Love

How Do Empaths Protect Themselves From Narcissists? Practical Insights and Tips

Published

4 years ago

June 18, 2019

Katya Ki

how do empaths protect themselves from narcissists image

Relationships can be very complicated. And strangely enough, we don’t always consciously choose the person whom we fall in love with really. It just happens. By nature, empaths have a big heart, while Narcissists, on the contrary, have an annoyingly exaggerated sense of self-importance. It is thus a little bit challenging when these two contrasting personas are in a relationship. So then, how do empaths protect themselves from narcissists? Do they need protection in the first place? In this article, I will take an in-depth look at these two characters and give tips on how to accommodate each other.

Who are Empaths?

If you are an empath, the chances are that you have had an encounter(s) with a narcissist(s). Whether or not the experience was fruitful solely depends on how you interacted with them. Narcissists thrive on making other people feel inferior about themselves.

This could be draining given that empaths are quite the opposite of narcissists – sensitive.

Empaths Character Traits

Before we delve into knowing how empaths protect themselves from narcissists, let’s discuss the traits that define empaths.

What to Expect When Dating an Empath Image

The following traits are common among empaths:

Do you have a problem with boundaries? Empaths tend to worry more about others than themselves. Consequently, it is difficult at times to tell when to open up and let other people into their life and when to shut off negative energy.
Empaths are easily prone to a nervous breakdown. They feel for everyone, including people who are total strangers to them. Absorbing all these emotions (both happy and sad) can lead to a nervous system meltdown.
They have intimacy issues. Empaths are quick to connect with other people emotionally. This is a liability especially when it comes to maintaining a relationship with one person. You can unconsciously find yourself emotionally entangled with more than one person.
Alone time is replenishing. Empaths recharge when they are alone and free from human contact. Absorbing all these emotions can be weary and draining. Alone time allows an empath to decompress and recharge. This is mainly achieved in a serene natural environment setting.
You have an acute intuition. The gut feeling of an empath is always right most times. I think the ability to feel what the next person is feeling is what contributes to this.

Who are Narcissists?

Games Narcissists Play Image

Beyond knowing how empaths can protect themselves from narcissists, you need to know how to identify a narcissist. It is not hard to identify a narcissist from the crowd. No one person will admit to being grandiose callous and unemotional.

Narcissists Character Traits

Narcissists portray the following characteristics:

Need for self-admiration. Narcissists crave admiration more than anything else. They will bombard you with statistics and personal achievements to feed their ego. This has the effect of making the other person think lowly of themselves.
They lack empathy. Narcissists do not show the slightest of emotion towards anything or anyone.
Feeling entitled. They are arrogant, selfish and think that others are indebted to them.
They can be manipulative. A narcissist will trick you into doing what they want. Their interests always come first, and they love exploiting others.
Authoritativeness. Since they believe they are good at everything they do, narcissists have an inflated sense of bossiness.

How Do Empaths Protect Themselves From Narcissists?

Given that they connect quickly, empaths are an easy target to prey on. Do empaths need to protect themselves from narcissists? Yes. Narcissists will not mind that their utterances and actions are hurting others. As a result, such a relationship will only wreck an empath. That said, how do empaths protect themselves from narcissists?

Meditation

Osho quotes on meditation image

Connecting with nature is the simplest and quickest way for an empath to replenish. Take time to reflect and think about whether or not someone is adding value to you or just exploiting you. This is the only time you can clear your mind and think clearly.

Build Boundaries

I know this sounds impossible, but there is no other way around it. You need to cut off any ties with narcissists. If you can’t then at least come clean with the person. Narcissists will only drain you of your energy at their pleasure. This might sound selfish at first, but it is for your highest good that you avoid these people.

Alone Time

Do not spend too much time with a person if they exhibit narcissistic behaviors. Take some time off to decompress and gain back the lost energy.

Let Yourself Be

Naturally, you will fall for a narcissist and even get tempted in to ‘helping’ them. Remember, it is not your job to fix everybody. Who will fix you anyway? Sometimes you need to be quite the opposite of what defines you and care for yourself.

