Dating a narcissist can change you. Regardless of the outcome of the relationship, it still gives you emotional abuse that can last a long time. How dating a narcissist changes you?
Here are the ways.
How Dating a Narcissist Changes You? What are the Ways?
Before you can understand how a narcissist can change you, it is vital to comprehend the root of this medical condition.
The narcissists have parents who are also narcissists. They abuse their kids, in the same way, they abuse you.
Unfortunately, their kids don’t know that they are being abusive. Often, parents pick a favorite while they manipulate other kids to get their attention.
They also criticize their kids which will cause irreparable damage. The kids will believe that they are flawed.
Some people who are narcissists have overprotective parents. They are not openly critical of their kids. But they still send the same message. That is, they don’t allow kids to do anything for themselves.
As a result, their children get the message that they are not capable of doing anything.
In either case, the children will see themselves as flawed.
They develop a false self and can’t do the work of their true self. This is a huge issue with narcissists.
Narcissist always turns to external sources to feel good about themselves. But to feel good, they have to manipulate other people constantly.
And this is where the problem arises.
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Affecting Your Self-Esteem
As you continue to date a narcissist, you won’t notice that your self-esteem suffers. That person will constantly criticize you.
This kind of treatment can affect your sense of self. The pain is deeper especially if the criticism comes from someone you thought loved you dearly.
At first, you would think that you just met the right person. The person seems so loving and supportive. You would also think that you’re so lucky to have such a person in your life.
Unfortunately, this phase does not last. The narcissist can’t sustain a focus on you other than himself/herself.
Sooner or later, the person starts to focus on his/her needs and make unrealistic demands. Failure to meet those demands will cause that person to devalue you.
It is a disappointment. Your self-esteem starts to get an enormous hit.
Anxiety Arises
As you continue to date a narcissist, you find yourself making excuses to continue dating the person. You might think that the person is just going through a hard time.
Because of that perception, you continue your effort to please the person. But it doesn’t work for that person causing you to become more anxious.
As the person gets more critical, the criticism cuts you deeper leaving you with emotional scars.
The scars can cause impact your relationships with friends and family.
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Starts to Get Insecure
Because of the constant criticism, you start to become insecure. You will start to think that you’re not good enough.
As you grow insecure in yourself and your relationship, you start to feel threatened that the narcissist will leave you. At first, you don’t want the person to leave you.
Even if you decide to let that person go, you still feel insecure. You will not think that you can carry out a healthy relationship or the ability to attract a partner with whom you can maintain a stable relationship.
Become Uncertain of Your Beliefs
The constant narcissism makes you feel as if you can’t trust your own perception. The person will try to convince you that what you think happened did not happen.
It seems you can’t imagine how any person would interpret what happened to you differently.
You are better than the narcissist. However, like most people who are healthy, you still question if you have interpreted the thing incorrectly.
It is known as ego-dystonic. People who are like this will always look inside to see if something they had done did create a problem.
Unfortunately, these people don’t question themselves. Instead, they always assume that it’s the people around them that are the problem. And that is you.
They take advantage of you. As a result, you start to question your sanity.
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Losing Trust in Others
Dating a narcissist can leave you distrusting other people, even your family, and close friends. Keep in mind that your relationship with the narcissist started great.
You thought you found a great person. Then, you started to doubt yourself.
You start to realize that it is easy for people to hide the truth. This leaves you questioning whether or not you can trust anyone.
And this can affect your relationships with others. And this will definitely affect your relationship in the future.
Starting to Isolate Yourself
Because the narcissist will make you feel you are worthless, you will start to isolate yourself from others who love you dearly.
The narcissist will prohibit you from talking to other people.
Essentially, the person doesn’t want you to talk to other people who are on your side. This person doesn’t want you to turn to other people to talk about your perceptions and validate them.
As a result, you start to isolate yourself.
Feeling Helpless
The narcissist would want you to become dependent on him/her. This person will try everything so you won’t choose to abandon him/her and pick someone else.
You will allow the person to treat you callously in a way that you become dependent on him/her. You won’t leave him/her.
You start to feel helpless. You want to leave the relationship. But you can’t because you think that you can’t find someone else to love you.
As your self-esteem wanes, you feel helpless. That’s why you rely on that person. Because you thought that person is the only one who can help you.
Will a Narcissist Change Your Life Forever?
It will if you allow it. A narcissistic personality is a destructive behavior. It hurts everyone.
If you are dating a narcissist, you are close to developing destructive behavior. Unfortunately, the effects can leave lasting damage to yourself and your relationship with others.
On the other hand, if you want to avoid dating a narcissist, consider finding love through Christian dating. Here’s how to get started.
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