 My name is Sandak Nin and I am the author of Malignant Self-Love, Narcissism Revisited. How can you tell a true friend from a fake narcissistic one? A true friend supports you only when he believes that you are doing the right thing in your self-interest and welfare. A fake narcissistic friend supports you always, no matter what you do, and no matter how self-destructive, self-defeating, and instrumental to yourself, your actions are. A true friend respects you only when you have earned respect, and when you act, respectably. A fake narcissistic friend respects you regardless of your behavior, or misbehavior. This is not respect. A true friend trusts you only as long as you prove yourself trustworthy, only while you do not put his trust to the test too often, and only on certain issues. A fake narcissistic friend trusts you with everything and always, or so she claims. A true friend puts to you a mirror in which you see reality, and the truth never mind how inconvenient to not listen. A fake narcissistic friend puts to you a mirror in which you see your own reflection, yourself, and nothing else besides a narcissistic mirror. A true friend loves you in your friendship. He loves you even without your friendship. A fake friend loves himself in your friendship, or loves the friendship itself, but she does not love you. With a true friend, you need never ask what is he getting out of this relationship, for loving you is its own reward. With a fake narcissistic friend, you must always ask why is he still in this relationship, for loving you is never enough of a price. There must be some other ulterior motive or benefit.