A narcissist treats acquaintances like gold and a partner with disdain. It's common for him to put more energy into fluffing his own image than quality interactions with a loved one.
The hero/victim defense creates an altered reality in which a partner is constantly "innocent" and "honorable" despite their manipulative and unkind behavior.
There is an understandable psychological explanation for remaining in a painful relationship and it may not have anything to do with love. Understanding the dynamic may be freeing.
If small disagreements end in epic battles and your feelings are constantly disregarded, you may be involved with a person who lacks emotional intelligence.
It may be easier for a partner who struggles with closeness to unplug and reset with a new person. Going through the motions of getting close may be less taxing than sustaining it.
Although a narcissist and a people-pleaser may act differently in relationships, they may have something in common: a parent who could not deal with their feelings.
Knowing what to say to help a friend in crisis is critical. Yet, some friends seem to get angry when you try to help. Several strategies help a person deal with both scenarios.
Using anxiety as a barometer to gauge mental health may not be accurate. Distinguish mental health from emotional health and understand how and when you experience anxiety.
A narcissist often won't show his or her true colors until a partner is invested. But one trait may shed light on a person's character: The inability to resolve conflict peacefully.
A person who constantly poses as either the hero or the victim is someone who leverages a good deed to gain control and poses as a victim to evade accountability.
"When things are good, they are great, but when they are bad, they are very bad" is a sentiment I have heard from many couples who struggle with conflict resolution. Find out why.
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