Narcissists are obsessed with their own lives. If you fit into their
their picture as part of an adoring audience that keeps their ego
inflated, that works very well for them. There are followers who don’t
have an identity of their own and feel and believe (especially with high
level narcissists) that they can participate in the glory, adulation
and power of this other person. They psychologically fuse with the
narcissist so completely that they are always finding ways to emulate
him, to make him pleased, to serve him, to seek his approval, to be part
of his elite inner circle. There are many sacrifices that the devotee
make to achieve this purpose. The first being that you give up your own
life to him (her). When you get older, are less attractive, have jowls
beginning to show, there is an excellent chance that you will be dropped
from his presence. Will he care that you have been run out of paradise.
Will it disturb him (her) that you are having a financial or medical
crisis and need his assistance. Absolutely not! Even if you have known
him for decades.
Narcissists are bored by the
suffering, difficulties, illnesses and tragedies of others. They give
you a quick clipped message and that is the end of it. Your problems are
a bother to the narcissist if you ask him for help. After all, the
focus is his life not yours. Some narcissistic fathers and mothers are
aggravated when their children become ill. They might tell this child
that he or she is lying or exaggerating. The narcissist blames the child
for becoming ill and tells the little one he or she is a weakling.
When
you know a narcissist whether as part of your family or as a friend or
acquaintance, have you noticed their complete disinterest in what you
are experiencing in your life, especially if it is heartbreaking or
tragic or a difficult protracted problem. Narcissists cannot process the
suffering of others, even their spouses and children. The are
completely insensitive to what you are feeling. They don’t and won’t
understand your experiencing and are bored by it. They either play it
all down or ignore you completely. Never think you can count on a
narcissistic spouse or parent to come and stand by you when you are in
emotional, psychological or physical pain. This state of yours is
non-existent to them or it is an inconvenience or interruption in their
plans. I have heard life stories of spouses who were very ill and had to
call upon others to take them to the emergency room because the
narcissistic spouse was too busy or away on a trip and incommunicado.
If
a person cannot stop and acknowledge that you are having a very
difficult or impossible time with an illness, psychological problem,
financial or family crisis, then he or she is not completely human. This
individual is not worthy of your respect. Narcissists don’t change so
don’t wait for the magical transformation. It is not going to happen.
You
can change by recognizing your worth, your meaning and your creative
gifts. Rediscover yourself by severing psychologically toxic
relationships with narcissists. To learn about the narcissistic
personality in-depth, visit my website:thenarcissistinyourlife.com
Linda Martinez-Lewi, Ph.D.
Telephone Consultation: United States and International
Book: Freeing Yourself from the Narcissist in Your Life
Email: lmlphd@thenarcissistinyourlife.com