{"id":38470,"date":"2024-08-12T15:09:12","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T13:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?page_id=38470"},"modified":"2025-08-20T18:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:18:06","slug":"dealing-with-narcissist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal With a Narcissist: 9 Strategies for Disarming Narcissistic Control"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n    h1{\r\n        font-size: 48px!important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b h1, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b h2, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b h3,\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b h4 {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #513D62;\r\n        font-weight: 700;\r\n        line-height: 1.3;\r\n        margin-bottom: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    p {\r\n        font-family: 'Karla', san-serif;\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #000000;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b img {\r\n        max-width: 100%;\r\n        height: 480px;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .small-separator {\r\n        width: px;\r\n        height: 10px;\r\n     margin-bottom: 2rem;\r\n        margin-left: 2rem;\r\n     background-color: #fff;\r\n\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n        background-color: #fff;\r\n        border-radius: 50px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper table {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper table tr td {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper p, .text-wrapper a {\r\n        color: #333840 !important;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper li {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #333840;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b    .text-wrapper h2 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 25px;\r\n        font-size: 38px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b .text-wrapper h3 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 32px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b .text-wrapper h4 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 28px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 480px) {\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n        #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b img {\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"text_imageblock_b2f7e4372d174ae8acd713465df9561b\" class=\"container \" style=\"max-width: 900px;\">\r\n    <div class=\"row justify-content-sm-start justify-content-center\">\r\n        <div class=\"col-sm-12 order-sm-1 order-2\">\r\n            <div class=\"small-separator d-none\"><\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\r\n                <p align=\"left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38554 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2.webp\" alt=\"how to deal with a narcissist\" width=\"2250\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2.webp 2250w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-2048x1365.webp 2048w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-2000x1333.webp 2000w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-1500x1000.webp 1500w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-1000x667.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-750x500.webp 750w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-617x411.webp 617w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-500x333.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-247x165.webp 247w, https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/narcissist2-110x73.webp 110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Dealing with a narcissist<\/strong> can be incredibly difficult. Sometimes, narcissism can be overt and easy to spot. But, oftentimes, narcissism can be covert and insidious \u2013 making it tougher to understand<em> how to handle a narcissist<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">This article covers what narcissism is before covering strategies for protecting yourself and dealing with a narcissist\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><b>If you need to shut this article down quickly, you can do so using the following shortcuts:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Windows or Linux: <b>Ctrl + W<\/b> or <b>Ctrl + F4<\/b><\/li>\n<li>Mac: <b>\u2318 + W<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">We advise one specific way for <strong>dealing with a narcissist<\/strong>: If possible, get away. There may be situations in which it is difficult to extract yourself, but, the best way to deal with narcissism is to remove yourself from the situation. We cover exit plans in these strategies, but we wish to highlight that this is something you should consider.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">What Is Narcissism?<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/narcissistic-personality\/\">Narcissism<\/a> is a personality trait characterized by a need for admiration, attention, and control. Narcissism can also range on a continuum of slight traits to pathological levels \u2013 such as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">In contrast to how someone with slight narcissism may only embody attention-seeking and listening difficulties, someone with narcissistic personality disorder may possess an unreasonably high sense of their own importance.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Someone with narcissistic personality disorder typically promotes themselves as superior to others, is hypervigilant to threats to their authority, and possesses a high need for control over others. All of these characteristics can be damaging to the psychological well-being of individuals on the receiving end.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Narcissistic control can happen in many different dynamics: romantic, workplace, friendship, and familial. The strategies included in this article can be used across all of these. But before we come to these strategies, let\u2019s first cover the <strong>signs that you\u2019re dealing with a narcissist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Signs You\u2019re Dealing With a Narcissist<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">According to the <i>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<\/i> (DSM-5), to fit the bill of narcissistic personality disorder, an individual must demonstrate at least five out of the following nine qualities across a range of different situations.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">The nine qualities associated with narcissistic personality disorder are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Grandiosity (an inflated sense of self-importance)<\/li>\n<li>A lack of empathy<\/li>\n<li>Preoccupation with fantasies of success, power, ideal love, or brilliance<\/li>\n<li>Believing they are superior or \u201cspecial\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Requiring excessive admiration and praise<\/li>\n<li>A high sense of entitlement and need for special treatment<\/li>\n<li>Exploitative behaviors such as taking advantage of others<\/li>\n<li>Frequent envy of others or believing others to be envious of them<\/li>\n<li>Arrogant behaviors<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p align=\"left\">Based on these characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder, if you believe you need help dealing with a narcissist, the following strategies can help.