Narcissists
I have blogged a bit previously about my experiences with narcissists. I always thought that I’d encountered more than my fair share of them, but the more I research and talk to experts about narcissism, the more I come to the scary realization that it’s a condition with which many are afflicted. What’s scarier is how undetected and undiagnosed they often go by those who suffer life with and around them.
Where possible, I have excised narcissists from my life completely. There really is no other way to deal with them. You cannot handle them, as they are not normal, have zero empathy (contrary to what they believe of themselves), and are not motivated by the same things a reasonable person would find appealing. (Sometimes - such as if you are related to or have children with such a person - total excision is more difficult. This is unfortunate.)
Here are some resources for those who think they may be dealing with a narcissist:
This is a thorough rundown of commonly held narcissistic traits. This is a more concise, less wordy, list - but one that is somewhat male-oriented (trust me, women are just as capable of narcissism). Finally, this piece on how narcissists handle criticism might actually be the quickest way to determine if you just might be dealing with one. The same resource offers an exhaustive narcissism FAQ.
There are various online support groups for those affected by narcissists, none of which I have investigated or participated in, so I can’t recommend one over another. I can’t help but think, though, that the world really needs an offline, global support network to spread awareness of narcissism and how to cope with narcissists. Until then, the web is our friend.
Filed under: Life