You can become a slave to alcohol or gambling or cocaine, and you have likely seen how people have destroyed their entire lives in the face of such harrowing addiction. But can you actually be addicted to a narcissist?
Can a relationship be just as toxic as hard drugs or other dangerous compulsions? Can this dynamic be just as severe or life-threatening?
What Does Addiction Really Mean?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a chronic medical disease that entails complex interactions within brain circuits, environmental factors, and unique life experiences. They continue to say that people with addiction use substances or participate in compulsive behaviors regardless of dangerous consequences.
If you consider addiction using their framework, compulsive behaviors in your relationship can include:
- Continuously rescuing the narcissist from their problems.
- Repeatedly giving the narcissist money (even if you don’t have much or any to give).
- Making excuses or lying about the narcissist’s behavior.
- Obsessing about the narcissist’s behaviors or whereabouts.
- Using drugs, alcohol, or food to cope with the stress of being with a narcissist.
- Allowing the narcissist to be in your life despite the negative consequences.
These behaviors can interfere with normal functioning, and that’s when a dynamic often transforms from problematic to addictive.
Think about it. Instead of balancing your relationship with other responsibilities like work or taking care of your children, the narcissist consumes almost (or all) of your daily energy. They leave little room for anything else, and your relationship becomes the center of your world.
Is Addiction to a Narcissist a Real Thing?
Although it isn’t recognized as an official diagnosis, many mental health professionals use the term love addiction to describe dysfunctional relationship patterns.
Love addiction can be a controversial topic- most people are not really love addicts outside of a toxic relationship. Additionally, narcissistic abuse syndrome can mimic addiction, as it can release similar chemical reactions as other compulsive issues. In this case, narcissistic abuse can certainly feel just like (and in most cases IS) a biochemical addiction.
When you’re with a narcissist, you might obsess over the relationship, just like another person might obsess over heroin. Similarly, a breakup or divorce can result in highly intense withdrawal symptoms.
Your relationship may begin as a shield against unresolved pain. For example, you may have endured trauma or have low self-esteem, and you hope that the relationship will heal that distress. Unfortunately, the relationship continues to cause more pain.
Many partners tend to cling to relationships because they fantasize about what could be. For example, you might romanticize the narcissist and see them for their potential. Or, you might experience tremendous empathy for their upbringing, causing you to feel responsible for helping them heal.
In psychology, these fantasy assumptions are called magical thinking. You assume you can change the outcome of something based on a specific behavior or decision you make. Magical thinking can have its benefits (it can feel good to be optimistic), but it often leads to resentment and animosity regarding relationships.
Are You Struggling With Addiction To The Narcissist?
Narcissistic addiction intersects with narcissistic abuse. A vulnerable partner seeking love and validation may unconsciously enter relationships with emotionally avoidant people (like narcissists).
This biochemical addiction can happen if you have some or all of the following characteristics:
- Becoming obsessed with new relationships quickly.
- Trying to cause drama or conflict in the relationship to keep it exciting.
- Struggling with being alone or single.
- Needing ongoing validation from your partner and others.
- Wanting to evoke feelings of jealousy in your partners (to test their loyalty).
- Playing games with your partner to keep them “guessing” and interested.
- Enduring abuse because it feels better than being alone.
- Feeling immense loneliness or anger when your partner is physically absent.
- Sacrificing your own needs or interests for your partner’s.
- Ignoring blatant red flags in the relationship.
At first, it can seem like the narcissist is also addicted to the relationship because of all the drama and excitement.
Narcissists may use many manipulation techniques to keep the relationship afloat. But the fear isn’t necessarily about abandonment- their motives are about having control and power. It isn’t about keeping you and avoiding your rejection- it’s about them feeling important and worshipped.
Why Do We Get Addicted To A Narcissist?
It can seem so strange- why would you intentionally seek harm? Why would you ever want to feel belittled or condemned?
There are a few explanations for why this addiction to a narcissist happens. Let’s review them.
Love-Bombing Feels Good
Who doesn’t love feeling like they’re absolutely perfect?
Love-bombing can be intoxicating- you feel this sense of unconditional love coupled with euphoric spikes of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. At first, the narcissist seems like the person of your dreams! They’re so different from your previous partners, and you may even feel as obsessed with them as they are with you.
