21 stages of a narcissistic relationship
If you’re finding it hard to cope with your current relationship, you’re not alone. A narcissistic relationship can be extremely damaging and often leaves victims feeling isolated, alone, and hopeless.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the 21 stages of a narcissistic relationship, and how to identify and deal with them. We’ll provide tips on how to recover from a narcissistic relationship and how to build a healthy foundation for future relationships. So if you’re struggling in your current relationship, read on for tips on how to get through the tough times.
Attraction
The first stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “attraction.” At this point, the object of affection might not even be aware that he or she is being pursued by a narcissist. The narcissist will try to charm his or her target into thinking that the relationship can work if only they or give it a chance.
Trust
The second stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “trust.” This phase usually lasts from six months to three years and ends when the target realizes that the narcissist’s promises aren’t going to be kept. During this time, it’s important for victims to keep their wits about them in order for them not to become targets themselves.
Dependency
The third stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “dependency.” The victim starts to rely on the narcissist for their sense of self-worth and feels like they can’t survive without the narc’s support. This phase usually lasts from three years to five years.
Love
The fourth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “love.” At this point, victims might believe that the love between them equals true happiness or that it’s somehow stronger than anything else in life. Unfortunately, love only lasts as long as it does because the narcissistic supply is always finite.
Illusion
The fifth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “illusion.” During this phase, the victim starts to doubt their own perceptions and beliefs about the relationship. They might begin to accept all of the narcissist’s lies and false promises as if they were true.
Shattered dreams
The sixth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “shattered dreams.” Victims start to realize that their expectations for love weren’t realistic in the first place and that they will never be able to achieve what they thought was possible in relation to this person. This can lead them to emotional bankruptcy or
Never Satisfied
The seventh stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “never satisfied.” Victims start to feel as though they’re never good enough for the narcissist, no matter how hard they try. They may start to envy anyone who seems close to the narc or develop low self-esteem in general.
Bottomless pit
The eighth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is a “bottomless pit.” During this phase, victims are constantly feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. They might have trouble focusing on anything other than their own problems and feel like there’s nothing left in life that matters.
Self-Blame
The ninth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “self-blame.” Victims start to feel like they’re the only ones responsible for their current situation and that there’s nothing that can be done to get out of it. They might also start judging themselves harshly, believing that they deserve everything that’s happening to them.
Depression
The tenth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “depression.” Victims become severely depressed and may lose all sense of hope or motivation. Their mood swings can be extreme, often going from feeling upbeat one day to completely hopeless.
Coming Out of Denial
The eleventh stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “coming out of denial.” Victims gradually start to realize that their Narc isn’t really interested in them as a person. They may start questioning how messed up their life is and whether or not they should even try to get help.
Reality sets in
The twelfth stage of a relationship with a narcissistic person is “reality set in.” Victims face the harsh reality that their relationship wasn’t what they thought it was and that they’re now completely alone. They might fall into deep depression or even contemplate suicide as an escape.
Moving On
The thirteenth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “moving on.” Victims start to try and rebuild their lives without the Narc. They may go through stages of denial, anger, bargaining, and depression but eventually, they manage to get past their pain.
Complete Recovery
The fourteenth and final stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “complete recovery.” Victims have finally come to terms with the abuse they’ve endured and emerged as better people for it. They might still have some lingering PTSD but in the long run, they’re able to move on completely.
Deception
The fifteenth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “deception.” Narcs use manipulation and deception to control their victims. They may gaslight their partners, telling them one thing but doing another. Or they might simply withhold information or love in order to maintain power over the person.
Manipulation
The sixteenth stage of a relationship with a narcissist is “manipulation.” Narcs use emotional manipulation to control their partners. They play on their emotions, using love and compassion to put them in a position of vulnerability. Or they may accuse their partners of doing things that are really not true at all.
Truth
The seventeenth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “finding the truth.” Victims start to piece together what happened and realize that it wasn’t just them who was hurt – the Narc also did some serious damage. They might start making sense of the abuse.
Control
The eighteenth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “re-establishing control.” Victims start to rebuild their lives and try to take back power. They might go through intense self-doubt but eventually, they push onward, regaining control over their own lives.
Recovery
The nineteenth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “recovery.” Victims have gone through the pain of abuse and come out stronger on the other side. They may still experience PTSD in certain situations, but overall they’re able to move on and lead happy lives.
Withdrawing
The twentieth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “withdrawing.” Victims may feel overwhelmed by the abuse and want to stay away from the Narc. They might withdraw emotionally or physically, preferring to keep their distance. At times this can be very difficult, but it’s important not to give in to the narcissist’s demands for control.