Trust Your Intuition

How To Deal With Narcissists Image

This is the easiest way for empaths to protect themselves from narcissists. Your guts will always be right. So if you detect some negative energy in your life, the safest decision is to walk away.

Don’t Take Everything to Heart

Someone might say something insensitive towards you. 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.

Ignore them

Narcissists crave attention. Don’t give it to them. They can and will find someone else to pick on.

The Bottom Line

The truth is that no one is perfect. Well, a narcissist believes otherwise. Don’t be so obsessed with the idea of protecting yourself such that you forget to live and enjoy yourself. You may end up a sad, depressed soul and discover that you are lonely and unhappy when it is already too late to change things. People will always have flaws, and I think that is what completes us in our human nature. Dating a narcissist may be the equivalent of a dangerous dance with the devil, but hey, at least you get to dance in the long run. I hope the above answers the question: how do empaths protect themselves from narcissists. In the end, what counts is whether you found happiness in your relationship.

Related Topics:empath empathy narcissists

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Katya Ki

Katya Ki is the Founder of SOLANCHA Magazine, a Metaphysical Expert, a Reiki Master, and Human Rights Attorney. She has been studying Eastern metaphysics, cosmology, and esotericism for almost 20 years now. And she's still discovering new knowledge, which is hidden in ancient teachings. During her pilgrimage to the monastery of Saint Catherine in Egypt, she discovered the SOLANCHA System. This is how the SOLANCHA journey started!

Relationships

Relationship Anxiety: 8 Signs You Have One & What to Do About It

Published

3 months ago

November 16, 2022

SOLANCHA STAFF

How do you know you have relationship anxiety? Let’s face it; we are all slightly anxious in relationships. Sometimes, you are unsure if you are pulling them closer or pushing them away. Worse, you never know what the future holds.

It is normal to feel anxious. The issue is when you experience it to unhealthy levels. Read on for the tell-tale signs of relationship anxiety and tips on how to overcome it.

What is Relationship Anxiety?

Many times, anxiety is felt in new relationships. However, it’s nothing uncommon to experience it in long-term relationships. If you are already anxious in other life situations, you will most likely experience anxiety, even in long-term relationships.

Relationship anxiety is when people in a relationship have too much fear and worry to the extent it harbors toxicity or hinders it from being fulfilling and healthy. Many psychologists argue that such anxiety is not just for a romantic relationship. It is also experienced in platonic relationships.

8 Signs of Relationship Anxiety

Here are signs that may indicate anxiety in a relationship:

#1: Extreme fear of opening up

Holding back when starting a relationship is normal. However, as you build it, you and your partner need to open up to each other. People with relationship anxiety are afraid of letting their partners into their lives. They’re scared that their partners will use their vulnerability against them or that the partner may not just like what they see.

#2: Jealous when your partner is away from you

This is often mistaken for cuteness. However, if you feel jealous whenever your partner spends time with their friends or family without you, you experience anxiety. This goes hand in hand with being clingy or needy.

#3: Feelings of low self-esteem in the relationship

If you feel inferior in your relationship, you could be battling relationship anxiety. This could result in feeling that your partner is too good for you. Also, if your feelings of self-worth are attached to how your partner treats you, it is a possible sign of anxiety.

#4: Overanalyzing situations

It is common to constantly overthink situations such as missed calls, delayed replies, or your partner sleeping early. Besides, if you read deeply into your partner’s words and actions, it is a sign to watch out for.

#5: Need for constant reassurance

Reassurance from our partners is very much needed. You need to compliment and reassure each other. However, if it is a big deal if your partner does not do it that one time, you are probably facing anxiety issues in that relationship.

#6: You overlook issues that genuinely bother you

For instance, if your partner is always late and it bothers you, but you don’t bring it up because you are afraid it will turn into a fight. In any relationship, you should be able to bring up things that bother you without fear.

#7: Doubting your partner’s intentions and feelings for you

People with relationship anxiety will always doubt if their partner truly loves them, even if they have it clear. Also, if you constantly worry that they want to break up, it is a sign.

