PROTECTING YOURSELF

Interacting with a person with narcissistic personality disorder can adversely affect your mental health. You can use several strategies to protect yourself, including:

• Spending time with other people who make you feel good about yourself.

• Engaging in some hobbies and activities that you enjoy.

• Setting boundaries with the person and following through on the consequences you’ve stated will occur if a boundary is crossed (eg “If you start saying insulting things about me or my partner, I will hang up the phone”). Backing down only encourages the other person to keep stepping over the line.

• Limiting contact with the person to specific days or durations.

• Restricting the kinds of information you share with them.

• Accepting you can’t fundamentally change this person. You can only control your reactions to them.

• Understanding and acknowledging that their behaviour comes from their insecurities and is not a reflection on you.

• Seeking mental health treatment can also assist those dealing with narcissists to rebuild their self-esteem and adopt healthy coping strategies.