It’s virtually impossible to overestimate a narcissist’s need for Alternate Reality.  They have a longstanding fear of vulnerability which has led to covering the Real Self, composing a False Self,…

As a therapist, I was never shocked when I learned that decent people became pulled in by lousy circumstances.  No one is immune from psychological pain or dysfunction, but the…

It’s frustrating enough to witness narcissists being self-absorbed, controlling, condescending, and so on.  But narcissists will take their pathology a step further by displacing their psychopathology onto you.  Unwilling to…

In some ways, we each seek influence with others.  We might express preferences, share opinions, hold firmly to values, set boundaries, and so forth.  In the best sense, we wish…

It’s simply a fact, narcissists can trigger many raw feelings within you.  With their controlling ways and impenetrable defenses, coordination can feel impossible, and this can create within you a…

It’s one thing for narcissistic people to be selfish or contrarian.  Frankly, each of us has moments when we enter that space.  Healthy people know how to contain selfish instincts,…

Narcissists live inside a fantasy script, written by and starring themselves.  Pushing uncomfortable realities aside, they cling to idealistic notions that promise them control, entitlement, admiration, and superiority.  In their…

Not every person with strong narcissistic traits is overtly abusive, given the fact that is a pattern on a spectrum.  But the further down the spectrum that person is, the…

Given a narcissist’s penchant for control and entitlement, if you are connected to such a person, it’s a virtual guarantee that you will be accused and criticized.  It comes with…