#8: Missing out on the good times

If you spend most of the time thinking about the bad things that could happen rather than enjoying the good times in the relationship, you are probably facing relationship anxiety.

What Causes Relationship Anxiety?

There is no single or definite cause of relationship anxiety. The causes vary significantly from person to person. To understand what causes your relationship anxiety, you may do a thorough self-check and introspection.

Here are some common causes of relationship anxiety:

#1: Unpleasant experiences in past relationships

Your past experiences will permanently shape your future. If your partners in previous relationships cheated on you, lied about their feelings, or mistreated or broke up with you unexpectedly, you may be anxious in the subsequent relationships.

#2: Low self-esteem

With low self-esteem, you will always doubt yourself and your worth. This will play a significant toll on your relationship. With this, you will always need reassurance or question every move your partner makes.

#3: Attachment

The attachment style you developed as a child can be secure or less secure. People with less secure attachment styles often had their needs dismissed in their childhood. Think about your childhood relationship with your parents and caregivers and how they impact your current relationships.

How Can You Overcome Relationship Anxiety?

It would be best if you overcame relationship anxiety to build a healthy and meaningful connection with your partner. Apply the following tips to overcome it.

#1: Get Trauma Therapy

One great way to overcome it is to talk to a therapist.

A therapist can help you:

Identify childhood trauma that led to the relationship anxiety you are having;
Develop secure attachment styles;
Calm down your anxiety.

Therapy can also make you a better communicator. Many issues arising from relationship anxiety go hand in hand with poor communication skills. It would be best if you become a better communicator to express your feelings and fears.

#2: Try Being More Mindful

Try focusing on the moment more and not the future or the past. Relationship anxiety is magnified by the fear of the unknown and thinking about all the bad experiences from the future. We do not mean that you should forget all your experiences. We are saying you should learn to acknowledge what you feel every moment and move on.

This is one tangible way to enjoy a relationship fully without overanalyzing the negatives. Do not worry about the future; focus on being happy in the moment.

#3: Build Other Relationships

Relationship anxiety is worse for people with no one else apart from their partners. Have other meaningful relationships outside of your romantic relationship. Have hobbies you can do when not with your partner. This way, you can pursue your partner part-time. Even if they go out without you, you still have something to do instead of worrying about them. You will also live without the fear of ending up alone in case of a breakup.

Relationships

Gaslighting in a Relationship: 10 Red Flags & How To Handle It

Published

4 months ago

October 14, 2022

SOLANCHA STAFF

Gaslighting in a relationship can be a real nightmare. Unfortunately, many people do not spot it early. And even when they spot it, they do not know the right way to navigate through it. Gaslighting is when the other party makes you question your own experiences and feelings. In a relationship, your partner may psychologically manipulate you to think you remember or feel things wrong.

So What Are the Signs of Gaslighting in a Relationship?

Many people get gaslighted in relationships but do not notice it. However, staying in that environment is psychological torture. In many cases, it does not happen at the start of the relationship. Your partner may build a solid and trustworthy relationship with you. Then, when you are too deep and strongly attached, the gaslighting starts. This is one primary reason why people do not recognize gaslighting.

Below are the common signs of gaslighting in a relationship.

#1: Lying to you

If your partner is a pathological liar, you may want to look deeper at whether or not they invalidate your experiences and perception. Gaslighters are often habitual liars; take note of that. Many times, their stories or excuses are lies. But despite this, they will firmly take their stand and won’t back out even if you call them out.

#2: Gossip about you

One thing about gaslighters is they try to win people on their side. With more people on their side, you are more likely to start second-guessing yourself. The only way to win people on their side is to gossip about you. They will expose your vulnerability to others, all to appear like the party on the right side.

They will also twist their stories and tell you what people think about your emotional state. Such people target spots that are sensitive to you, which they know will hurt the most.

#3: They distract you

Have you ever asked somebody a question, and they answer you back with a question? That is one tactic a gaslighter will use.

Their answers will often be along the lines of:

Are you crazy?
Are you even listening to yourself?
Why don’t you trust me?
Why do you keep following me around like a child?

