To spot the signs of narcissistic abuse, you need to be able to understand what narcissistic personality disorder is.
So, what is narcissistic personality disorder?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder from the DSM-5 includes symptoms of:
Having a grandiose sense of self-importance
Preoccupied with fantasies of success and power
Lack of empathy
Requires excessive admiration
Believing that one is “special” and can only be understood by higher-status people or institutions
Sense of entitlement
Exploitative/ Takes advantage of others to benefit themselves
Envious of others, believing that others are envious of them
Displays arrogant/haughty behaviors or attitudes
Narcissistic personality disorder is a complicated diagnosis to catch when in a relationship. Whether it be abuse from parents or from a loved one, this form of abuse can take a serious toll on mental and physical health, and lead to domestic violence, and place the victim in some very traumatic situations. Learning to recognize abuse early on can prevent further damage from occurring to the person the abuse is directed towards.
Common Behaviors and Warning Signs
Some things to look out for when dealing with someone narcissistic include:
Love bombing
Showing large amounts of affection at the beginning of the relationship or when they want to exploit you again. Often seen as buying excessive amounts of gifts or showing kind words after a large fight, or when wanting something.
Gaslighting
Questioning the reality that you understood, denying facts to make you question your own perception.
Blame-shifting
Placing you at fault for their actions, not taking accountability for their own actions.
Minimization and exaggeration
Saying that something “wasn’t that bad” when it comes to their own actions, but will exaggerate the mistakes the other person made.
Silent treatment
They will withdraw affection, communication, and support as a way to gain power and punish the other person.
Anger
They will use anger and aggression, often threatening to harm or using physical threats to instill power over the victim.
Isolation
They will isolate the victim from friends and family, keeping them as the only support system.
Moving the goal post
Any goal or achievement is never good enough, often pushing it higher instead of giving the person credit and making them feel they are not good enough.
Final Thoughts
There are many other warning signs and red flags to look out for. Still, the items listed above are examples of some ways that people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder utilize to exploit and maintain control over the people they wish to control.
If you feel as though you are a victim of narcissistic abuse, you are not alone. There are many resources out there that can help you out of the situation or protect yourself if you are unable to escape.
