Living with a narcissist can be emotionally exhausting, leading you to doubt your reality and self-worth. Narcissistic individuals exhibit specific manipulative behaviors that set them apart from others, making it challenging to please or deal with them. While professional diagnosis is crucial to determine whether someone has a narcissistic personality type, certain subtle signs can help individuals identify and understand their situation better. Therefore, we list here some questions highlighting typical behaviors of narcissists to help you determine whether you are dealing with a narcissist or not.

Narcissists thrive on the admiration of others as it makes them feel important, going to extreme lengths to bask in the limelight. For example, they may interrupt others to be the center of attention or dominate conversations, or they may lavishly spend money on themselves to attract attention, even if they cannot afford it. Their self-esteem is usually so fragile that they need external validation to feel significant, displaying inflated feelings of importance.

A classic trait of narcissists is their lack of empathy despite seeking attention from others. When confronted with their cold behavior, they may disregard your feelings, invalidate your experiences, show indifference to your sadness, or even deceive you. If you express your disappointment with their behavior, they may belittle your struggles and shift the focus back to themselves! This can make you feel unheard, unloved, and emotionally drained. In the long run, having such a narcissist in your life will make you feel insignificant and exhausted.

Due to their inflated self-perceptions and fragile egos, narcissists struggle with handling criticism. Even if they receive constructive feedback, they may become so triggered that they experience anger and defensiveness. Sometimes, this can lead to them giving you the silent treatment or playing the victim role when you point out their mistakes. Their need to appear perfect makes them hypersensitive to any form of rejection or criticism, which is a classic trait of narcissists.

Narcissists often dominate conversations and steer every topic back to themselves. If you are excited about an achievement, they may overshadow it with their own stories. And if you happen to be the center of attention in a social setting, they may even become jealous. If you are struggling, they may compare your pain to theirs or completely ignore it if it is of no benefit to them. This is because in their minds, no one is equal or as important as they are.

Relationships with narcissists often feel one-sided, as they tend to take up all the space and leave little room for your needs. If someone consistently makes interactions about themselves and ignores your feelings, it can be a significant red flag that needs attention.