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Narcissist Personality Disorder - Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is one of several personality disorders characterized by an excessive focus on self that has unhealthy consequences on those around them.

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Narcissist Personality Disorder - People with NPD exhibit signs of grandiosity, lack of empathy, exaggerated feelings of self-importance, and an excessive need for attention and admiration.

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Narcissist Personality Disorder -

They are also fixated on power, success, and external attributes, such as appearance.

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Narcissist Personality Disorder - They may frequently exploit others for personal gain and expect superior treatment from everyone around them.

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Women vs men -

Men are statistically at a greater risk of developing narcissistic personality disorder, although narcissists can come in all genders.

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More men - It is estimated that 50-75% of narcissists are men, according to Psychology Today.

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Causes - The causes of the disorder are not well-known but can include a combination of genetic and biological factors in addition to environment and early life experiences.

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How they operate - Narcissists operate in two main ways: they seek compliments and attention from others, and project internal anger and pain onto the person/people closest to them.

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The facade - Narcissists actually feel very vulnerable, powerless, and weak underneath the protective armor and strong personality they portray to others.

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The facade - They dread being seen as a fraud or having their self-esteem tarnished, and invest a great deal of effort into propping up their image and blocking negative feedback.

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The facade - This results in arrogance, and critical and belittling behavior. They project their shortcomings onto others and depend upon others to constantly feed their cravings of feeling needed and loved.

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The facade - They're drawn to people who are nurturing and emotionally expressive to fill their inner emptiness.

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The false persona -

Narcissists are masters at projecting an image onto others of how they want to be perceived. Their relationships normally start as "whirlwind romances" meant to hook the other person.

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The catch -

Once they have "caught" the person, the devoted, kind, doting, and complimentary persona disappears.

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Are you dating a narcissist? -

A narcissist lacks responsibility for their own negative feelings, and will blame and batter others to project the pain and anger outside of themselves.

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Are you dating a narcissist? - Narcissists severely lack humility and are incapable of accepting blame or admitting fault. 

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Are you dating a narcissist? - Narcissists can switch drastically between high, euphoric moods and low, dark, and angry moods.

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Are you dating a narcissist? - It can be difficult to form a trusting relationship with a narcissist as they often lie, manipulate, and attempt to control their partner.

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Are you dating a narcissist? - Narcissists have a tendency towards aggression, whether it be physical, verbal, provoked, or unprovoked.

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Are you dating a narcissist? - They are very sensitive to criticism and may throw a tantrum or get angry at any perceived slight. However, they are quick to judge and criticize others.

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Are you dating a narcissist? - Narcissists have an inflated image of self-importance and entitlement, and will exhibit behaviors such as cutting in line or scolding a waitress or store clerk.

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The partner -

While narcissists are very self-absorbed in nature, their partners tend to be other-absorbed, constantly trying to please and understand the narcissist. 

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The partner - Caretaking and pleasing others tends to give them a feeling of purpose and value. They often self-sacrifice to great extents to gain the approval and love they crave.

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The partner - This makes them dependent on the narcissist, even when their own needs aren't being met, and makes them the ideal partner for a narcissist who seeks to control and make others feel weak.

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The consequences -

Being in relationship with a narcissist can have devastating consequences. When the partner is feeling down or in need of support, the narcissist will often become angry and abusive as the attention is no longer centered on them.

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The consequences - One of the greatest issues in relationships with narcissists is that they can never actually receive love no matter how hard their partner tries. Both the partner and the narcissist long for love but are never fully satisfied.

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The consequences - Sooner or later, the partner feels drained, hurt, rejected, resentful, disrespected, and lonely.

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Bottom line - NPD is currently known as untreatable, as the condition is embedded into the psyche and those affected are simply incapable of thinking or feeling like their non-narcissistic counterparts do.

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Bottom line -

If you are in relationship with a narcissist, it is important to seek professional help and understand that you have more power than you think.

Sources: (Psychology Today)

See also: Age difference in relationships—how to embrace it, and how much is too much?

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