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Manage your communications<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">If you\u2019re wondering how to talk to a narcissist, the most important factor to remember is that, overall, narcissists aim for control. Therefore, they will attempt to orchestrate specific responses from others. This means they will manipulate, lie, or belittle to get what they want.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">To protect yourself, prepare yourself for occasions when they will attempt to manipulate responses from you. This includes remaining calm and composed in the moment \u2013 possibly by repeating a mantra to yourself.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Mantras are tools for retaining composure and navigating difficult situations. Create your own for dealing with a narcissist and mentally repeat them to yourself during moments when they are trying to trigger you. Your mantra could sound like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><i>I am in control of my emotions, no one else has the right to access them unless I want them to.<\/i><\/li>\n<li><i>I see and understand what you are doing. I will not give you what you want.<\/i><\/li>\n<li><i>I am not what this person is telling me I am. I will not feed into their need for control. <\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">We also advise using the <i>regulate, relate, respond <\/i>technique when communicating with a narcissist.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Regulate, relate, respond<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Reactions can be semi-subconscious comebacks to something that triggers us. So, to reduce the chance of a narcissist gaining control, you need to regulate and relate before choosing how you need to respond.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">To retain control, it\u2019s important to pause and be mindful of the reactions within our bodies. Do you feel tension, heat, shortness of breath? These are signs that you\u2019re switching into an automatic, emotional state. So, the next time you sense that someone is trying to manipulate you, take a moment to reflect on whether you are reacting automatically. Is there a different way you could respond to the situation?<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><b>Regulate. Relate. Respond: Regulate <\/b>your breathing, <b>relate <\/b>the situation to your newfound understanding of yourself and others,<b> <\/b>and then<b> respond.<\/b><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">As an extra note on this strategy, aim to keep your responses brief and to the point. The more information you divulge, the more you may leave yourself prone to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/gaslighting\/\"><u>gaslighting.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Protect your boundaries<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Returning to the fact that narcissists need power and control, you need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/boundaries-and-attachment-styles\/\">protect your boundaries<\/a> when dealing with a narcissist. Furthermore, narcissists tend to have grandiose expectations, so you need to protect yourself from their expectations regarding your personal life, appearance, work, or anything else they may demand of you.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Healthy boundaries help us establish a sense of identity, protect our needs, and make decisions based on what\u2019s best for us instead of on what\u2019s best for others. Have a think about your boundaries. The following are areas in which you can erect boundaries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Physical boundaries refer to physical space and personal touch.<\/b> They are the limits you set regarding your body: who you choose to touch and be touched by, what you ingest, and when you want to be active or at rest.<\/li>\n<li><b>Emotional boundaries are those we set around our feelings<\/b> <span style=\"color: #363636;\"><b>and what we\u2019re comfortable sharing with others.<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #363636;\"> They also encompass what we\u2019re willing to provide others in regard to emotional support, such as our capacity for listening and advising. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Time boundaries refer to how we organize our time.<\/b><span style=\"color: #363636;\"> This includes how we prioritize, value, and spend it. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Intellectual boundaries are those we construct around our thoughts and ideas. <\/b><span style=\"color: #363636;\">These boundaries are often concerned with how we express our thoughts and ideas and how well we receive those of others, <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Material boundaries concern our possessions<\/b><span style=\"color: #363636;\">, such as our belongings, home, and money. The boundaries we erect around material goods typically include what we share and with whom we share it. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Sexual boundaries refer to the emotional, physical, and intellectual factors of sexuality<\/b><span style=\"color: #363636;\">. These boundaries can be complicated, but they usually involve mutual respect, consent, communication, and rules are all elements of sexual boundaries. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">Reflect on each of these areas and ask yourself which ones are important to you and how you can protect them. Make your boundaries clear and realistic. Write them down \u2013 you may need to see them to remind yourself and help you stand your ground.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Remember that you are not to blame<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Narcissists often use belittling, blame, and gaslighting to help them achieve control and make you feel at fault for their actions. Ultimately, no matter what, you are <i>never<\/i> to blame for someone else\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">If you slip into self-blame as a result of narcissistic control, you may need to challenge your inner dialogue. It may be the case that how you speak to yourself has been conditioned through manipulation techniques such as gaslighting and belittling.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">The next time you find your inner narrative shifting towards self-blame or negative self-talk, try the following steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Note down any negative thoughts you have about yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Analyze how your negative thoughts are distorted or inaccurate by challenging them. For example, ask yourself, <i>Is this thought based on facts? What evidence do I have that this thought is true? <\/i>And, <i>What evidence is there that opposes this thought?