When you accomplish something, you expect people to celebrate with you, especially those close to you. But with a narcissist, that celebration never happens. Instead, they’ll either downplay your achievements or ignore them completely. Maybe they’ll act uninterested or make comments that make you feel your success doesn’t matter. This is because narcissists are incredibly insecure, and they can’t handle anyone else shining. As psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula explains, narcissists need to feel superior, so they can’t stand it when someone else gets attention or praise. When you succeed, it triggers their insecurities, and they react by making you feel small. This dismissal of your achievements can leave you feeling insignificant, as if nothing you do is good enough. Over time, you question your worth and wonder if you’re as successful or capable as you thought. It isolates you from your sense of pride and accomplishment because the person who should be your support is actively minimizing your success. You might even feel guilty for feeling proud of yourself, which is exactly what the narcissist wants: control over your emotions. As psychologist Dr. Melanie Greenberg points out, by devaluing your successes, narcissists rob you of your sense of self-worth, leaving you isolated and questioning your place in the world.
4. Encouraging Dependency
Narcissists are good at making you feel like you can’t live without them, especially when it comes to emotional support. They might start by making you feel like they’re the only person who truly understands or appreciates you. Over time, this creates a dependency where you rely on their approval to feel good about yourself. They might compliment you when it suits them or provide reassurance, but it’s always on their terms. According to therapist Dr. Christine Neff, narcissists feed off others’ need for validation and use that to maintain control over them. You start to feel like your self-worth is tied to what they think of you, making you emotionally dependent on them. This dependence can make you feel completely lost and helpless. When the narcissist withholds their approval or attention, you start doubting your judgment and emotions, thinking only they can give you the necessary validation. Without it, you feel stuck and unable to move forward. It isolates you because you’re constantly waiting for their approval, losing touch with your sense of self. Over time, this leaves you feeling trapped, unable to escape the cycle of needing them for emotional fulfillment.
5. Promoting Self-Doubt
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