Mental health experts have revealed five telltale signs that someone is a narcissist and how you can protect yourself from their abuse.
Alana Carvalho, a mental health counselor from the US, shared five important questions people can ask themselves when they suspect that someone they are in a relationship with may be a narcissist.
Gathering information from psychology experts, she said narcissists can cause people to feel great self-doubt, become detached from their own feelings, turn away from them or feel like the relationship is all about them.
The mother of two said recognizing whether someone, such as a partner, work colleague, family member or friend, is a narcissist can help contain the person and “lay the groundwork for verbal, emotional or physical abuse.” .
“How do we recognize the people who, at best, bore us with a list of their achievements at parties, or at worst, commit some kind of verbal abuse?” Alana asked in an Instagram post.
Alana Carvalho (pictured), a mental health counselor, asked five questions people can ask themselves if they suspect someone they are in a relationship with may be a narcissist
She explained that narcissism is a personality trait, and although everyone falls somewhere on that spectrum, the top 10 percent of those with the highest scores are considered narcissists.
“Observing how you feel around someone can be a good indicator of how they score on the narcissism scale,” she said, adding that one in 10 people are narcissists.
Alana suggests asking yourself: Are you feeling a lot of self-doubt? Do you feel disconnected from your own feelings? Do you feel pushed away or pulled in?
She added to pay attention to whether the other person is “showing” or “actually expressing” their feelings.
Finally, Alana said to ask if there is balance in the relationship or if it’s just about the other person.
“Conversations (and relationships) should go back and forth: you share vulnerability and the other person expresses care.” “Then the other person shares a vulnerability and your reciprocating concern,” she explained.
“Not so much with a narcissist.”
Recognizing whether someone, such as a partner, work colleague, family member or friend, is a narcissist can help contain the person and “lay the groundwork for verbal, emotional or physical abuse” (stock image)
Narcissism, Alana explained, generally means that a person has an inflated self-image and a lack of close, warm relationships with other people.
“Instead of true friendships, romantic partnerships and familial bonds, narcissists’ relationships may be defined by the Triple E,” she said.
The first “E” stands for exploitation, meaning they will do anything to make themselves feel “special,” regardless of the impact on others.
Entitlement is the second “E,” where the person acts as if the world should “bend to their will.”
The final “E” stands for empathy impairment, which makes a narcissist feel special compared to others.
“These people who lose sight of the fact that other people even have their own feelings, needs and perspectives,” Alana wrote.
“These tendencies can lay the foundation for verbal emotional and physical abuse.”
Alana said there are three types of narcissists who use different tactics to make themselves “feel special.”
Most people see narcissism as being an overt narcissist and can cope with feeling superior to others.
“Covert narcissists feel special when they are seen as the person who suffers the greatest misfortune or misunderstanding,” Alana said.
“(What) this person is going through will inevitably overshadow any issues you may be dealing with.”
The third type is a community narcissist who feels special because he is seen as the most helpful person in any group.
Being aware of narcissistic tendencies can help someone avoid falling victim to their deceptions and tricks.
“Don’t blame yourself if you’ve fallen into a narcissist’s web!” Alana concluded.
“It’s a very, very difficult dynamic that can be difficult to recognize.”
Hundreds of the mental health expert’s followers praised the insightful information, saying: “Eye-opening!” “Very helpful and affirming.”
“So good…the claim is so true and it’s easy for people to get into it,” wrote a second.
“They will tell you that you are responsible for how they treat you,” a third added.