Did you hear the one concerning the narcissist and empath who lived fortunately ever after?
No, you didn’t as a result of it by no means occurred.
My pals, it by no means will.
The poisonous relationship between an empath and a narcissist is an emotional hazmat scenario that no first responder can repair.
Think about this your 911 name, whether or not it’s for your self or a cherished one who’s in a narcissist empath relationship.
Nothing about that is regular, and normal relationship CPR gained’t suffice.
What Occurs When an Empath Falls in Love with a Narcissist?
Two highly effective forces are at work when narcissists and empaths meet.
Like the nice and cozy really feel of the primary spring solar on a winter-weary face, it provides each folks what they want.
Then a sluggish, methodical burn settles into the empath, and the narcissist wields fiery energy.
- The empath is stuffed with compassion and selflessness; the narcissist has neither however is interested in those that do.
- The empath brazenly shares emotions, goals, and targets; the narcissist mimics these to create an phantasm of compatibility.
- The empath will give past affordable boundaries out of an innate want to assist; the narcissist wants unwavering assist to meet their distorted sense of significance.
- The empath retains giving regardless of setbacks; the narcissist makes use of each ounce of giving to yield management over the empath.
When an empath falls in love with a narcissist, it will definitely turns into a relationship dying by a thousand paper cuts.
So long as the empath is powerless and striving towards the unattainable ongoing narcissistic wants, the connection will proceed with a robust drive that’s many issues – however it’s not love.
21 Levels of a Narcissistic Relationship with an Empath
The truth that there are (a minimum of) 21 phases of a relationship is an early indicator of the complexity and drama that lie forward.
The phases aren’t even an evolution. It’s a revolving carousel of chaos.
1. The First Assembly
The primary time the 2 meet, it provides the emotions of butterflies within the stomach or a way of innate connection between two folks.
It’s laborious to pinpoint a narcissist at this stage, though the empath’s sense of compassion and endearing devotion turns into evident rapidly.
That is when phrases like “I simply knew instantly you had been somebody particular” will be exchanged by each events.
2. The Montage
Consider this because the “falling in love” montage we see in romantic motion pictures. That is past the “honeymoon” interval, as in regular relationships.
It’s the empath operating previous accountable boundaries and the narcissistic mirroring all empath’s pursuits to create a way of connection.
The narcissist will get a recent ego provide, whereas the empath—even when this occurs at an abnormally frenetic tempo—turns into hooked on the “love.”
3. The Devaluing
Each relationship will settle into patterns after the preliminary rush, however that is extra strategic for the narcissist. Little by little, they’ll break down any success or matter centered on the empath.
In an ongoing effort to convey again the love bombing that united the couple, the empath will grow to be extra decided to maintain the narcissist comfortable.
4. The Gaslighting
Because the empath struggles to search out their voice and stand their floor, they’ll be met with gaslighting statements like, “You’re overreacting,” or “You at all times get mad after I work late.”
The empath, nonetheless drunk on the “by no means felt like this earlier than” potion, begins to hopscotch to maintain the narcissist comfortable. At this stage, the empath remains to be ignoring cracks within the armor.
5. The Narcissist Lies
Since narcissists are solely self-serving however can’t sustain the Prince Charming act for lengthy, they’ll resort to lies.
From little white lies about why they don’t wish to be intimate (for the third week in a row) or large lies like being seen holding fingers with one other associate in public.
The flame of suspicion, together with the gas of gaslighting, causes combustion. The empath sees the reality however feels the love bombing. Which a part of their associate is actual?
6. The Rage
Rage is more likely to comply with when a narcissist is lastly referred to as on the carpet by their once-adoring empath. Positive, rage will be the standard yelling and screaming, inflicting the empath to cower away.
It’s additionally behind a dressing up of contempt, silent therapy, and passive aggression. Of their ongoing try to resolve issues with assist, empaths will cower from confrontation.
7. The Second-Guessing
By the point factors 3-6 have occurred, the empath is in a psychological tailspin. They query every little thing they find out about themselves, wrongly assigning blame to their very own actions as a substitute of realizing the narcissist is simply going by a typical cycle of abuse.