<\/i><\/li>\n<li>Practice this technique until you start to recognize how much of your inner narrative is negative and inaccurate. Continue to challenge these negative beliefs and replace them with more realistic and positive ones such as, <i>I am a good and worthwhile person. These thoughts are not accurate, so I don\u2019t need to believe in or act on them. <\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p align=\"left\">This exercise can help you to put the situation into a more balanced perspective, and even help highlight how controlling the narcissist\u2019s actions are.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Keep track of their communications<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Narcissists are prone to gaslighting, a form of covert emotional abuse in which one person creates a false narrative for another. This false narrative forces the target of the emotional abuse to doubt their judgments and sense of reality, resulting in increased emotional dependence on the abuser. To help yourself from becoming the target of narcissistic gaslighting, you may need to keep track of a narcissist\u2019s communication with you. This may mean screen grabbing text messages and notes they\u2019ve left you, or documenting elements of conversations straight after they\u2019ve ended. This way, the other person cannot deny the facts further down the line and attempt to place blame on you.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">To facilitate this strategy, you could communicate with them in such ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cTo follow up on our conversation, can you email me the arrangements we agreed on?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cCould you please text me the time and place we\u2019re supposed to be meeting up?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cMy workload is quite packed. What are your priorities so I can ensure they\u2019re at the top of my list?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">Confronting a narcissist when they continue to gaslight you despite evidence to the contrary may be tempting. However, bear in mind that they may not be understanding or empathetic. You can communicate how you\u2019re feeling clearly and firmly, but they may still respond defensively as people with narcissistic personality disorder typically only respond to overt praise.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Develop your self-worth<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">A healthy sense of self-worth means that you value yourself for who you are and understand that you are worthy of love and respect \u2013 regardless of how someone else may be treating you.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Our self-worth may suffer due to narcissistic abuse, causing us to internalize another\u2019s actions as the message that we\u2019re not worthy of having our needs met. Furthermore, we may blame ourselves for the other person\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Developing your self-worth means recognizing that you are more than your achievements and relationships \u2013 it means understanding that you are of incomprehensible worth.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">First, consider the areas of your life that do <i>not<\/i> determine your self-worth. These areas include factors such as how others are treating you, your relationship status, your job title, and whether or not you\u2019ve achieved your goals. Even your opinion of yourself doesn\u2019t count \u2013 if you believe you are <i>not<\/i> worthy of love and respect, guess what? You are still worthy of love and respect!<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Next, to prevent yourself from basing your self-worth on irrelevant factors, it\u2019s important to understand and accept yourself for who you are. Remind yourself that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Regardless of how other people treat you and no matter what happens in your environment, you alone have control over how you think and feel about yourself.<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t need to please other people to feel good about yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Your values are a better reflection of who you are as a person rather than external praise or achievements.<\/li>\n<li>You are in control of how you respond to circumstances and situations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">Finally, to fully integrate self-worth into your daily narrative, create a mantra that replaces self-criticism with acceptance and appreciation. This mantra might sound like; <i>I am OK just as I am. No matter what anyone else says or does, I will treat myself with the respect I deserve.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Build your support system<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Dealing with a narcissist can be tough to do by yourself, but the good news is that you don\u2019t have to. Narcissistic abuse is more common than most people anticipate. For this reason, there are many support groups available. If you feel anxious about going to one in person, there are online options available. Hearing about other peoples\u2019 experiences can help you understand that you\u2019re not alone and they can also offer valuable advice.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Additionally, consider reaching out to friends and family, or make new friends through activities or interest groups. Plus, remember, in these relationships, you need to feel free to be yourself. Advocate for your needs and avoid relationship patterns that you may have fallen into in the past. Practice open, mutually respectful communication and expect the same in return.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Create exit plans<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">With increased awareness of how someone with narcissism may covertly attempt to manipulate you, it\u2019s a good idea to rehearse effective strategies for removing yourself from the immediate situation. Doing so can reduce the chance of them inflicting psychological distress.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">The following are skills that you can use when enacting an exit plan:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Awareness that this person is trying to manipulate you<\/li>\n<li>Mindful breathing<\/li>\n<li>Effective communication<\/li>\n<li>Affirmations or mantras<\/li>\n<li>The regulate, relate, respond technique<\/li>\n<li>Knowledge and protection of your boundaries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">With these skills in mind, you can create an exit plan such as the following:<\/p>\n<h3 align=\"left\"><b>Exit plan<\/b><\/h3>\n<p align=\"left\">Remove yourself from the situation:\u00a0If you suspect that a narcissist is attempting to manipulate you, make an excuse to remove yourself from the situation. This doesn\u2019t have to be done in a loud or dramatic way. For example, you could say you\u2019re expecting a phone call and need to step outside.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Ask for help: If you have a trusted friend or family member, text or call them for advice. Ask them to stay on the phone with you until you de-escalate or are away from the situation.