How do narcissists feed?

Many narcissists do not relate to others—they use them. They use their charm, power of persuasion, or manipulation to force people to give into unreasonable, one-sided demands or to surrender their boundaries. The narcissist views this as winning and just another way to feed their ego.
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How narcissists feed on your vulnerabilities?

Although this is a great strength for us in many ways, when it comes to narcissists it can easily transform into a vulnerability. Narcissists quickly sniff out your desire for connection and tend to innately recognize the individuals who will be easier to manipulate or use in some way than others.
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How narcissists feed their ego?

Because their sense of self is determined by what others think of them, narcissists use relationships for self-enhancement. Everyone must feed them. In addition, they seek validation and attention in their public and professional life. Other people are used as objects in order to provide their supply.
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What is best supply for a narcissist?

But the picture is more complicated. There are two categories of Narcissistic Supply and their Sources (NSS): The Primary Narcissistic Supply is attention, in both its public forms (fame, notoriety, infamy, celebrity) and its private, interpersonal, forms (adoration, adulation, applause, fear, repulsion).
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What do narcissists crave?

Passive Self-Importance

The covert narcissist certainly craves importance and thirsts for admiration but it can look different to those around them. They might give back-handed compliments, or purposefully minimize their accomplishments or talents so that people will offer them reassurance of how talented they are.
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How to read the narcissist's feed



How do you make a narcissist miserable?

How to Make a Narcissist Miserable: 12 Things They Can't Stand
  1. Ignore them.
  2. Act indifferent toward them.
  3. Tell them how happy you are.
  4. Speak in facts, not emotions.
  5. Set boundaries and stick to them.
  6. Tell them no.
  7. Give them an ultimatum for commitment.
  8. Push them to answer to authority.
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How do you starve a narcissist attention?

  1. Starve them of gratitude and reciprocal praise. Don't share anything with them about your life. ...
  2. Starve them of putting their needs over your own. ...
  3. Starve them of your self-control. ...
  4. Starve them of your need to reciprocate. ...
  5. Starve them of your empathy. ...
  6. Starve them of your engagement. ...
  7. Starve them of your openness.
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What happens when you don't give attention to a narcissist?

If you ignore a narcissist and deny them their source, they may become enraged and try even harder for your attention – especially in ways that can be toxic or abusive. Ignoring a narcissist will enrage them because of their fragile egos. They'll feel humiliated and lash out against you to protect themselves.
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What happens to a narcissist when you cut them off?

The narcissist will try to contact you if you cut off their supply, and they know just what to say to make you come back. So you have to be brutal, and fast. It may be best to break up with them over text also, so they can't manipulate you any further.
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What type of person do narcissists seek?

People who are impressive in some way, either in their career, hobbies and talents, their friendship circles, or family. Someone who will make the narcissist feel good about themselves, through compliments or gestures. Anyone who will reflect well on them in the eyes of other people.
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How do narcissists treat their family?

In many families, a narcissistic sibling or child slowly takes over by demanding the most attention and loyalty, insulting everyone (even parents), violating the family's rules, and manipulating its decision-making.
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How do you tell a narcissist is using you?

How to Know If a Narcissist is Finished with You: 9 Sure Signs
  1. The love-bombing stage is over. ...
  2. They devalue you and criticize everything you do. ...
  3. They're ignoring you and making themselves inaccessible to you. ...
  4. They avoid spending time with you, especially in public. ...
  5. They're irritated with you all the time.
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How do you outsmart a narcissist?

How to Outsmart a Narcissist
  1. Separate yourself to cut off their narcissistic supply.
  2. Take time to heal.
  3. Take responsibility for your part in a conflict.
  4. React with empathy and respect.
  5. Act unresponsive around them.
  6. Disengage from their conversations.
  7. Set and enforce clear boundaries.
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What does a narcissist feed off?

Narcissists seek out an endless supply of validation, attention, and praise to compensate for low self esteem, confidence, and a perceived lack of acceptance that's often a result of early childhood trauma and attachment issues.
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Why do narcissists feed off your pain?

"Pure" sadists have no goal in mind except the pursuit of pleasure - pain as an art form (remember the Marquis de Sade?). The narcissist, on the other hand, haunts and hunts his victims for a reason - he wants them to reflect his inner state. It is all part of a mechanism called "Projective Identification".
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How do you scare a narcissist?

How to Frighten a Narcissist
  1. Set firm boundaries.
  2. Call them out when they cross a line.
  3. Speak over them if they interrupt.
  4. Withhold intense emotional reactions.
  5. Stick to the facts.
  6. Ignore their silly mind games.
  7. Be a little bit late to everything.
  8. Tease them playfully.
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What does a narcissist do when they are done with you?

You will know when a narcissist is finished with you because they suddenly go no contact. They won't initiate contact, and they will probably stop responding to your messages, and ignore your calls.
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How do you confuse a narcissist?

11 Ways to Confuse and Disarm a Narcissist
  1. 1 Be unpredictable.
  2. 2 Say “no” when they ask for favors.
  3. 3 Remove all emotion from your reactions to them.
  4. 4 Bore them with the “gray rock” treatment.
  5. 5 Guard your sensitive information closely.
  6. 6 Walk away while they're talking.
  7. 7 Cut off all communication.
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How does the narcissist react to no contact?

They can be moody, angry and irritable

A narcissist struggles with no in-person contact because they utilize body language to communicate, get their needs met, and maintain control. They have low self-esteem, and without validation, they can come become moody, angry, and irritable.
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When the narcissist knows you have them figured out?

2. They exude manipulative behaviors. When a narcissist is exposed or when the narcissist knows you have figured him out, they will never admit the truth even if it is staring them in the face. A narcissist will lay several false accusations and try to make him right.
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What should you not say to a narcissist?

8 Things You Should Never Say to a Narcissist
  • Don't say, "It's not about you." ...
  • Don't say, "You're not listening." ...
  • Don't say, "Ina Garten did not get her lasagna recipe from you." ...
  • Don't say, "Do you think it might be your fault?" ...
  • Don't say, "You're being a bully." ...
  • Don't say, "Stop playing the victim."
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What does a narcissist think when you block them?

Most narcissists will view being blocked as an act of aggression. A blocked narcissist won't have any ability to silence or control you, which is very important for them. This is highly likely to be an overwhelming and scary feeling for them.
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What happens if you give a narcissist the silent treatment?

The silent treatment, while sometimes seemingly harmless when talking about it, can be a highly damaging and effective form of manipulation, coercion, and control used by toxic people. It is common, even though many victims feel alone and like they cant talk about it because no one will believe them or understand.
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What supplies a narcissist?

Primary. The primary narcissistic supply is based on attention in both its public forms such as recognition, fame, infamy, stardom, and its private, more interpersonal, types of praise, admiration, applause, fear, and repulsion.
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How do you shut down and diffuse a narcissist?

The following are 16 key phrases to disarm a narcissist:
  1. 1. “ ...
  2. “I Can't Control How You Feel About Me” ...
  3. “I Hear What You're Saying” ...
  4. “I'm Sorry You Feel That Way” ...
  5. “Everything Is Okay” ...
  6. “We Both Have a Right to Our Own Opinions” ...
  7. “I Can Accept How You Feel” ...
  8. “I Don't Like How You're Speaking to Me so I Will not Engage”
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