Acknowledgment of Abuse
The twenty-first stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “acknowledging abuse.” Victims come to terms with what happened and realize that they were the victims of an abusive relationship. They may still feel hurt but they’re no longer in denial or stuck in the past. They’re ready to move on – and hopefully, this will help them find a new, healthier relationship in the future.
Discard
The twenty-second stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “discard.” Victims may start to lose interest in the Narc and discard any hope of repairing the relationship. They might feel like they’re finally free from their toxic partner, even if that’s not exactly true. But regardless of how things turn out, healing from this kind of abuse is never easy.
Failure
The twenty-third stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “failure.” Victims may experience a lot of sadness and disappointment as they go through the stages of healing. They might feel like they can’t do it on their own, and that Narc will always be there to pick them back up. But in the end, it’s important to remember that healing takes time and effort – no matter how tough things get at first.
Acceptance
The twenty-fourth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “acceptance.” Victims come to terms with the fact that their.
The Trap
The twenty-fifth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “the trap.” Victims may find themselves in situations where they’re drawn back into the Narc’s orbit. They might be tempted to try and fix things or make the Narc happy again, even if that means sacrificing their own needs. But healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t easy – and ultimately, it only leads to further damage.
Reality
The twenty-sixth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “reality.” Victims start to accept that their relationship was never real in the first place.
The Retreat
The twenty-seventh stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “the retreat.” Victims may find themselves retreating into their own world and doing less and less socializing. They might become moody and withdrawn, or even lash out at loved ones in an attempt to avoid facing reality. But in the end, healing from narcissistic abuse demands that victims face their demons head on.
Regret
The twenty-eighth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “regret.” Victims may feel like they couldn’t have done anything differently – that their whole experience was doomed
The Realization
The twenty-ninth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “the realization.” Victims may start to realize that they weren’t the only ones damaged by the relationship. They might also come to terms with their own narcissism, and what it took to stay in the Narc’s orbit.
Acceptance
The thirtieth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “acceptance.” Victims have accepted that they were deceived and exploited – but ultimately, they’re able to move on. They may still struggle with self-esteem issues, but overall they feel much more.
The End
The thirty-first stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “the end.” Victims may finally be able to move on and heal their own wounds. They’ll likely never forget the experience, but they can eventually put it behind them.
The Breakup
The final stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “the breakup.” Victims may realize that the narcissist is no longer an option, and they must move on. They’ll likely go through stages of denial, anger, and sadness – but in the end, healing will be complete.
Crave Approval
The twenty-second stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “crave approval.” Victims may start to crave the validation and admiration of their narcissist. They may feel like they need their love and approval in order to survive.
Rebuild Self Image
The twenty-third stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “rebuild self image.” Victims will likely start to rebuild their own life – without the Narc in it. They’ll work on rebuilding relationships, adjusting their view of themselves, and developing new skills.
Become Aggressive When Confronted
The twenty-fourth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “become aggressive when confronted.” Victims will likely become defensive and angry when their narcissist is challenged. They may lash out in an attempt to shut down the conversation or get back the love they once felt.
Shame and Guilt
The twenty-fifth stage of healing from a relationship with a narcissistic person is “shame and guilt.” Victims may feel ashamed of themselves, guilty for being unhappy, and convinced that they’re responsible for their partner’s behavior. They’ll lose confidence in themselves, but ultimately they’ll
What are all the stages of narcissism?
Narcissism can be described as a personality disorder that is characterized by a preoccupation with self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a need for admiration. There are five stages of narcissism, which are:
1. Uninvolved narcissism: People in this stage are not focused on their own self-image or feelings and may not even be aware of them. They may appear indifferent to the opinions of others and appear to have little interest in relationships or social activities.
2. Preoccupied narcissism: People in this stage are obsessed with their own self-image and feel entitled to special treatment and attention from others. They may become aggressive or demanding if they feel their needs are not being met.
3. Entitlement narcissism: This is the stage at which people have fully developed a sense of entitlement and believe that they are deserving of unlimited love, admiration, and respect from others. They may become abusive or violent if they feel their needs are not being met.
4. Involved narcissism: People in this stage have accepted their entitlement status and view themselves as superior to others. They may become overbearing or demanding in their relationships, often taking advantage of others for their own benefit.
5. Narcissistic regression: This is the stage at which people move back toward uninvolved or preoccupied narcissism after experiencing negative consequences from their inflated sense of self-worth (e.g., financial ruin, emotional pain