5 Ways How Empaths Protect Themselves From Narcissists

5 Ways How Empaths Protect Themselves From Narcissists

A narcissist and an empath have a one-sided relationship in which one is the giver and the other takes as much as they can, leaving the other high and dry.The empath in the relationship wants to help the other and provide a source of support and affection to the narcissist, who thrives on this type of attention, similar to a parasitic relationship.
Because of the narcissist's emotional manipulation and selfish tendencies, they end up driving the relationship and holding control over the empath.

The narcissist might trap the empath in a cycle of emotional or physical abuse by demoralizing them and making them the scapegoat for their own dysfunctional emotions. Empaths have a proclivity for internalizing feelings and accepting blame. The narcissist then portrays themselves as the victim, when the genuine victim is the empath.

How to Protect Yourself Against a Narcissist If You're An Empath

It will be difficult to cope with a narcissist.Setting clear limits, having an outsider's perspective, and not to giving in to their masks are good places to start

1- Building a solid boundaries

Boundaries determine who you are and who you are not, and they give you a sense of control. You can assume responsibility for your actions, feelings, and behaviors while releasing responsibility for others' actions, feelings, and behaviors once you recognize where you finish and they begin.

Allowing someone to step over our limits and doing nothing about it is essentially teaching them how to treat us. After a while, the narcissistic person realizes that they can do whatever they want and expect no repercussions.

When we forgive a narcissist repeatedly, they do not begin to question themselves and they realize your unconditional love for them. Instead, What happens instead is that they start to see their target of abuse as disgusting which is why their abuse gets worse over time. If you don’t have a clear boundaries, you will continue to attract people who are manipulative and narcissistic.

2-Practice self-compassion.

Within you, there is a vast inner world. You've had a long history of being misunderstood. Fear of being misunderstood, unappreciated, or ignored leads to unhealthy attitudes and behaviors. Many empaths turn to addictive activities to avoid having to deal with their feelings. You'll still be carrying trauma, pain, and a profound sense of unworthiness when you eventually stand up for yourself (or leave the relationship). You may condemn, blame, and criticize yourself for not handling the issue better.

Finding compassion for yourself is the only way to begin healing the past and moving forward in your life. Tell yourself that you did the best you could under the circumstances. You do not have the knowledge that you have today. Even if you realize you didn't realize your sensitivity had a name. Self-blame does not help. Stop it. Forgive yourself. You can't give yourself more self compassion.

3- Improve your self awareness

Empathy, "nurturing," and emotional responsiveness should be reserved for persons who reciprocate and have proven to be emotionally secure. Many narcissist survivors are extremely emphatic, sensitive, and caring people. These are wonderful qualities to have in a relationship with someone who shares your empathy. However, when these abilities are overused, they might backfire when you're dealing with a manipulator, as your empathy will almost always be used against you.

Narcissists have an extraordinary capacity to recognize and exploit people empath who find extreme pleasure in helping others solve problems and ultimately thrive

Save the nurturing for someone who can truly empathetic with you if you are with someone who is abusive, self-absorbed, or manipulative, or who dismisses your difficulties and joys with complete indifference. And do not respond to your empathy and your attempts to help with abuse, neglect, punishment, and emotional abandonment. Don't be a patron of toxic individuals. Take care of yourself and your loved ones who have shown you that they can be trusted. Remember, you don't know how emotionally secure this person is. Until you know, be careful. Resist being overly "maternal" or being overly emotionally generous (whether you're a man or a woman) with someone you just met.

4- Prioritize yourself

In the early stages, narcissistic partners try to take up a lot of your time so that you become accustomed to relying on them for validation, comfort, and a feeling of purpose. During the honeymoon period, they prioritize you so that you can begin to make them the center of your universe. They will withdraw and devalue you after you have invested sufficiently. Prioritizing yourself, your own safety, self-care, and goals is one approach to avoid this cycle from starting in the first place. Slow down the process of physical and emotional intimacy even more than usual in the early stages of dating or getting to know someone. Abusers are less likely to target you if you make yourself less accessible.

When you make yourself less present, abusers tend to show their true colors. They will either back off because they realize you're not an easy target who gives them a narcissistic supply (praise, ego blows, admiration, sex), or get angry because you don't give them all of your time and attention. This will also prevent them from being able to take up space in your life without earning it with organic consistency and integrity over time.

5- Don’t Take it personal

Narcissist isn’t likely to admit a mistake or take responsibility for hurting you. Instead, they tend to protect their own negative behaviors onto you or someone else. You might be tempted to keep the peace by accepting blame, but you don’t have to belittle yourself to salvage their ego.

If you took everything seriously, then you might become a human wreck. Take criticism for what it is without necessarily letting it eat you up. Besides, not everyone will always be helpful to you and expecting that from them is no less than being a narcissist

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Ali Mousa Relationship Blogger & writer