Such distractors will take you down, which is their winning point.

#4: Invalidating your feelings and emotions

A gaslighter will never recognize how heavy emotion is on you. They will always invalidate it and say you are overreacting. They will tell you to stop being overdramatic or too sensitive. With this, your instincts will tell you to step and coil back into a shell, which is a gaslighter’s goal (when you cannot express your feelings).

#5: Strong on the blame game

A gaslighter is always right. This is why all the blame will always come back to you. If you are in a relationship with someone who is always the victim, they could be very calculating with their gaslighting. If you call them out on anything, they will find a way to shift the blame to you. You will always be the reason behind their bad behavior.

They will never take responsibility for their bad behavior. Or they will say that they did it because you pushed them to do it.

#6: They coat their behaviors with sweet words

Gaslighters are very calculating. They make you feel like you are in the wrong when it is them. They will, therefore, use sweet and compassionate words to blind you. When you call them out, you will hear things like, ‘You know how deeply I love you….”, or, “I would never cheat on you on purpose….”

They know that these words make you feel good. You may fall for them, but they are all inauthentic.

#7: They retell the story wrongly

When in a relationship, you two know the details of an incident when it happens. However, a gaslighting partner will go out there and retell the story to favor themselves. They may omit parts to suit what they are trying to achieve. Or they may include parts or twist them to make you look bad.

If they omit, exaggerate or twist incidents to make themselves better before others, they have mastered the art of gaslighting well.

#8: They never let you talk during a fight

Gaslighters can be too loud or talkative during a conflict. They will cut you off or constantly invalidate you; you won’t just get the chance to express yourself.

A psychologist notes that many people resort to sending long messages and emails to express their feelings. Many people may not recognize this, but it is a clear sign of gaslighting in a relationship; you cannot express yourself well with your partner, and the only way out is to send them long messages.

#9: They never apologize

If you express your hurt feelings to your partner, the only sane thing for them is to listen and apologize if they are in the wrong. However, gaslighters would rather die than apologize. It is not unpopular for them to shift the blame on you and expect you to apologize for their mistakes.

In a healthy relationship, all partners make mistakes. And it is only suitable for them to apologize. However, if you are the only one ever apologizing, yet your feelings are hurt, chances are high you are being gaslit.

#10: You are voiceless in the relationship

A gaslighter makes you feel guilty every other single time a conflict arises. They may also make you feel too needy; you decide to start keeping to yourself. They will always blame you when you express your hurt feelings.

With accumulated guilt, you may decide to start keeping to yourself. If you feel like you cannot express your feelings, or your partner has made it clear that they are not a safe space to talk about what you genuinely feel, they are probably gaslighting you.

How to Deal With Gaslighting?

Here are some tips for dealing with gaslighting in your relationships:

Confront your partner about their gaslighting. Many people do not know they are gaslighting others, so call them out.
If your partner is narcissistic, for the sake of your well-being, walk away from a such relationship.
Get support from friends and professionals.
Understand that it is not your job to stop the gaslighting pattern. But it is your job to protect yourself; walk out if the gaslighting persists.

Relationships

Karmic Relationships: 8 Undeniable Signs That You Are In One

Published

5 months ago

September 14, 2022

SOLANCHA STAFF

Are you in a passionate relationship that seems to be hitting turbulence every other day? All relationships indeed have ups and downs. But the situation is different with karmic relationships. A karmic relationship’s lows are low, and the highs and very high. It feels like strong waves carrying you.

Karmic relationships are meant to teach you a specific karmic lesson. People in karmic relationships often think they have found their soul mates. But the turn of events in their relationships later proves them wrong.

How do you know when you are in a karmic relationship? Read on to find out more.

What Is a Karmic Relationship?

A karmic relationship is highly passionate yet complicated to maintain. It feels like a raging fire consuming you. It gives you all the adrenaline you need but sometimes burns you too. Knowing you are in a karmic relationship won’t take long. The turbulence and the passion all hit from an early stage.

Here are signs that you are in a karmic relationship.

