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Who Is A Narcissist?
A narcissist is someone who believes they are more important than what they actually are. They often have a high opinion of themselves and demand that other people admire them while not adhering to any social norms themselves. A narcissist friend would be egotistical, self-centered, and given to inflating their own sense of worth.
What is a friend? How do you know what makes someone your friend? Is it the way they act, how often they call or text you, or that they are always there for you no matter what? A true friend will be all of these things.
But if one of those qualities isn’t present in a person, should he still be considered a good friend to have around? The answer is not as simple as “yes” or “no.” There are many ways to measure friendship and some people might not behave like friends at all but still be very loyal.
So how can we tell when someone has become our true and trusted confidante and best bud ever after all – with whom we want to spend time even when we’re not obligated? And how do we deal with those friends who are a little too close to the narcissistic side of things for our comfort?
Signs Of A Narcissist Friend
Narcissists are people who believe that they are special and better than everyone else. They show signs of grandiosity, superiority, entitlement, and lack of empathy for others. Their behavior is different depending on the type of narcissist they are. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is when these traits become extreme.
Unreasonable Expectations
A narcissist expects their companion to fulfill all of their emotional demands. A friend is obligated to anticipate what, how, and when the narcissist wants accolades and adoration. If their friend fails to display admiration when the narcissist thinks they deserve it, then the friendship is in danger.
Self-centered In Personality And Behavior
The narcissistic person values themselves more than others. This means that they feel entitled to lead conversations with anyone, especially their companions. They do not want their friends talking to other people or spending time on anything that doesn’t include them.
Excessively Competitive
This person is always looking for ways to one-up their friends. They will brag about their accomplishments and belittle the successes of others. This kind of behavior can be toxic to relationships.
Controls Their Companions
A narcissist will often try to dictate how their friend dresses, what they eat and drink, who they spend time with, and even where they go. They want to constantly feel in charge of the relationship.
Overreacts When Things Don’t Go Their Way
If a narcissist feels like someone is not reciprocating the feelings that they have for them, they will retaliate. This might lead to name-calling, insults, or other aggressive behavior.
Envious Of Others
A narcissist will try to undermine their companion’s accomplishments and successes by telling them that they don’t care about what is important to them. They want people to think that they are effortlessly superior without really working for it.
Guilt Trips Their Friends
A narcissist will use the guilt card to make their companion feel obligated to do what they want. If a person tries to say no, then this person will try anything and everything possible to guilt them into doing something that they don’t want to do.
Abusive Behavior
Physical or emotional abuse is never okay. If your friend exhibits any type of abusive behavior, it’s time to get out of that relationship. Narcissists can be difficult friends to have, but with some boundaries in place, they can be manageable.
When Does Narcissism Get Too Much?
When narcissism gets too much, it can be difficult to deal with the person. They may become demanding and take advantage of the situation. It’s important to set boundaries and distance yourself if necessary. If someone is going through a crisis and needs support, provide as much help as you can without neglecting your other responsibilities. It may be difficult to deal with a narcissist but it’s important to remember they are not a bad person; they just have some quirks that need to be addressed.
Narcissistic friends may not know they are taking things too far. You can help them by letting them know when you’re uncomfortable with the level of friendship, but if they don’t believe there’s anything wrong with it, then their narcissism will continue to get worse. Setting boundaries is one way you can deal with a narcissistic friend.
Dealing With A Narcissistic Friend
Dealing with a narcissistic friend can be difficult. When someone has a narcissistic personality, it is not easy to get them to change their way of thinking. Narcissists believe they are superior and entitled to better treatment than others. They may take advantage of other people, being demanding or disrespectful. Since they lack empathy for others, it’s easy for the narcissist to feel ok about doing things that cause pain for others.
Use Logical Reasoning
The best way to deal with a narcissistic friend is to use logical reasoning and show them that there is such a thing as negative consequences for their actions. If the narcissist begins to respect you, they will be less likely to act out in harmful ways.
