In the book, “Narcissistic Personality Disorder: The narcissistic Alternative”, several authors lay out the potential reasons why narcissists cause damage to their spouses and partners. narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by the need for admiration, the need for self-worth and the need to manipulate others to meet this need. It is this characteristic that can be most harmful to a person because it makes a person vulnerable to the manipulator’s whims. When one considers that narcissists are not only charming and self-confident but also possess considerable degrees of physical strength, it becomes clear that understanding how narcissistic behaviors work and the dynamics of narcissistic personality disorder requires a multi-pronged approach in order to treat the narcissist’s various destructive behaviors.
According to those who have worked with a narcissistic personality disorder patient, narcissistic behaviors usually begin during childhood. An early pattern to look for in narcissistic behavior is the existence of grandiose beliefs that are exaggerated. These grandiose beliefs often have no basis in reality and serve only to elevate the narcissist’s sense of self-worth. This lack of grounding results in an unstable self-esteem and the inability to feel empathy for others. A narcissist’s grandiose ideas are usually at odds with his or her reality, so even the most outlandish idea that he or she may believe is, in fact, just that – a belief.
Narcissistic partners tend to have an insatiable appetite for adoration and admiration. A narcissist’s greatest desire is to be the center of attention. To this end, narcissists will frequently engage in dangerous and deceptive behaviors such as: demanding pampering from a spouse, buying lavish gifts and attempting to monopolize the romantic partner’s time and energy. In order to get close to their partners, narcissists will often sleep with them or make “dirty” or compromising choices in order to get close to their “victims”. As a result, narcissists damage their partners’ self-confidence and trust, as well as their emotional and psychological safety.
When choosing a therapist to receive narcissistic therapy, it is important to make sure that the individual has experience in assisting people who are suffering from narcissism. The person must also be able to provide a safe environment that minimizes the likelihood of repetition of the narcissist’s behaviors. This therapist should offer support and assistance in working through the abuse that the client has experienced. In addition, the therapist should be able to teach the client how to avoid the negative behaviors that typically come from narcissism. The therapist should also be able to help the client understand how the narcissistic behavior affects his or her partner’s self-esteem and trust in him or her.
Unfortunately, therapists are rarely equipped to recognize the signs of narcissistic therapy. Unfortunately, many individuals who suffer narcissistic abuse have either been unable to recognize or refuse the symptoms. If you know or suspect that a loved one, friend or loved pet is suffering from this disorder, it is important that you seek professional help before it gets out of control. Narcissistic disorder is a serious condition that can have devastating consequences. Don’t wait to see if you can cure your loved one before seeking professional help.
The benefits of undergoing therapy are enormous. You will have the ability to improve your relationships with others and gain a sense of peace and self-worth. Narcissistic individuals need to recognize that they have a problem. By getting professional help, you can help your loved ones and yourself to get over the disorder. No one deserves to be abused or neglected, and everyone should be able to find help for their narcissistic disorders.
I read a lot about narcissistic personalities because I believe my husband is one! It’s been so difficult been married to him but I got very ill a few years back and needed a organ transplant and left with no options to move on! It’s so hard for me to comprehend how can he be under a dark cloud all the time! He has no friends! Not even one! My family and myself are his only family but unfortunately he doesn’t appreciate us but we still want to help him because he really needs it.