The Empath And The Narcissist: The Brutal Reality Of Their Toxic Relationship

 / 

, ,

The relationship between the empath and the narcissist is a toxic and traumatic one, to say the least. You may have come across the terms “Empath” and “Narcissist” and their “toxic relationship”. But what do the terms “Empath” and Narcissist” really mean and what is the reality of their relationship?

Empaths And Narcissists Defined

The term “Empaths” refers to people who are highly sensitive to the needs and emotions of others. They put others’ needs before their own, and are motivated by an intrinsic desire to help and heal humanity.

The term “Narcissists” refers to people who have a grandiose sense of self. They put their needs first and are motivated by their own self-interest and ego-driven desires.

Narcissists are not born but made out of certain difficult circumstances that they faced during their childhood or youth. Their emotions were not reciprocated ideally in their early years and hence they grow up with a lot of emotional pain and instability.

They try to cover up the pain by creating a grandiose sense of self and seeking external validation and attention.

Related: The Toxic Relationship Between An Empath And Narcissist

The Reality Of A Toxic Relationship Between An Empath And The Narcissist

Empaths and Narcissists are attracted to each other because they mirror each other’s shadow sides. They unconsciously project their dark sides and deepest fears onto each other.

Empaths don’t know that they have a fear of rejection or loss or abandonment. They try to cover up this fear by extending love and support to everyone around them but they do not know that the solution really lies in facing their fears and loving themselves before they try to rescue others.

Empaths lack boundaries and unconsciously look up to the narcissist to set boundaries for them.

Empaths need to detach a bit from their emotions and learn emotional independence before they can have healthy relationships. Till they don’t practice self-love or learn to create strong boundaries, they will keep on attracting Narcissists into their lives.

Narcissists struggle with fear of commitment, emotional attachment, and vulnerability. They did not get any emotional validation in their childhood and they do not know how to handle their emotions properly so they rely on Empaths to live out their emotional intensity through them.

They think that embracing their vulnerability and emotions will make them weak and cause them more pain so they cut off themselves from any emotions or empathy. They only live out to feed their grandiose sense of self. They must learn to become responsible by allowing themselves to feel their emotions fully before they can have healthy relationships.

Empath and the narcissist

How To End The Toxic Cycle AKA Toxic Relationship Between An Empath And Narcissist

For abusive and co-dependent relationships to work, there has to be an imbalance in both parties involved. If the abused refuses to take abuse and simply walks away, the abuse would stop.

The first step to ending the toxic cycle is the awareness and recognition that the relationship dynamic is unhealthy.

An Empath can save themselves from the toxic relationship dynamic if they become self-aware and embrace their shadow side and practice healthy boundaries. In case you’re an Empath, you need to learn to emotionally detach a little so that you can see through the real intentions of people and can identify a Narcissist when you come across one.

5 Kinds Of Narcissists You May Have A Chance Encounter With

1) The Self-Pity Narcissist.

Not all narcissists are outwardly and of boasting kind. Some are reserved and keep to themselves. They feel they are not good enough for anything.

They constantly battle with fear and insecurities. They wallow in self-pity and self-loathing and look for external validation to feel comforted.

2) The Champion.

On the other side of the spectrum are the ones who consider themselves to be champions and superheroes. They have a grandiose sense of self and believe that they are above everybody else.

They have a sense of entitlement and feel that everyone around them should appreciate and acknowledge their superiority.

Related: The Science Behind The Toxic Relationship Between An Empath And A Narcissist

3) The Best Partner.

They are the kinds who will shower you with love and affection till you lose yourself in their world. It is commonly known as the “love bombing” technique wherein they shower you with love and affection in the beginning stages of the relationship to have you hooked to them.

But once you stop yielding to their demands or they get bored, they would simply pack their bags and go. The love and care that they expressed were never real, it was just their way of getting what they wanted.

The empath and the narcissist

4) The Snobs.

They are the kinds who never see anything beyond themselves. They will constantly brag about themselves and their accomplishments.

5) The Intriguer.

They are the kinds who will pique your interest with their social image.

They will come across as community workers or caregivers of the society but what they are doing is not really selfless, they always want something in return for their kindness.

As an empath, these tips will help you to avoid getting into a toxic relationship with a narcissist in the first place but if you are already in one, then the best way to get away from the toxic relationship is to simply walk out without any prior notice or discussion.

Narcissists are very charming people and good with manipulation, if you give them a chance to discuss things, they will end up cajoling you with their apologies and tricks.

Related: The Pain of Being In Love With Someone Who Is Toxic for You

Don’t fall into that trap. It’s important for you to realize that charity begins at home and you need to practice self-love and set boundaries before you try to fix every broken soul in the world.


The Empath, The Narcissist And The Brutal Reality Of Their Toxic Relationship
Empath Narcissist Brutal Reality Toxic Relationship pin
empaths and narcissists

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Dear Empaths, This is Why You are Beautiful.

“To feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature; and can alone produce among mankind that harmony of sentiments and passions in which consists their whole grace and propriety.”

— Adam Smith, 1759. “The Theory of Moral Sentiments.”

Up Next

8 Ways To Build Self Empathy And Stop Beating Yourself Up

Stop the cycle of negativity and embrace compassion towards yourself. Learn these 8 essential ways to build self empathy, and shift from self-criticism to self-care!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

(Adapted from The Genius of Empathy by Judith Orloff MD, 2024 Sounds True Publishing)

Up Next

Empathic Leadership: 5 Top Traits Of Leaders Who Lead With Heart

Empathic leadership is all about leading with heart. Let’s explore the top 5 traits of an empathetic leader and how to truly be compassionate and effective in connecting with your team.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Empathy is a vital leadership skill in our world.

There’s a hunger for em

Up Next

What Is A Sigma Empath? 5 Signs Of A Sigma Empath You Can’t Afford To Ignore

Have you ever come across someone who possesses an aura of mystery, strength, and deep sensitivity? Then you might just have encountered a rare and fascinating personality type – the Sigma Empath. But wait, what is a sigma empath?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

A Sigma Empath seems to exude a quiet confidence, often choosing solitude over social gathe

Up Next

6 Most Empathic Zodiac Signs: Are You One of Them?

We all know what empathy is; it’s seeing things through the eyes of someone else, not just understanding their emotions, but feeling them too! And the 6 most empathic zodiac signs are natural at this!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

These are the most compassionate zodiac signs owing to their innate

Up Next

Are Empaths On The Autism Spectrum? Exploring Similarities And Uniqueness

Ever thought, “are empaths on the autism spectrum”? Let’s explore the shared traits and unique aspects of both. Discover the gifts and hurdles that come with being an empath or being on the autism spectrum.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Are Empaths on the Autism Spectrum?

Up Next

Empath or Enabler? Truths About Toxic Empathy And 5 Ways To Break Free

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be overly sensitive and emotionally drained by the problems of others? Can too much empathy be harmful? Is there such a thing as toxic empathy?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

While empathy is considered a valuable trait that promotes understanding and compassion, there is a lesser-known phenomenon called toxic empat