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5 Signs You’re in a Romantic

Relationship with a Narcissist

If you suspect you are in a relationship with a narcissist, it is important to seek a trauma-informed mental

health professional who can help guide you to detach, exit, and heal from the relationship. As a highly

5 Signs You’re in a Romantic

Relationship with a Narcissist

f you are a highly sensitive person, you are

someone who is extremely empathic, attuned to

your environment, and emotionally responsive.

Studies indicate that the brain regions associated

with empathy, action planning, and self-other processing

show heightened activity in HSPs in response to the

emotions of others.

Your conscientiousness and empathy can be helpful

qualities in healthy relationships but are often exploited by

narcissistic individuals in toxic relationships. Narcissistic

individuals lack empathy, have an excessive sense of

entitlement, and can chronically manipulate others for their

own gain. Here are five signs you should look out for if you

suspect you may be in a relationship with a narcissist:

Covert and Overt

Bullying Behaviors

and Aggression.

If you notice that your partner frequently

engages in bullying tactics to covertly or

overtly put you down or lashes out in rage

at perceived slights, you may be dealing

with a narcissistic individual. Research

indicates that there is a strong link between

narcissism and aggression. A recent meta-

analytic review of 437 independent studies

revealed that high levels of narcissism are

associated with both increased aggression

and violence.

Narcissism was associated with all forms

of aggression, including physical, verbal,

and indirect aggression such as spreading

gossip, bullying, and aggression against

innocent bystanders, as well as both reactive

and instrumental aggression—aggression that

was planned and deliberate. This included

“unprovoked” aggression. In a relationship

with a narcissist, you may experience

verbal abuse, unexpected rage attacks, or

even more subtly aggressive behaviors

such as malicious comments disguised

as “just jokes,” emotional withholding, or

contemptuous belittling.

Love Bombing.

At the early stages of a romantic

relationship, narcissistic individuals

can engage in excessive contact,

flattery, and praise to win you

over and achieve an agenda. This

is what psychologists call “love

bombing.” Researchers have found

that love bombing is associated

with narcissistic characteristics and

more media and text usage within

romantic relationships. This period

of love bombing with narcissistic

individuals often does not last and

can abruptly devolve into a stage

of devaluation. If you find yourself

bombarded with constant contact,

compliments that feel too good to

be true, and the claim that you are

“soulmates” on the first few dates, be

wary. You will soon be thrust off the

pedestal.

Gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a tactic in which

a manipulator deliberately

distorts the truth to make

you question your perception

of reality. This tactic is

associated with personality

disorders such as narcissistic

personality disorder as well

as psychopathy. One common

way narcissists do this is by

deliberately provoking you

and then blaming you for

your emotional reactions to

their mistreatment. If your

relationship partner frequently

accuses you of being

oversensitive or denies what

they’ve said or done, you may

be dealing with a narcissistic

individual.

Jealousy Induction.

Jealousy induction includes attempts to provoke jealousy

in a romantic partner. Studies reveal that narcissistic

individuals provoke jealousy deliberately for the

purpose of gaining power and control. In a relationship

with a narcissist, you may find yourself being made to

feel insecure, frequently compared to other potential

love interests and previous partners, entangled in

love triangles you did not consent to, and subjected to

deception and infidelity.

Malicious Envy and Sabotage.

Narcissists tend to sabotage the goals of those they envy, including

their intimate partners. Research indicates that malicious envy, envy

that includes destructive actions to harm and sabotage another, is

associated with narcissistic rivalry, an antagonistic facet of narcissism.

A narcissistic individual may downplay your achievements, ridicule

your aspirations, and isolate you from opportunities to prevent you

from finding a source of validation and support outside of them.

They fail to engage in what psychologists call capitalization, the

encouraging acknowledgment of accomplishments that enhances

the shared joy and value of those accomplishments. A narcissist may

cause you to lose sleep before important meetings or interviews with

crazy-making arguments, discourage you from pursuing educational

pursuits, stage smear campaigns to slander your name, or rain on your

parade during a celebration. This is because they feel entitled to the

success of others and have a false superiority complex that motivates

them to devalue others to establish power and control.

Covert and Overt

Bullying Behaviors

and Aggression.

Covert and Overt

Bullying Behaviors

and Aggression.

Love Bombing. Love Bombing. Love Bombing. Gaslighting. Gaslighting.

Jealousy Induction. Jealousy Induction.

Malicious Envy and Sabotage.Malicious Envy and Sabotage.

I

5 Signs You’re in a Romantic

Relationship with a Narcissist

5 Signs You’re in a Romantic

Relationship with a Narcissist

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