Whereas individuals who aren’t empaths will normally run for the hills, the empath digs in with dedication to get the connection again on observe.
8. The Discard
To the empaths studying this, when the narcissist leaves you (for the primary time or the fifteenth), it has nothing to do with you. Louder for the empaths within the again: IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
No provide retains a narcissist’s consideration for lengthy, and they’re going to disappear in a single day as in the event that they vanished into skinny air.
9. The Begging
After all, it has one thing to do with you – you say to your self as a frantic urge takes over to repair the scenario. That’s how empaths are wired – to really feel the ache or unhappiness of others and repair it.
Empaths textual content, name, give items, make grand gestures, and apologize all to stabilize the universe again to the picture-perfect world.
10. The Reunion
The reunion occurs down one in every of two trails. Both the empath begged sufficient to rekindle the romance however signed a verbal contract to cease doing all these issues flawed that aggravated the narcissist.
This additionally occurs when the empath is making an attempt to heal and transfer on. The narcissist comes back with love bombing to as soon as once more management their prey.
11. The Regret
As soon as the 2 settle into a brand new set of assumed guidelines, the empath feels that nagging feeling they’ve handled earlier than: sacrificing themselves to maintain another person comfortable.
They begin to really feel dangerous about themselves, thus justifying all of the crappy issues the narcissist is saying about them anyway. Empaths start to really feel they aren’t a beneficial human aside from the narcissist’s (uncommon) accolades.
12. The Eggshells
Empaths will spend quite a lot of time strolling on eggshells round their narcissistic associate.
They may know the particular person lied, cheated, or demanded them, however nonetheless query their very own perceptions and actions.
Empaths can systematically be separated from family and friends who don’t assist the connection, once more with the blatant manipulation of the narcissist.
13. The Empath Lies
By this level, the empath feels they’ve an excessive amount of pores and skin within the recreation to walk away. They begin to deceive themselves, their family members, and even their monetary managers to maintain the peace of their relationship.
Since empaths are so hyper-sensitive to different folks mendacity, this can be a gutting second for them as their very own lies eat away at their human nature.
14. The Large Speak
Each empath may have a breakdown (or breakthrough) the place they name bull$#hit on the connection.
With out particular, guided coaching to handle a narcissist, that is normally the apex of notable emotional outbursts from the empath to the narcissist.
Each little lie, gaslit second, and demeaning ammunition blows up. The empath is finished and walks away.
15. The Backstabbing
What occurs once you flip your again on a narcissist? They seize the verbal abuse knife and simply begin stabbing.
They’ll inform your pals how merciless you had been and even resort to tears to indicate them how flawed you had been. They may even let your boss know you’re unstable.
That is additionally not about you, although it impacts you. This cruelty comes from narcissists making an attempt to regain their energy.
16. The Accordion
As soon as an empath has a little bit distance from the narcissist, an accordion of details unrolls now that the empath is out of the narcissist’s management.
Empaths see all of the issues they neglected, ignored, or made excuses for, they usually really feel much more insecure than they did throughout another part.
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17. The Prisoner of Warfare
At this level, an empath is a prisoner of relationship battle.
They debate getting the narcissist again to cease the backstabbing, residing in an remoted jail of dwelling to keep away from the extreme emotional waves sweeping by them, or making an attempt to combat again with details.
The profit is that an empath realizes the love bombing wasn’t actual, however additionally they know they will’t escape simply.
18. The Sides of Warfare
This stage can also be eye-opening for the empath to see how many individuals they’ve pushed away throughout their narcissistic management.
The pal who was at all times there for gab session isn’t responding to cries for assist.
The co-worker who at all times needed to collaborate shies away. Empaths begin to see who is admittedly on their aspect and who’s working with the opposition.
19. The Marvel Lady Bracelets
The escape from a narcissist requires one thing just like these deflecting bracelets Marvel Lady wore.
You’ll have to escape your emotional jail to face the world, able to deflect every little thing from “The place is Bob? He was so nice!” to “Bob advised me you had been considering of injuring your self. Please get assist.”
