Narcissism is more than mere selfcenteredness. It isn’t just the person who walks into a room and commands attention. It’s pervasive and insidious. And being abused by a narcissist isn’t like flicking a light switch where one day they’re nice and the next they’re not. It’s slow, and it chips away at the core of who you are without you even realising it. This is what makes it so hard, because narcissists do all of this behind closed doors – they have one face for the public and one for you. It’s vital to know the signs of a narcissist, so you know what you’re dealing with and can help protect yourself.
Overt narcissism
An overt narcissist is someone who thinks they ’re incredibly special and important. They believe they ’re better than everyone else and want everyone to see them that way, too. They love attention and will do things to get it, such as bragging about themselves or showing off their achievements, even if they ’re not that amazing. Overt narcissists often lack empathy. This means that they don’t really understand or care about how other people feel. They might say or do things that hurt others without even realising it. They also tend to be really good at manipulating people to get what they want. They might be very charming or use flattery to make others do things for them. Overt narcissists also feel entitled; they think that they deserve special treatment and that the rules don’t apply to them. If they don’t get their way, they can get angry or upset. But despite their confident exterior, many overt narcissists actually have low self-esteem deep down. They use their big personality and bragging to hide their insecurities. Dealing with an overt narcissist means setting boundaries to protect yourself and taking care of your own wellbeing, as they may not prioritise your feelings or needs.