5 Strategies To Protect Yourself From A Narcissistic Person
People with marked narcissism They not only stand out for that feeling of omnipotence and that highly inflated and unrealistic self-image. Furthermore, another of the most striking aspects of their personality is the way in which they relate to others, and how easily and spontaneously they come to generate discomfort in those around them.
And the belief strongly rooted in the narcissist that he stands out above the rest of human beings is not something that is limited to remaining isolated in his mind, without real consequences, but rather it predisposes him to act in a manner consistent with that vision of the narcissist. world. That is why it is very common for narcissists to try to make others feel insecure, doubtful and overshadowed by their real or imagined presence.
Taking that into account, below we will see what we can do to protect ourselves from an extremely narcissistic person
How to protect yourself psychologically from a narcissistic person?
These simple strategies can help you mitigate the discomfort generated by certain comments common in people with high narcissism. However, keep in mind that these must be done in a way that maintains a balance between your well-being and that of the other person.
You must keep in mind that in part being a narcissist is not an option; It is not, of course, for people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and not for those who, without going to such clear extremes, have become accustomed to behaving in that way due to their past experiences and socialization.
This is the most radical option but also the simplest. There are situations that become so violent that a withdrawal is a logical reaction. If you have the option, do it, and in many cases this will have the effect of a kind of passive punishment such as the “time out” technique, in which someone who has misbehaved stops having access to something that was stimulating or entertaining.
2. Learn to recognize your feelings
When faced with offensive or contemptuous comments, it is useful to have good Emotional Intelligence. Experiencing treatment characterized by the disdain typical of narcissistic people is not the same as going through that experience, taking into account that this situation is explained by the extreme personality trait of the person who utters those words.
Thus, possible thoughts that are harmful to self-esteem caused by the other’s behavior are relativized by the situation. What is happening does not talk about what oneself is but about the other person’s highly biased thinking.
3. Remember that every human being has dignity
By default, every person has all the same rights and all people are worthy. Whoever questions this principle is simply acting unilaterally, something that in fact has no merit, since in any case shows inability to socialize
Put-downs and ridicule do not make one worth less, they are a simple excuse to maintain that behavior and are not based on the truth about who one is: anyone can be the object of ridicule, but not everyone sees the need to articulate your social life through a feeling of superiority that must be artificially fed
Reply in a similar way to how the narcissistic person does when trying to be hurtful It will only make the situation worse and longer It is much better to contradict their speech (which usually consists of portraying the other person as immature or incapable) through integrity, calm, and generally ignoring that person’s presence.
Once again, the key here is to eliminate the “reward” that would come with giving importance to the narcissist’s words and, by extension, her as well.
5. Turn criticism around
If you reflect out loud on the other person’s criticism, showing that you had already reflected on it a long time ago and found a way to “deactivate” it, you will show unwavering confidence in yourself and that will dissuade the other person from continuing. You don’t need to explain why you think they are wrong (that would make them too important), just react in a way that shows that you are not shocked by hearing those things.
