Narcissism in Relationships - Part 1: The Ego's Quest for Superiority

Narcissism has a devastating effect on relationships. Narcissistic behavior is the outgrowth of the ego's strategy to become the center of the individual's universe. Over the years, if this behavior doesn't change, it rgenerally results in a codependent relationship.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• narcissism
• narcissistic
• ego
• relationships
• selfishness
• self centeredness
• codependence
• codependency
• partners
• marriage

[Here2ownU]

Thanks for sharing. It is painful when you love the Narcissist so much. I worked with my father, a man I always thought of as just difficult. However, once my book of business outgrew his, he fired me suddenly without explanation. He showed no emotion, simply said it was for the best. That was the moment I realized that "love" was not a part of his relationship with me. 39 years of my life wasted on him. Comforting to know through videos like this, it wasn't me. It's him.

[deeperrelationships]

@Here2ownU

So sorry to hear about this awful treatment from you dad. "Task oriented" people often show know 'relating skills' and appear heartless. They are all about 'the business at hand' and seem to not care about feelings. This is the way they are 'hard wired' and they are often puzzled by the way people react to them! I have known task oriented people who have to watch the faces of people in order to know what is going on...if she frowns, that means I have done something wrong,

[deeperrelationships]

I'm sorry that you have to divorce someone you love. It is so sad that he doesn't know how to return your love. Narcissist often end up old and alone having never known real love. He cannot see himself at all and will always be RIGHT..."blame" is not in his vocabulary. Feeling insane, in this type of relationship, is pretty typical! Good luck to you and be real careful not to fall back into the same trap!

[deeperrelationships]

Leting go is not a once-for-all-time act that you perform. It's something you do in the present moment as soon as you realize that what you are clinging to is hurting you. The more often you can let go of a hurtful thing in the present moment, the easier it gets to do it when you realize it's what you need to do. The human body is pretty good at dealing with physical ailments as long as the mind isn't working against the process. Get healthy, stay healthy and let go of what's hurting you.

[Samua3]

I haven't cried for some time over him. Our contact since he left is regular because of the children - in that if I retain a friendly contact with him he backs off from wanting to see the children so I have to do this to keep them safer. But I have just sat here sobbing because you have described it all so perfectly. SO exact! But because I somehow still love him I feel hopeless and lost. He is like a little lost boy with no ability to feel real joy and warmth. I feel trapped! Help? x

[deeperrelationships]

As you said, "he is like a little lost boy with no ability to feel real joy and warmth." I think he is the one who is trapped. But if you can't let go, you're trapped too. The good news is, he isn't keeping you trapped - you are. And you can change that by letting go. It's fine that you still love him, but let it be the kind of love that wishes him well and releases him and you completely from your former relationship. Rebuild your life (without him) and you won't be hopeless or lost.

[MsSSnow]

Sounds like Sociopath to me. Whats the difference?

[ANTONZANESCO]

all of this is very true and interresting. however, we seem to need labeling at all costs. picasso was aperently narcissistic. being selfish does seem to have a creative edge.

certainly not individuals who fit in. positive or negative.

[MrROTD]

My brother is like this, he pushes gifts and favours on me but then he will take the gifts back or act like I owe him the world as soon as he can't have his way from me. He also will blame everyone else when it is him who madee the mistake. He also puts everyone else down to inflate himself just like you describe. I have some of the same flaws but the difference is I know I'm inferior is many ways to others and I know when my actions have caused hurt to others, he doesn't.

[laurierevill]

Can you compare and contrast narcissism and obsessive compulsive personality disorder, please? Thanks

[FoamKittyGamer]

@MsSSnow There are some similarities, although sociopaths tend to close themselves off from the world and can't interact with people (sometimes at all), and narcissists tend to grab all the attention themselves and are also self-indulged in their own "physical" appearance too.

Sociopaths don't care what they look like, and tend to have EXTREMELY poor hygiene.

[brelfan]

My mother was a narcissist. Ended up that she mainly lived in her bedroom, where she could get the respect she wanted, and absolute service, from my Dad. And she taught a class on how to get published for many years. Odd since she got handful of articles published in her life. I'm not sure my father was much less narcisisstic. He worked and brought her things and went off on his own with other women. Neither were capable of talking about anybody but themselves. And me? Relationship challenged.

[AllieEmet]

@MsSSnow Ahh, I'll look into that. thx :)

[MsSSnow]

@AllieEmet I believe the narcissist has a conscience and the sociopath does not.

[AllieEmet]

@MsSSnow I would also like to know the difference between a narcissist and a sociopath? Is it that the sociopath empathizes and the narcissist cannot?