It’s easy to get hooked to this captivating feeling. It can be incredibly seductive if you’ve had trauma or poor relationships in the past. Feeling like someone completes you- even if the love-bombing phase is short- becomes a feeling you want to chase again and again.
Devaluing Compels You To Want More Love-Bombing
All love-bombing eventually ends. At some point, the narcissist realizes that the relationship can’t “save” them from themselves. But this realization isn’t about you- it happens when your connection no longer fuels their entire narcissistic supply.
When that happens, because the narcissist cannot look inward to change themselves, they project their rage onto you. You’re why the relationship isn’t working. You’re the problem.
This devaluing can occur suddenly- and it often feels downright confusing- but it always hurts. And so, because you probably want to keep your partner happy, you naturally start reflecting on how you can be a better person.
Instead of working together to make a healthier relationship, you assume responsibility for the problems. You try to guess what the narcissist needs, and you attempt to make different changes based on these wild guesses.
They Keep You Trapped
Narcissists often identify cooperative partners to create codependent relationships. Then, they prey on your good nature and empathy to keep you hooked on them.
This abuse often happens subtly. For example, the narcissist might insist they make enough money and encourage you to quit your job and focus on yourself. At first, this gesture can seem innocent and even generous. But they may be trying to foster your dependence on them. If they can remove you from external resources (and validation), you become more reliant on the relationship.
Narcissists also tend to play the victim with loved ones. For instance, they may threaten to kill themselves if you leave. Or, they may insist that they just need another chance for them to prove that they can change.
These manipulation techniques are often incredibly effective. They pull at your heartstrings- they make you feel like you have no other choice but to stick it out. The narcissist knows how this dynamic plays out, and that’s why they continue harming you this way.
The Relationship Becomes Your Identity
Toxic relationships feel so addictive because you don’t know where you end and the person begins. If you have spent years with the narcissist, you have built a life together. You may only know yourself as their partner or spouse.
If you’re with a narcissist, you probably struggle with your self-esteem. You may falsely assume that you need the narcissist. To make matters worse, they might have convinced you that you can’t function without them.
When this happens, the idea of leaving the relationship can feel impossible. You may surrender to the mindset that this is your life now. And so, you continue enduring the chaos. No matter how much it hurts, it feels better than the thought of being on your own.
It’s a Familiar Cycle
If you’ve been with a narcissist in the past, you may recreate the relationship over and over again.
Unfortunately, this pattern is often subconscious. Because narcissism can manifest in different forms, you might not recognize the abuse until you’re already invested in the relationship.
You might be more prone to repeating the narcissistic abuse cycle if:
- One or more of your caretakers was narcissistic.
- You struggle with a substance addiction.
- You have low self-esteem.
- You have limited financial resources.
- You lack solid interpersonal support.
While you can’t control all of these risk factors, it’s essential to be aware of them. Developing insight is the first step towards making change. Once you know your triggers, you can create a plan for how you intend to cope with them.
Breaking Free From Your Addiction
Have you ever heard the famous line, Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Think about how this quote applies to your relationship. It all feels a bit insane, doesn’t it?
Many times, people must quit their addictions cold-turkey to heal. The same mindset applies to relationships with narcissists.
Because they cannot meet your needs, you will continue feeling underappreciated and disrespected if you stay together.
Of course, this process feels exhausting. And just like any other addiction, it can destroy your livelihood and ravage your self-esteem.
Conclusion
Going no-contact is the best approach for breaking free. When you cut off all ties with the narcissist, you allow yourself to reclaim your identity and start a new life.
Get Started On The Stages of Healing After Narcissistic Abuse
One of my greatest passions is helping previously victimized people become empowered. If you are ready for this astounding upleveling, the best thing you can do is join the Break Free community.
My best recommendation is to find an online program to keep you on track and to offer support. The Break Free Program has been vetted by therapists and neuropsychologists as an effective step toward getting over narcissistic abuse. Aside from keeping you safe from narcissists, it also empowers you to go out into the world with confidence.
Join Break Free and learn to:
- ✅ Dramatically overpower your addiction to the narcissist so you can stop being their victim
- ✅ Get to a place of acceptance so you can stop doubting yourself over your decision to heal your life
- ✅ Set limits and create stronger boundaries against emotional manipulation that has caused you to act out of character
+ so much more!
Just click the link to join:
