally abusive, nothing I suggest below will help you. Not all narcissists, even those diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), resort to abuse. But some do—and if you’re on the receiving end, your first step is to It should be about discovering what makes it difficult for you to leave.”

However, if you decide that you need to stay with a narcissist because of life circumstances or you want to stay with a narcissist because their lifestyle is too appealing to leave, you better do it right. Being aware of your partner’s narcissistic behavior and making a plan for how to deal with it will make it much easier to tolerate.

Here are 5 superpowers you’ll need if you have to stay in a relationship with a narcissist:

1. The power to understand how narcissistic your narcissist is.

Since everything is relative, there is no doubt that some nars (pronounced narss) are more extreme than others. If your partner has a true personality disorder, it may not be possible to detach from him/her long enough to create the framework for a useful lifestyle.

Here’s one way to assess your situation. Determine how narcissistic your partner is on a scale of 1 to 10. Anything higher than 7 is a problem.

Dr. According to Paul Bretherton , “Most importantly, the Narcissist is a person who behaves a certain way and is not a monster, no matter how emotionally arousing he may be at times.” Some narcissists are worth staying with, even if they demand superpowers. A solid 10 will demand that you choose your path wisely so that you can stay safe and get out when you need to.

Essential tip for staying with your narcissist: Many highly successful businessmen, politicians, actors, pop culture icons, and medical professionals are natural narcissists. Self-centered focus, which is very difficult to live by, takes them to the top of their profession. Accepting this with them is the first step to staying with them.

2. The power to choose personal development

How to Stay with a Narcissistic Partner? Chinmay Singh / Pexels

Narcies tend to choose partners who are empathetic, kind, giving and loving. If you are smart, talented and a little insecureIt’s easier for them to expand their lives around you. It can definitely be fun to get caught up in the spotlight and see your partner doing whatever they want wherever they go.

Dr. Athena Stalk “Give yourself the ability to look for possible codependency tendencies and get help.” Checking out popular self-help authors is a great first step. YouTube is a good friend here. Tony Robbins, Louise Hay, and other amazing thought leaders have videos teaching personal empowerment.

Essential tip for staying with your narcissist: The more you love your Narcie, the more you owe it to yourself to develop the skills to make this unlikely partnership work. Living with a self-centered person is not for everyone. Get the tools you need to take care of yourself.

3. Breaking power

I think it’s the best superpower there is. Breaking up is difficult for narcissists; After all, they need your attention and admiration. The irony is that when you break up, you develop strengths and strategies on how to stay with them. You can choose how much of their behavior you let bother you.

Dr. Tara J. Palmatier says: “emotional detachment It’s a conscious choice not to let someone else push your buttons and hurt, annoy, disappoint, or anger you. “The easiest way to do this is to cultivate indifference.” This is not an easy task at first, but once mastered it can definitely work.

The key to staying with your narcissist: A quick and reliable way to start learning this superpower is to go to an Al-Anon or Narcissistic Support Group meeting. Even if alcohol isn’t involved in your situation, the skills taught there about independence and interdependence will equip you with real tools. They are also very warm and friendly and it is a great feeling to be in loving companionship.

4. The power of self-love

How to Stay with a Narcissistic Partner? Guilherme Almeida / Pexels

“What was I thinking when I signed up for this?” I would say. I didn’t understand how I acted in my last long term living situation with a narcie. kept attracting the same type of people into my life.

Inside The Sociopath Next DoorMartha Stout reports: “Unlike sociopaths, narcissists often experience psychological pain and may sometimes seek psychotherapy. When a narcissist seeks help, one of the underlying problems, often unbeknownst to him, is that he has become alienated from his relationships due to a lack of empathy with others and feels confused, abandoned, and alone.”

This knowledge helped me be more compassionate towards my narcissist. I learned the value of partnering with myself and began actively pursuing self-love experiences. The less emotional support I needed from my narc because I got it from somewhere else, the more peace I had in my home.

Essential tip for staying with your narcissist: One secret you can learn from the rich and famous is to find a cause that you can dedicate yourself to, separate from your partner. Whether it’s the Humane Society, a nursing home, or homeless children, they all need your love and devotion. Your contribution will bring you much of what you THINK you need from your partner: love, appreciation, connection, compliments, support, and affection. When your tank is full, you will truly improve in your condition.

5. The power of compassion

According to Martha Stout, “The poor narcissist cannot see beyond his nose when talking emotionally, and as with the Pillsbury Doughboy, any outside input will come back as if nothing had happened.”

Living with a narcie who doesn’t really see with an objective eye that they are bringing such misery to themselves can help make this manageable. Stout continues: “True sociopathic narcissists have no trace of empathy and no real interest in forming an emotional bond with a partner, and once the superficial attraction wears off, partnerships become loveless, one-sided, and almost always short term.”

When you feel like your narc wants an emotional connection and yet is blindly shooting himself in the foot trying to get there, having compassion for both of you is truly a Superpower. Remember, narcissistic partners often have difficulty loving anyone else because they don’t truly love themselves.

They are so focused on themselves that they cannot truly “see” their partner as a separate person. As you develop self-compassion, you will reap the rewards of this skill.

Essential tip for staying with your narcissist: Here are three magic words that will transform you into a compassionate superstar: “Just Like Me.” Yes, it’s that simple. Write a list of all the ways you want your partner to treat you. For example, I feel loved, respected, honored, supported, connected, listened to, cared for, listened to, admired, enjoyed, etc. in my relationship. I want to feel. Then review this list and repeat these thoughts every day for a period of time. week goes like this: “Just like me, my partner wants to feel _________.”

Simply confirming what you want and acknowledging that your partner wants the same will ignite a new spirit of connection with your narcissist.

If you think you may be experiencing depression or anxiety as a result of ongoing emotional abuse at the hands of a narcissist, you are not alone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone and is not a reflection of who you are or anything you have done wrong. If you think you are in danger, you can get support 24/7/365 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. If you cannot speak safely, text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474.

Catherine Behan is a highly trained dating coach, freelance writer and editor. She currently works as a Law of Attraction and Success Coach where she helps people attract abundance into their lives by utilizing her expertise in EFT.