10 Signs You’re Dating a Narcissist (and How to Break Free)

Have you ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner? Do you feel like you’re constantly being criticized, manipulated, or gaslighted by them? Do you feel like you’ve lost your sense of self and your confidence in your own abilities? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be dating a narcissist.

Narcissists are people who have an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. They often use charm, charisma, and manipulation to lure people into their web of lies and deceit. They can make you feel special and loved at first, but soon they will reveal their true colors and start to abuse you emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically.

Narcissistic abuse can have devastating effects on your well-being, your mental health, and your relationships. It can make you feel isolated, depressed, anxious, and hopeless. It can also make you doubt your own reality and your own worth. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of narcissism and learn how to break free from a toxic relationship.

Here are 10 signs that you’re dating a narcissist and how to break free from them:

• They love-bomb you. Love-bombing is a tactic that narcissists use to make you fall for them quickly and intensely. They shower you with compliments, gifts, attention, and affection. They make you feel like you’re the only person in the world who matters to them. They make grand gestures and promises to sweep you off your feet. They make you feel like you’ve met your soulmate. But this is all a facade. They don’t really love you, they love the idea of you. They love how you make them feel and how you boost their ego. They love-bomb you to hook you in and make you dependent on them. Once they have you, they will start to devalue you and discard you.

• They lack empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Narcissists lack this ability. They don’t care about your feelings, your needs, or your boundaries. They only care about themselves and their own agenda. They don’t listen to you, they don’t support you, and they don’t apologize to you. They don’t take responsibility for their actions, they blame you for everything. They don’t respect you, they disrespect you. They don’t appreciate you, they take you for granted. They don’t see you as a person, they see you as an object.

• They gaslight you. Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that narcissists use to make you doubt your own perception, memory, and sanity. They lie to you, deny your reality, twist your words, and distort the facts. They make you question yourself, your feelings, and your judgment. They make you feel confused, crazy, and guilty. They make you believe that you’re the problem, not them. They make you lose trust in yourself and in others. They make you dependent on them for validation and approval.

• They manipulate you. Manipulation is a way that narcissists use to control you and get what they want from you. They use various tactics, such as guilt-tripping, shaming, threatening, bribing, flattering, and playing the victim. They exploit your weaknesses, your fears, and your insecurities. They use your emotions, your values, and your beliefs against you. They make you do things that you don’t want to do, that go against your morals, or that harm you or others. They make you feel obligated, indebted, or indebted to them. They make you feel like you owe them something, that you can’t say no to them, or that you can’t leave them.

• They isolate you. Isolation is a way that narcissists use to cut you off from your support system and make you more vulnerable to their abuse. They make you feel like you don’t need anyone else but them. They make you feel like they’re the only ones who understand you, who love you, and who can help you. They make you feel like everyone else is against you, that they’re jealous of you, or that they’re trying to hurt you. They make you distance yourself from your friends, your family, and your hobbies. They make you give up your interests, your goals, and your dreams. They make you lose your identity, your independence, and your self-esteem.

• They cheat on you. Cheating is a way that narcissists use to boost their ego and to hurt you. They don’t care about your feelings, your loyalty, or your commitment. They don’t respect your relationship, your trust, or your boundaries. They don’t value you, they devalue you. They don’t love you, they love themselves. They cheat on you because they’re bored, because they’re insecure, because they’re entitled, or because they enjoy the thrill of the chase. They cheat on you with anyone who can give them attention, admiration, or validation. They cheat on you to make you feel jealous, insecure, and inadequate. They cheat on you to make you compete for their love, to make you work harder for their approval, or to make you beg for their forgiveness.

• They project on you. Projection is a defense mechanism that narcissists use to avoid facing their own flaws and faults. They accuse you of the things that they’re guilty of, such as lying, cheating, being selfish, being abusive, or being crazy. They attribute to you the feelings that they have, such as anger, hatred, jealousy, or insecurity. They transfer to you the responsibility that they have, such as making decisions, solving problems, or fixing mistakes. They project on you to make you feel bad, to make you doubt yourself, or to make you change yourself. They project on you to deflect attention from themselves, to escape accountability, or to justify their behavior.

• They rage at you. Rage is a way that narcissists use to intimidate you and to assert their dominance over you. They explode at you for no reason, or for the slightest provocation. They yell at you, curse at you, insult you, or mock you. They threaten you, harm you, or destroy your belongings. They blame you, criticize you, or humiliate you. They make you feel scared, hurt, or ashamed. They make you feel like you’re walking on eggshells, like you’re always on edge, or like you’re always wrong. They rage at you to make you submit to them, to make you obey them, or to make you worship them.

• They hoover you. Hoovering is a tactic that narcissists use to suck you back into their web of abuse after a breakup or a period of no contact. They contact you out of the blue, or they show up at your door. They act like nothing happened, or they act like they’ve changed. They apologize to you, beg you, or promise you. They charm you, compliment you, or seduce you. They make you feel nostalgic, hopeful, or guilty. They make you feel like they miss you, like they need you, or like they love you. They hoover you to make you give them another chance, to make you forget the past, or to make you ignore the present.

• They discard you. Discarding is a way that narcissists use to end the relationship when they’re done with you, when they’ve found a new supply, or when they’ve lost interest in you. They dump you without warning, without explanation, or without remorse. They ghost you, block you, or ignore you. They replace you, erase you, or smear you. They make you feel worthless, disposable, or invisible. They make you feel like you never mattered, like you never existed, or like you never loved. They discard you to make you suffer, to make you chase them, or to make you hate them.

If you’re dating a narcissist, you need to know that you’re not alone, you’re not crazy, and you’re not hopeless. You need to know that you deserve better, you deserve respect, and you deserve love. You need to know that you can break free, you can heal, and you can thrive.

The first step to breaking free from a narcissist is to recognize the signs and to acknowledge the abuse. The second step is to set boundaries and to limit contact with them. The third step is to seek support and to get help from professionals, friends, or family. The fourth step is to focus on yourself and to practice self-care, self-love, and self-compassion. The fifth step is to rebuild your life and to pursue your passions, your purpose, and your potential.

Breaking free from a narcissist is not easy, but it is possible. It is not your fault, but it is your responsibility. It is not the end, but it is the beginning. It is not a loss, but it is a gain. It is not a curse, but it is a blessing.

You are not a victim, you are a survivor. You are not a pawn, you are a queen. You are not a follower, you are a leader. You are not a quitter, you are a fighter. You are not a loser, you are a winner.

You are a queen, and you deserve to be treated like one.

That’s why we created The Queen Maker, a business that helps women of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities discover the truth of the world and in themselves. We help women heal years’ worth of trauma from relationships and understand male psychology, behavior, and the psychology of relationships. We don’t preach how women can cater to and support men. But rather preach why women should feel comfortable centering themselves and leaving men to their own devices.

If you’re ready to join our sisterhood of queens, visit our website and sign up for our free newsletter. You’ll get access to exclusive content, tips, and offers that will help you transform your life and your relationships.

Don’t let a narcissist ruin your happiness, your peace, and your potential. You have the strength, the courage, and the wisdom to break free from them and to create the life that you deserve.

You are a queen, and you are unstoppable. 💖