People tend to have a lot of different types of people in their lives. There are those who are close friends and can always be relied on. Then there are those who rely on you to help them because they are vulnerable. However, sometimes, there are also toxic people who integrate themselves into your life whether it is in the form of a supposed friend, colleague, or partner.

One type of toxic person that many people have in their lives is a narcissist, but some people don't even realize that they are associating with someone that fits into this category. Narcissists, by nature, can be extremely selfish and manipulative, and they can have a huge negative impact on your life. In this article, we will look at some signs that may suggest a narcissist is trying to manipulate you.

Some of the Signs to Look For

There are various signs that could indicate you are being manipulated by a narcissist in your life. Some of the main ones to look out for include:

They Pretend to Be the Injured Party

One thing that narcissists are very good at is playing the victim, even when something was entirely their fault. They may start an argument with you but by the end of it all, they will have you thinking that they are the one being victimized. This is part of the mind games that typical narcissists are so good at. They will make you feel sympathy for them even when there is none due.

They Use Intimidation to Get Their Own Way

Narcissists are extremely manipulative people, and one of the ways in which they manipulate people is by using intimidation. Many of them rely on scaring the other person into submission by being intimidating and aggressive. This could include everything from subtle threats to actual physical violence. Worse still, by the time they are done, they will have you thinking it was all your fault and you deserved it.

They Undermine You All the Time

Another trait of the typical narcissist is undermining you all the time. For example, if you have children and you tell them they can go out to their friend's house, the narcissist will immediately undermine you while you are still present, telling them that they cannot go. This is something that can apply to many situations and circumstances, at work, at home, or in social environments.

They Make You Feel Inadequate

The aim of the narcissist is to gain total control over you, and one of the ways in which they do this is to make you feel totally inadequate. Some will attack your physical appearance – for instance, telling you that you are fat or nobody else would want you. Others focus on your achievements and belittle every little thing you do and everything you achieve.

They Make You Feel Guilty

One more thing that narcissists do in order to get their way is to make you feel guilty even when something was not your fault. If they are the person to blame for something that has gone wrong, they will somehow turn it all around so that you end up thinking that it was all your fault. This is something that they are very adept at, and most people don't realize that it is even happening at the time.

A Toxic Addition to Your Life

Sadly, a narcissist is nothing more than a toxic addition to most people's lives, and the chances are that they will never change. Unfortunately, even if you manage to cut ties with them, all they'll do is move on to another person and do exactly the same to them.