By Princess Joy Aideyan
If you’re in a relationship with a woman who exhibits narcissistic traits, you may experience behaviors that reflect her lack of empathy, excessive need for admiration, and manipulation. Here are some signs that you may be being maltreated by someone with narcissistic tendencies:
-
Constant Criticism: She belittles or criticizes you frequently, even for minor mistakes. It can make you feel worthless or inadequate.
-
Gaslighting: She manipulates situations to make you doubt your reality. This may include denying things she has said or done, or twisting the truth to make you feel confused or crazy.
-
Lack of Empathy: She shows little to no empathy for your feelings or needs. When you’re upset, she may either ignore your emotions or make them about herself.
-
Controlling Behavior: She tries to control aspects of your life, such as who you associate with, where you go, or what you do. This could involve isolating you from friends or family.
-
Self-Centeredness: Conversations and interactions often revolve around her, with little regard for your thoughts, feelings, or needs.
-
Love Bombing and Devaluation: In the beginning, she may overwhelm you with affection, attention, and admiration (love bombing), but this shifts to devaluation—becoming cold, critical, and dismissive once she feels she has you hooked.
-
Exploiting You: She uses you for her own benefit, whether emotionally, financially, or socially. Your needs are rarely considered.
-
Blame-Shifting: She never takes responsibility for her actions, and when things go wrong, she blames you or others, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing on her part.
-
Emotional Manipulation: She uses your emotions against you. This can include guilt-tripping, playing the victim, or making you feel responsible for her emotional state.
-
Love Withdrawal: She may withhold affection, attention, or intimacy as a form of punishment when you don’t meet her needs or expectations.
-
Lack of Boundaries: She disregards your boundaries, whether they are emotional, physical, or personal, and expects you to cater to her whims without question.
-
Jealousy or Envy: She feels threatened by your successes, relationships, or happiness, and may try to undermine you or make you feel bad about yourself.
-
Overly Dramatic Responses: When she doesn’t get what she wants, her reactions can be disproportionate—whether it’s a tantrum, silent treatment, or an emotional outburst.
-
Being Made to Feel Like You Are ‘Crazy’: You may feel like you’re walking on eggshells or that everything is your fault. She might accuse you of overreacting or being too sensitive, making you question your own perceptions.
-
Instability: Her moods can fluctuate drastically, and you may feel like you’re constantly walking a tightrope, never knowing what version of her you’ll get.
If these behaviors are persistent and you’re feeling hurt, confused, or drained, it might be time to consider your emotional well-being and whether this relationship is truly healthy.
