THE DANGERS OF STAYING WITH A NARCISSIST

By: Khalif Barkhadle,
Digital Journalist

Published On: 2nd January 2025

I am often asked some version of the following question: I’m in a relationship with a narcissist, and I don’t want to leave, or I can’t leave… What do I need to know to make this work in the best possible way?
A long-term relationship with a narcissist can be devastating on every level, and from the outside, it’s easy to say, “Just leave!”
But many factors can make leaving a lot more complicated. For example, children, finances, religious beliefs, a lack of self-esteem, and fear due to years of psychological abuse.

First, I think it’s imperative to talk about why narcissists treat their partners in the ways that they do.

Here’s the thing: narcissists struggle intensely with their self-worth and sense of self. Their ego is incredibly fragile, and they hide behind a grandiose false facade.

So when something threatens their self-esteem, they have two options:

✓One, go into a deep self-hating shame storm; or

✓ Two, inflate themselves by insisting that they are special, entitled, and perfect while devaluing those around them
and
✓Treating others as inferior idiots.

Narcissistic relationships happen in stages, But to quickly summarize these stages, narcissists begin all relationships with love…