#1: Instant connection

Was it love at first sight? That is one of the signs that you could be in a karmic relationship. Sometimes if the chemistry is from the word go, it could be due to the connection you had in your past life. If you find that you have everything in common with a person you just met, be on the watch out. It could be the start of a high tidal karmic relationship.

#2: Consistent break-up/make-up cycle

A karmic relationship is filled with a lot of drama. One of the dramas that stand out is the break-up/make-up cycle. When broken, you feel like you cannot take it anymore. You literally cannot live without them; the attraction is magnetic. However, as soon as you make up with them, you are faced with lots of lows, and you break up again.

Healthy relationships may have drama too, but at a lower level. If you are locked up in the daily drama, it is a sure sign you are in a karmic relationship. Another significant issue is the tendency to create big mountains out of small anthills

#3: There is an overflow of emotions

There will always be a roller coaster of emotions in a karmic relationship. One minute you feel consumed in love, passion, and lust. The next minute, you literally cannot stand the person. You know you are caught up in a karmic relationship, if you’re constantly juggling between too much love and too much detest.

Also, you may feel addicted to each other.

#4: Repetitive behavior

You might be in a karmic relationship if you constantly have fights about the same things. You fight about an issue, solve it today, and think it is done. However, the same issue arises tomorrow, and it causes another full-blown fight.

The highs of a karmic relationship happen due to you and your partner’s high compatibility. However, the incompatibility results in constant and repetitive fights. If you have to keep solving the same issue every other day, you may want to look at the state of your relationship.

#5: You feel drained

Karmic relationships can exhaust you. A lot of times, the draining is mental and emotional. However, you may also feel physically exhausted. The repetitiveness, fear, and everyday drama are exhausting. It is normal to feel stressed in such relationships.

Sometimes, you will feel like you cannot take it anymore. However, you find yourself hanging in there for fear of ending the relationship.

#6: Fearfulness

Sometimes, a karmic relationship may feel like walking on eggshells. The relationship is very volatile and unpredictable. You do not know how the situation will be the next minute. Also, you live in constant fear of the highs suddenly turning into lows or the relationship ending.

If you always feel like you are treading on dangerous grounds, you may want to assess your relationship deeply.

#7: One-sided

Karmic relationships are typically one-sided. If one person crosses oceans for their partner, while the other cannot even jump a puddle for the sake of a relationship, chances are high that it is a karmic relationship.

A one-sided relationship is not difficult to point out. It is always clear that one partner loves the other way too much. If you feel like you cannot survive without your partner, but they can easily survive anything without you, it is one-sided.

The codependency in the relationship makes it difficult for you to break it even when you know it is toxic.

#8: There is nothing much going on outside your relationship

Is it just the two of you by yourselves? No other friends, passions, or hobbies? If it feels like you are pursuing your partner 24/7, you are in a karmic relationship.

This is one reason karmic relationships are difficult to break; you have nothing to return to at the end of the relationship. You have no friends or passions you pursue. The loneliness after breaking up with your partner will send you back into the relationship.

What Do You Do When You are in a Karmic Relationship?

When you find yourself in a karmic relationship, remember that it is meant to teach you a karmic lesson about yourself, unconditional love, patience, forgiveness, and relationships in general.

Until we learn the karmic lessons that relationships provide for us, we won’t be able to break the cycle. Even if you break up with your partner, the karmic lessons you haven’t learned from this relationship will manifest in the next one. You will be repeating the cycle until you learn the lesson.

Breaking up with a karmic partner will only cause you pain if you haven’t learned the lesson. However, when the lesson is learned, it won’t be difficult for you to finish the relationship peacefully and harmoniously without causing pain to yourself or your partner. Therefore, don’t rush to end your karmic relationships. Dive deeper into the lesson instead. Learn what needs to be learned, whether it’s acceptance without judgment, compassion, unconditional love, or self-love. It’s only after you have learned the necessary lesson that you’ll be able to finish the karmic cycle.

To help you with this process, you can perform the karmic relationship healing practice to let go of unnecessary negative cords. This practice will help you to remove the unhealthy attachments and make it easier to end the karmic cycle.