According to a Psychologist, Narcissists Always Display This One Trait. Here’s What to Do If You See It

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) manifests in a multitude of ways, often leading to confusion and distress for those involved. When asked, psychologist Kathleen Saxton discussed the importance of understanding the signs and to steer clear of any tendencies narcissists display.  “The criteria for being diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder is a wide spectrum… around 0.5%–1% of people will be formally diagnosed, but the number of people with narcissism is growing.”

Narcissists 101

Despite its prevalence, NPD remains widely misunderstood and misused as a term. Saxton emphasizes the need for vigilance in identifying behaviors linked to narcissism, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships where manipulation can be done subtly yet are extremely damaging.¹ A hallmark trait of narcissists, as noted by Saxton, is their way of withholding attention and affection as a means to control their partner. This tactic is often used during the early phase of a relationship (AKA “the honeymoon phase”) and involves over-the-top displays of affection followed by a sudden withdrawal and indifference. Victims find themselves trapped in a love bombing/emotional neglect cycle and struggle to reconcile the hot and cold behavior coming from their partner.²

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The Manipulation Tactics of Narcissists 

Stonewalling, the silent treatment, withdrawing their affection, and unexpectedly disappearing without explanation are common techniques designed to cause emotional pain and assert a feeling of need. Research has suggested that these forms of withholding can activate the same parts of the brain as the ones during physical pain, showing just how profound these behaviors can be to victims.

Experience the calming power of Ashwagandha—take control of stress and support emotional balance by adding this natural adaptogen to your daily routine today!

Reclaiming Power

Despite this, victims have the opportunity to reclaim their power from narcissists. Be sure to plan a safe exit strategy during these withdrawal periods to be ready to leave without letting the narcissist know. Legal advice, financial independence, and emotional support are all excellent ways to lower any risk of retaliation and manipulation from their abusive partner.

Practice Self-Care and Productivity

When narcissists start withholding their affection, you can use it as an opportunity for self-care and personal growth. Engaging in meditation, exercise, and reaching out to your support networks can help combat the biochemical addiction while fostering resilience and self-esteem; a win-win. By redirecting focus to more constructive pursuits, survivors can diminish the narcissist’s hold while strengthening their own.

Painful Lessons for Future Empowerment

Surviving abuse from narcissists does give insight into better identifying and avoiding toxic relationships in the future (but that’s not a good reason to get into one!). Recognizing early warning signs will help with setting firm boundaries, and survivors will be able to better protect themselves from further harm. While not the ideal path to learning, the painful lessons from a narcissistic relationship will empower partners to build connections based on mutual respect and authenticity.

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Relationships with Narcissists: Dos and Don’ts

It’s important to adopt effective coping mechanisms when interacting with narcissists. Getting familiar with NPD and its signs, seeking therapy, and working on yourself are all critical steps in understanding and addressing narcissistic dynamics.³

Impact of Stress on Narcissism

Research indicates that narcissists, especially those with vulnerable narcissism, experience heightened stress responses. Vulnerable narcissists show stronger emotional and physiological reactivity to stress, including elevated cortisol levels and negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and shame when faced with social evaluation or setbacks. This contrasts with grandiose narcissists, who tend to have blunted cortisol responses and may show more resilience or less perceived stress, sometimes even displaying positive affect after stress. However, both types of narcissism are linked to increased stress, with vulnerable narcissists being more sensitive and reactive, which may be due to their fragile egos and underlying insecurity. This stress can reinforce their grandiosity as a coping mechanism, masking deep insecurity and increasing their overall stress burden, which may predispose them to various health problems such as cardiovascular disease and depression.

Ashwagandha as a Natural Aid for Stress in Narcissism

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a well-known adaptogenic herb in naturopathic medicine, widely used to help manage stress and anxiety. It works by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates cortisol secretion—the primary stress hormone. By promoting a balanced cortisol response, ashwagandha helps reduce the harmful effects of chronic stress on the body and mind.

Clinical studies have shown that ashwagandha supplementation can significantly lower cortisol levels, reduce subjective stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality and fatigue. The active compounds in ashwagandha, such as withanolides and sitoindosides, exert calming effects by enhancing neurotransmitter activity, including increasing GABAergic transmission and modulating serotonin levels, both of which contribute to mood stabilization and reduced anxiety456.

Integrating Ashwagandha in Managing Stress-Related Narcissism

Given that narcissistic individuals, particularly those with vulnerable narcissism, experience elevated stress and cortisol levels, ashwagandha may be beneficial in supporting their stress management. By lowering cortisol and promoting emotional calm, ashwagandha could help reduce the physiological and psychological stress reactivity that exacerbates narcissistic vulnerabilities. This may aid in improving mood stability and resilience, potentially mitigating some of the negative health outcomes associated with chronic stress in narcissism.

Stress contributes to the development and maintenance of narcissistic traits, especially the vulnerable subtype, by increasing cortisol and emotional reactivity. Ashwagandha, through its adaptogenic and neurochemical effects, offers a promising natural intervention to help manage this stress, supporting both mental and physical health in individuals prone to narcissistic stress responses.

Conclusion

By recognizing the signs of narcissism and using proactive strategies for self-care and empowerment, you can break free from the cycle of abuse. Being able to cultivate fulfilling connections is what having a partner is all about.

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