There’s enough said about spotting a narcissist in a romantic relationship, but you may be ignoring the problematic personality type in your friendships, simply because you don’t know how to spot one.
Narcissism is one of the most misunderstood psychological conditions and most of the time, people in any kind of narcissistic relationship have no idea what they’re getting into. If you have a hunch your friend is one of them, look out for these signs.
3 major signs your friend is a narcissist
Friendships unlike intimate relationships are more tolerable, but knowing certain telltale signs of toxicity can save you a lot of trouble. Here are three things a narcissistic friend would do, according to American clinical psychologist Dr. Ramini Durvasula.
They bail when you need them the most
They may be your drinking buddy and the two of you could be hanging out all the time, but when you’re in crisis and need your one close friend the most, they choose to not be there for you.
As a person with a narcissistic personality lacks empathy and is driven by grandiosity, they believe they don’t owe you any support at any time.
Ending friendships abruptly
For narcissists, any relationship is transitional, including friendship. They expect you to be there for them at their convenience and it doesn’t sit well with them when you start to focus on your life.
Say you found a job that kept you away from your toxic friend or if you couldn’t find time to respond to their messages, be prepared to watch them blow up and consider breaking up with you because they are too entitled.
You tend to avoid them
Sometimes, you don’t need a textbook definition to keep you from unhealthy relationships. If you find yourself choosing your family or other things to do over that one friend on your day off simply because you don’t feel like meeting or spending your energy on them, it’s a sign your pal could be a narcissist who your mind and body find draining and repulsive.
How to handle them
Dr Ramini suggests treating your friendship with a narcissist like any other narcissistic relationship.
You need to start setting boundaries, maintaining realistic expectations, and not getting too caught up in the drama that comes with a toxic relationship.
It’s alright to call quits on the friendship if you are unable to tolerate the person.
However, according to Dr Ramini, the best approach is to cut all ties slowly and go about your life.
