Relationships with narcissists make things extremely complicated. You constantly ask yourself if you can be trusted. You doubt your own version of truth and often feel abandoned and exasperated. This is the case because they cannot tolerate having to agree on a certain point since that would mean giving away their control and power.
While openly communicating is the right thing to do, narcissists will rather kill the conversations that should be productive. They can do any of the following; be it walking away mid-conversation, changing the topic, or making you sound like you are irrational by putting words in your mouth. It then becomes a situation where you feel unresolved or matterless and the original issue still remains unaddressed. As for the long-term, you may grow to be used to things not being solved, rather than creating solutions for them.
And therefore, you are left with a plaque of questions and doubts. However, your sense of reality will be warped by influence of such inflexible dynamic. Absent as what had happened exactly or was the agreement about, you depend more and more on the opposite version of the narcissist. It is just a dependence but it also means a power.
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Besides, you may also feel exasperated or even unsure of yourself when there is no definite action taken by you throughout the relationship. Being the narcissist, he will appear as the one who is balanced, while you show characteristics of demand or even instability.
In general, narcissists do not resolve arguments down to keep partners in control. Besides this, narcissists want to have power over their partners. Therefore, you now tend to let them control and lead you. The ability to understand the cause of unproductive communication forms the basis of what establishes the boundaries in these one-way relationships. Assertiveness skills could also bring you to a point where you stop softening down your position just for the sake of keeping it. Through the acquiring of knowledge and experience, you can the and be who you really are again.
Author: Rachel Kaur - Psychologist, dietitian, life coach
Rachel Kaur is a dedicated dietician and psychologist, with a passion for helping individuals achieve holistic well-being. With a dual expertise in nutrition and mental health, she empowers her clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes, fostering physical and emotional health. Rachel's compassionate approach makes her a trusted wellness partner.
Disclaimer: The articles on this web site are purely provided for reasons of advisory. They concern a healthy human organism and do not in any way replace the advice of a doctor. Before making changes to your diet or daily activity, you should first contact your doctor or personal dietitian.
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Relationships with narcissists make things extremely complicated. You constantly ask yourself if you can be trusted. You doubt your own version of truth and often feel abandoned and exasperated. This is the case because they cannot tolerate having to agree on a certain point since that would mean giving away their control and power.