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a good way to deal with a narcissistic friend. A person needs to be firm and stick to their guns in order for a boundary-setting plan to work. If the narcissist doesn’t respect your wishes, they may try anything and everything possible to make you give up your desire to set boundaries. In this case, it may be necessary to end the friendship. Sometimes the only way to deal with a narcissistic friend is to distance yourself from her. If that means not answering their calls or texts, so be it. If you can’t do that, try to set boundaries so you don’t get sucked into something you don’t want to do.
Be Patient With Them
It takes time for a narcissistic person to understand the ideas that you are trying to convey. Be patient with them and allow enough time to pass for them to come around. If they do not change their behavior after repeated attempts, it may be time to end the relationship.
If a narcissistic friend is going through a crisis and needs your support, make sure you are there for them as much as possible without neglecting your other responsibilities. Try not to let them take advantage of the situation and make sure you are still getting what you need from the friendship.
Suggest Therapy
It’s important to remember that narcissists are not going to change overnight. They will likely need counseling or therapy in order to learn how to think about other people in a more caring way. If you are not able to help them, then it may be best to find someone who can. In the meantime, try to protect yourself from their harmful behavior and be assertive in setting boundaries.
Move On
Ending a narcissistic friendship can be difficult, but it may be necessary for your own well-being. When you have a narcissistic friend, they can often make you feel inferior and drained. If you are not able to get them to change their ways, it is best to move on. Remember, you are not responsible for their behavior, only your own.
If you find that you are constantly putting effort into the relationship and not seeing any changes, it may be time to end things. It’s important to be assertive and honest with yourself and the narcissist about how you’re feeling. This way, they will not be surprised or offended by your decision.
If it is difficult for you to end the friendship yourself, consider seeing a counselor help facilitate the conversation. They may also have strategies for dealing with narcissists that will work better than logical reasoning. It’s important to surround yourself with people who empower and support you so that you can function
If you’re not able to do this, then the best course of action may be to avoid them. This can be difficult, especially if the narcissist is a friend or family member, but it may be the only way to protect yourself from their harmful behavior.
How To Help A Narcissist Friend?
There are different types of narcissists and each one can be difficult to deal with in their own way. But some basic tips include setting boundaries, distancing yourself, and not giving them what they want.
If you want to hang out with them, make sure you do it without any expectations. Meet up every once in a while and only do things that are interesting to you. Don’t go along with everything they say or change your plans just because they don’t like something. Let them know that this friendship is reciprocal and not one way; you should both get a say in the activities and it’s not all about them.
If they are going through a difficult time, make sure to be there for them as much as you can without putting your other responsibilities on hold. But don’t let them dump their problems at your feet every single day or take advantage of the situation. And if they don’t want to do anything or hang out with you unless you can be a “therapist” for them, that’s a red flag that they may not be a good friend to have.
These are just some of the ways you can deal with narcissistic friends because not every narcissist is the same and therefore may respond differently to different strategies.
There will always be people in life who you want to help and support. Everyone has their problems, but there is a difference between someone who genuinely needs some assistance and wants to learn from his mistakes versus someone who goes through life demanding everyone’s attention.
If your friend is a narcissist, it’s hard to say when she becomes too narcissistic. They may not even realize they are taking things too far and think you should be grateful for them and everything they do. Then again, narcissist friends might understand their own behavior but think it’s okay to go overboard on occasion.
It can be difficult to deal with a narcissist, but it’s important to remember that they are not a bad person. They just have some quirks that need to be addressed. And as long as you stay firm with your boundaries, you should be able to make sure the narcissism doesn’t get in the way of what could be a great relationship.
Signs Of A Good Friend
A good friend is someone who listens, supports, and respects your decisions. They are there for you when you need them and don’t take advantage of the situation. If your friend is a narcissist, she may be demanding and go overboard at times, but with boundaries in place, it shouldn’t get in the way of your friendship.
Ways to tell if someone has become your true and trusted confidante and best bud ever after all – with whom you want to spend time even when not obligated
If they listen, respect, support, and are there for you then he or she is a great friend.
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