Most people encounter at least a few narcissists in their journey through life. They’re fairly easy to spot: they love to boast about their achievements and almost always revert the conversation back to them.
But not all the signs of narcissism are entirely obvious. In fact, many people exhibit a few narcissistic traits, but don’t necessarily have full-blown narcissistic personality disorder. And if you happen to be married to one, you may not know about their condition until it’s too late. Here are
If you think you may be married to a narcissist, here are the signs you want to be on the lookout for:
- Everything Was Perfect When You Met, but Went Downhill Seemingly Overnight.
At first, narcissists are incredibly personable and charming. First impressions are important, so they’ll go out of their way for you and lead you to believe that they are “too good to be true.”
Narcissists will take their time before showing their true colors. They will make you feel like you’re the most important person in the world, and will continue their deception until they know they have you.
- You Can’t Get a Word in Edgewise
There’s no question that narcissists love to talk, and their conversations are typically about themselves. If your spouse is a narcissist, he or she will turn every conversation around to make it about themselves. You’ll find it difficult to get a word in edgewise.
- Your Spouse Settles for Nothing Less than the Best, and “Knows” Important People
People with narcissistic personality disorder have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, so they frequently talk about people they know to impress others. The goal is to make sure that everyone is impressed by their greatness.
Narcissists also love nice things, and will settle for nothing but the best because these things serve as status symbols. It’s important to remember that narcissists are more concerned with their outward image than their inner personality.
- There’s a Lack of Empathy, and Everyone Else is to Blame
Narcissists are completely ignorant and insensitive to the feelings of others, even those they consider family or close friends. At first, you believe the narcissist is on your side. But eventually, you come to the realization that he or she does not care if your feelings are hurt.
It’s virtually impossible to win an argument against a narcissist – they are always right. Narcissists are never wrong in their own minds, and if you attempt to point out that they did something wrong, the argument will be turned around, and you will be to blame.
Narcissists are also incredibly sensitive to criticism, gain satisfaction by belittling others, never take responsibility for their actions, and tend to be incredibly controlling.
If one or more of these signs are exhibited by your spouse, there’s a good chance that he or she has narcissistic personality disorder. Now that you know what you’re up against, you can take steps to protect yourself emotionally, and severe ties, if necessary, in a way that does not compromise your sanity.
The Micklin Law Group, LLC is a New Jersey law firm focusing exclusively on family law for men and fathers. Attorney Brad Micklin was recently named to The National Advocates list of Top 100 attorneys from each state. To set up a consultation, call 973-562-0100.