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Find somewhere safe: Where is the place you associate most with feeling safe? Perhaps it\u2019s home, a friend\u2019s house, or a long walk in nature \u2013 go there if you can.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Practice self-care: Choose an activity that helps you to feel calm and in control. It doesn\u2019t matter what this activity is as long as it helps you feel safe, restored, and removed from the situation.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\">Try therapy<\/h3>\n<p align=\"left\">Due to the often covert and insidious nature of narcissistic abuse, it may be a good idea to get the advice of a trained mental health professional. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt\/\">Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)<\/a>, and Psychodynamic Therapy are common forms of talk therapies used for dealing with a narcissist.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">In the therapeutic relationship, the therapist can help you understand how to advocate for your needs, set healthy boundaries, and better understand how to extricate yourself from an unhealthy power dynamic.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\">Final Words on Dealing With a Narcissist<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">Dealing with a narcissist is never easy. Sometimes, regardless of the nature of the relationship, narcissistic behavior can cross the line into abuse. Therefore, to protect your psychological well-being it\u2019s important to understand <strong>how to protect yourself from and deal with narcissism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">The strategies outlined in this article are a great place to start, but, often, the best way to deal with a narcissist is to extricate yourself from the dynamic. There is support available in the form of groups, professionals such as therapists, and potentially loved ones if this is something you need to do.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">In the interim, remember to be mindful of how you communicate, protect your boundaries, develop your self-worth, and remember that you\u2019re not at fault when dealing with a narcissist.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper py-4 \" id=\"block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8\" style=\" max-width: 900px;\">\n    <div class=\"d-flex justify-content-center\">\n        <button class=\"references-btn\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-target=\"#block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8-references-collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8-references-collapse\">\n            References\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"references-text collapse mt-3\" id=\"block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8-references-collapse\">\n        <p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\"><i>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<\/i>, 5th Edition (2022). APA Publishing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\">Dickinson, K. &amp; Pincus, A. (2003). Interpersonal Analysis of Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism. <i>Journal of personality disorders<\/i>, 17, 188-207.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\">Wink, P. (1991). Two faces of narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 590\u2013597.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\">Zimmerman, M., Rothschild, L. &amp; Chelminski. I. (2005). The prevalence of DSM-IV personality disorders in psychiatric outpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(10), 1911-8.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"left\">Zuckerman, M., &amp; O&#8217;Loughlin, R. E. (2009). Narcissism and well-being: A longitudinal perspective. <i>European Journal of Social Psychology<\/i>, 39(6), 957\u2013972.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n    #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8 p, #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8 li, a{\n        color:#333840;\n    }\n\n    #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8 ul li, #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8 ol li {\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n\n    #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8 ul li:last-child {\n        margin-bottom: 0;\n    }\n\n    #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8    .references-btn {\n        color: #ffffff;\n        background: #513d62 !important;\n        border-radius: 15px !important;\n        font-family: \"Family\", sans-serif;\n        font-size: 30px !important;\n        padding:  0px 28px!important;\n        font-weight: 700 !important;\n        height: 52px;\n        display: flex;\n        align-items: center;\n    }\n\n    #block_edd671130bddd6da13a0c72e706666a8    .references-btn:focus {\n        border:none;\n        outline: 0;\n    }\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":23224,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-v2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38470","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Attachment Project\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-20T16:18:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@attachmentproj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/\",\"name\":\"How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-12T13:09:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-20T16:18:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Psychology features center\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Deal With a Narcissist: 9 Strategies for Disarming Narcissistic Control\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\",\"name\":\"Attachment Project\",\"description\":\"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP","description":"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP","og_description":"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/","og_site_name":"Attachment Project","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject","article_modified_time":"2025-08-20T16:18:06+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@attachmentproj","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/","name":"How to Deal With a Narcissist: Strategies and Tips - AP","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-08-12T13:09:12+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-20T16:18:06+00:00","description":"Discover practical strategies for dealing with narcissists: from understanding the traits of narcissistic personality to creating exit plans.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/dealing-with-narcissist\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Psychology features center","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Deal With a Narcissist: 9 Strategies for Disarming Narcissistic Control"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/","name":"Attachment Project","description":"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38470"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39821,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38470\/revisions\/39821"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}