How Narcissists Ultimately Implode

With its emphasis on control and manipulation, the narcissistic pattern of life is ultimately not sustainable. Sadly, narcissist cannot see that truth, but instead push ahead with their many dysfunctional ingredients intact. Dr. Les Carter highlights various markers that foreshadow how relationships with a narcissist will collapse. Then he discusses how you can protect yourself from their predictable demise.

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Dr. Les Carter is a best selling author and therapist who has semi-retired to Waco, TX. In the past 40+ years he has conducted more than 65,000 counseling sessions and many workshops and seminars. He specializes in anger management and narcissistic personality disorder.

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[monicahocking]

I spent over 45 years trying to figure out what was wrong. Thought I could fix someone. Thought I was going insane and almost did. You simply cannot talk to these people because you'll always walk away thinking what just happened. For me it was well the same thing that's happened 40 plus years. Nothing ever changes. Well for sanity sake I left at 66. For the past two years now I can finally look back and say. No I wasn't crazy.

[mosaicowlstudios]

Leaving a narcissist, surprisingly, will make you feel LESS lonely

[docacuwatson]

The #1 best feeling in the world: puppies. The #2 best feeling in the world: going no contact with a narcissist.

[josiah]

Setting and enforcing boundaries with your narcissistic parent - Losing $1 million inheritance
Cutting contact with them - Losing entire extended family from slander campaign
Having the narcissistic parent and her flying monkeys out of your life forever - Priceless

[chrisnore]

I was married to a narcissist for 6 long years, when things didn't go his way he threatened suicide. After the third time I went to the local hospital and begged for help. The psychiatrist made an appointment for the following day. The narcissist thought it was a big joke, he laughed, talked football and explained it was just helpless, fanciful, hysterical me- not him. I left the office in tears. Six weeks later he gassed himself in the car. He left a note directed to me. The local police sergeant, said I could see the note after the coroner had finished with it. When I went to collect the note he refused to give it to me. He said it was the most hateful thing he had ever seen and I should not have that hanging over my life for ever more. He destroyed the letter, for which I have been eternally grateful.
After the shock of the suicide, the only emotion I had was one of relief and freedom - no more lies in my life.

[sharpo]

When you realize you can finally breathe when they aren't around. That is the moment.

[wiesbadengera]

Don't grieve a relationship that was never gonna be anyway. ...Profound

[onelife]

There’s a loaf of (mouldy) bread where their brain should be. That is why they’re incapable of:
-self reflection
-humour
-active listening
-acknowledging the nuances in a given situation
-remorse
-empathy
-respecting personal boundaries
-accountability for what they do

[GnosticGuru]

Concepts that a narcissist will NEVER understand: Communication. Cooperation. Compromise. To the narc, doing these things would mean they've lost control of their life. It's always ''My way or else!!"

[realhealing]

A relationship with a narcissist is an endless cycle of abuse. No contact was my only option to find peace.

[carjam]

It's really heartbreaking when it's your immediate family like your sister and mother. It's exhausting.

[izawaniek]

Narcisists bring confusion, drama, chaos and trauma and that is why the relationships with them blow up. Thank you for your help and support dr Carter.

[krs]

The flipside to this is, the longer you try (fruitlessly) to reach or help a Narcissist on any level, the closer you come to imploding yourself (especially if you're an Empath.) Exposure to their presence in any form is corrosive.

[tahiyamarome]

"When someone is being nasty first try love. If that fails try compassion. If that fails use distance." Sadhguru

[QueenFondue]

Some of the comments in this section break my heart. I'm in the process of ending a relationship with a narcissist that lasted a year and a half. I feel like a shell of a person. It's completely destroyed me, caused me issues with my physical health, destroyed my ability to create or connect with other people.

Yet some of these comments talk about being trapped for 30, 40, 50 years with someone so heinously abusive. The idea of sticking around that long terrifies me. I'm so glad so many of you have found and are finding the strength to leave after so long. I feel completely broken after just 18 months. I can't imagine 18 years.

[lorainemitchell]

Dr. Phil hit the nail on the head when he said “If you are in a relationship with a narcissist………run.”

[lisarochwarg]

They burn most of their bridges over time. There's no new crop of suckers.

THE END.

[brushwife]

I have a narcissistic family member who says I don’t listen, what he really means is I don’t agree!

[francisrowland]

My ex-son-in-law is a covert narcissist and sociopath, with all the characteristics that you describe. My daughter kicked him out but he convinced the courts that he was the victim and was awarded 50:50 parenting. We are trapped as he is abusing the kids, grooming and weaponising them. They are totally traumatised and we have no choice but to stay to help and support these very sad children. Most people write about the trauma that they experience at the hands of the narc but few understand the pain of having to remain involved in order to try to support kids. The court system is a bad joke and is easily exploited by the narcissist.

[catlady]

For me, blocking and no contact has been the key to getting out of that toxic cycle with the narcissist. Every day I have nothing to do with him I feel stronger.