Dealing With a Narcissist: What You Need To Know

Mar 06, 2025

I'm sharing this article with you because I'm deeply disappointed and torn between what's happening in Canada and the US. These are two nations that have stood by each other for decades.

This article is NOT based on a political viewpoint, but on one from psychology and research.

The Current Situation

What President Trump is saying about Canada and fentanyl is false and a lie. Particularly the justification for the 25% tariffs. These are misrepresentations told by the world’s most powerful president. And others around him MUST follow these lies because all hell will break out if they don't.

The reason why I want to share this is because success in business and life requires being surrounded by the right people. But before you can surround yourself with the right people, you must know what category they fall into. Knowing who you're dealing with is the foundation. There are four categories: green, amber, red, and crash zone. I have another article that explains each in more detail. Click Here.

Trump is in the crash zone, and this is because he struggles with a high level, if not the highest level, of narcissism. I refer to someone high on the scale as a narcissist throughout this article. We all have narcissistic traits; however, some people have far more serious behavioral issues. I encourage you to do your own research on narcissism and its characteristics. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a serious personality disorder affecting those diagnosed with it.

My Personal Experience

I have a strong understanding of what it's like to deal with a person high on the narcissism scale. My life was significantly impacted by certain individuals who created chaos for years. I couldn't figure it out. I have a strong ability to navigate my mind, emotions, and relationships, yet this situation was different. I had no bearing or solid ground as to what was happening. I had no clue how to deal with them until I learned the specifics of narcissism.

As a performance and positive psychology researcher, practitioner, trainer, and advisor, I didn't realize that non-psychopaths could behave this way. I came across the term narcissism in my studies, but never experienced any deep relationships with narcissists. I had no clue who they were. I lacked expertise in this field initially, but I've undergone extensive training and learning over the past three years. I have a strong understanding, but am by no means an expert.

Most psychiatrists and psychologists are not trained to deal with narcissists. Those who are, know what I'm talking about. They must absolutely be an expert to help a person dealing with it themselves or those interacting with one.

My friends, the entire world is dealing with someone right now who has extreme power in his hands. Those around him cannot deal with him because they lack the psychological expertise.

Many professionals see individuals with severe narcissism as destroyers of people and society. Trying to make sense of why a narcissist does what he or she does is futile. They are designed to create chaos and drama. It's difficult to outsmart one because most people can't think like them. They are missing a key element of being human, the sense of self, which is the core of humanness.

How To Deal With A Narcissist

There are three ways to deal with a narcissist:

Accept them and the turmoil they cause. Know that it will not get better and will only get worse with time. The more emboldened they get, the greater their influence and impact.
Stay away from them. Put them in the dangerous category and treat them as hazardous materials. Their behavior spreads like a toxin and infects everyone around them.
Have clear and firm boundaries and stick to them. Do not bend, hesitate, or falter. Narcissists are built to exploit. They will take advantage of every weakness. It's part of their nature.

The Chaos

There is terrible confusion about narcissists. They are often seen as masterful or intelligent (which they can be), but what they are is truly exploitative and entitled. They bully and push forward, either overtly or covertly, because others do not understand how to stop them.

Their entire sense of being is self-preservation, and it's all about them. Even though they may at times show signs of caring about others, they are not built to. It's a fleeting moment that creates false hope.

A person or nation cannot win when dealing with a narcissist unless they know what a narcissist is. There is no compromise; the narcissist must either win or submit. The only other option is for them to get psychological help and work through their psychological and emotional challenges. Many narcissists do NOT change even when everything around them falls apart, including themselves.

The biggest challenge with a narcissist is that you often give everything to please them, hoping for a better outcome. But it never materializes because narcissists don't change unless they are forced to. Ultimately, you will waste your life and energy believing in false hope.

Research-Based Behaviors of a Narcissist

See if you can find similarities in the behaviors below with individuals you work with or have personal relationships with.

Please note that a person does not have to exhibit every behavior to be on the higher scale of narcissism.

Below are the key behaviors:

Antagonistic: They are not collaborative and are constantly opposing. It’s their way or the highway. They may appear willing to compromise on the surface, but it’s a show.
Inconsistent Behavior: Narcissists often dislike parameters for themselves and exhibit inconsistent behavior. You wonder why they don't follow basic rules or guidelines.
Lack of Sense of Self: They have little or no sense of self. There is something missing deep in their core.
Feel Empty: They constantly feel empty and need to be entertained, create drama, or play the victim. They can't sit in moments of calm, especially by themselves.
Inability to Self-Reflect: They lack the ability to self-reflect on their words or behavior. Mainly because they lack a sense of self. They can't reflect on something they don't have.
Superficial Attributes: They may come across as smart, intelligent, good-looking, and stylish. Beyond that, there's very little inside.
Cognitive, but Not Connected: They can think during conversations, but it's difficult for them to connect deeper with others.
Weak Moral Compass: Narcissists often lack a strong moral compass. They may speak about it, but doing it is another thing.
Emotional Immaturity: They tend to be emotionally immature and make impulsive or irrational decisions.
Exploitation of Others: Narcissists exploit people to get the most out of them. They use people and eventually discard them when they have little use for them.
Drama: Drama and turmoil seem to follow them around. They often point to others as the cause even though it's them.
Objectification: They see people as objects, leading to a lack of healthy connections.
Manipulation: They lie and gaslight, causing you to doubt your reality. Eventually, you think you're missing something, or there's something wrong with you.
Blame Shifting: Narcissists often blame others for their mistakes. They rarely take accountability.
Projection: They project their ill thoughts or actions onto others, often unconsciously. They'll blame you for doing or thinking something even though they are doing it.
Demand for Loyalty: They demand loyalty but aren't loyal themselves. They can treat you like crap, but will not tolerate it in return.
Need for Validation: Narcissists require constant validation and confirmation. You must keep telling them how good they are.
Constant Comparison: They always compare themselves to others and need to be better.
Fragile Ego: They have a fragile ego and cannot take criticism.
Boundary Issues: They hate boundaries and design situations to keep you off balance.
Isolation Tactics: They can socially isolate you through triangulation, leaving you alone. They will pit people against each other.
Entitlement: Narcissists feel entitled and want special treatment all the time. They may not say it, but they feel it.
Inconsistent Empathy: They have inconsistent empathy, sometimes appearing empathetic at times, but not at others.
Energy Drain: Their antagonistic nature can completely drain your energy.
Self-Preservation: They are always in a state of self-preservation, cutting others down to feel better.
Future-faking: They tell you that things will be better in the future, and that they will change, but never do. You are left hanging on to a vision that never materializes.

Now What?

You may have identified a person in your life who is one. The question is, “now what?” That depends on your goals and what you are willing to tolerate.

Personally, I can tell that I have made a solid commitment to myself. I will NOT do any business or get into any type of relationship with a narcissist. The only exception I have is if they are in treatment for their condition AND are making progress.

If someone with narcissism is impacting your life, consider seeking help from a skilled professional in this field. Please do not see your average therapist. You must ask them about their training, experience, and credentials in dealing with this condition.