Nothing challenges an empath’s sort and compassionate nature greater than holding their head excessive whereas shrapnel from the narcissist relationship flies at each flip.
20. The Safety
A fragile stability begins for an empath to regain management of their life. For many who handled narcissistic rage, it’s time to think about getting a restraining order or paying additional consideration to locked doorways and home windows.
Empaths ought to break their habits and exit of their manner, inside motive, to keep away from operating into the ever-triggering narcissist with out sacrificing their very own high quality of life.
21. The Grey Rock
The unhappy reality is, as a lot as narcissists need consideration to construct their shallowness and regain management, it actually doesn’t matter to them how they get management.
You’re hiding at dwelling since you’re so mind-boggled? Look how a lot management they’ve over you. Are you yelling at them to go away you alone? Wow, they will simply management your feelings from a distance.
The one solution to lastly escape is to grow to be “Grey Rock.” Be as boring, detached, and unemotional as humanly potential at each interplay with them.
Why Are Narcissists Interested in Empaths?
Narcissists love empaths as a result of the empath is already not serving their very own wants. There’s much less effort required for the narcissist to get a provide, and there are many alternatives to bamboozle this emotional sponge of a human being.
Narcissists additionally see an empath as every little thing they don’t seem to be. Whereas narcissists don’t want to be compassionate, empathetic, or susceptible, they adore those that have these traits.
Empaths additionally provide unwavering assist and adoration, which narcissists must sustain their facade. Empaths additionally lack shallowness and confidence, which makes them moths to the narcissistic flame.
They so badly need confidence, charisma, and management they’ll search out individuals who exude what they lack.
With the narcissist clawing towards exemplified compassion and empaths unable to withstand the arrogance of a narcissist, there are few relationship dynamics this highly effective. It is usually an instance of why “opposites entice” isn’t at all times factor.
How Narcissists Destroy Empaths
The injury of a narcissistic relationship can final for years. This finish of this poisonous connection isn’t simply recovering from heartbreak; it shatters each perception system an empath had in themselves and different folks.
- ENERGY: A narcissistic relationship drains the emotional and bodily vitality of an empath. The fixed fear and lodging wanted, blended with manipulation, sends all of their already heightened feelings into overdrive.
- POWER: The great thing about empaths comes from their innate means to acknowledge feelings and try to heal others. That energy is misplaced once they understand some folks can’t be saved. It rots away their sense of objective.
- CO-DEPENDENCY: Whenever you’ve spent a lot time making an attempt to maintain somebody comfortable, it might flip right into a lifetime of co-dependent relationships with pals or companions.
- SURRENDER: When it appears there isn’t a manner out, an empath can simply keep in a narcissistic relationship to keep away from the emotional torture of leaving.
Can Empaths Change into Narcissists?
Empaths can generally exhibit among the similar poisonous behaviors as their narcissistic associate when the empath has reached the tip of their emotional tether. They could lash out quickly, however this conduct isn’t of their nature.
As far aside as an empath and a narcissist are on the emotional spectrum, the identical childhood trauma can set off one or the opposite down very completely different paths.
Let’s take the made-up instance of Jack and John, two brothers who grew up in a family with hyper-critical and simply outraged mother and father.
To adapt, Jack began residing in a fantasy world. He couldn’t deal with the emotions of disgrace and concern, so he created metal emotional armor. No person would ever make him really feel less-than-perfect once more.
John felt the identical disgrace and concern however become an overachieving folks pleaser. He grew to become ultra-sensitive to any pressure (instinct), and his over-charged empathy for others got here on the expense of his personal wants.
Since narcissists cannot feel real emotions, and an empath can’t let go of deep-rooted feelings, the 2 won’t ever meet on a stage enjoying subject.
Remaining Ideas
The answer to this mismatched magnetic draw lies with the empath because the narcissistic isn’t going to ask for assist. An empath must work on boundaries with everybody, however the narcissist exploits these boundary gaps at each flip.
The one solution to win a battle with a narcissist is to not have interaction in any respect or get out on the first warning indicators.
