Last updated on February 11th, 2025 at 11:41 pm
When you stop chasing a narcissist, they may show intense anger or ‘narcissistic rage‘, feel angry, confused, unpredictable, get hurt and often respond with manipulative behavior designed to regain control.
It’s is like pulling the plug on their primary power source. Suddenly, the spotlight they so desperately crave vanishes, and this can trigger a range of fascinating and sometimes frightening reactions.
In this post, we’ll explore the world of narcissism and how does a narcissist react when you stop chasing them.
Key Takeaways
- Narcissists often react with anger or rage when they lose your attention.
- They might try to manipulate you back with love-bombing or playing the victim.
- Silent treatment is a common tactic used to provoke a response.
- Narcissists may quickly seek new sources of validation when ignored.
1 Why Narcissists Create A Dynamic Of Being Chased
Narcissists often cultivate relationships where they are pursued or “chased” by others. This dynamic serves multiple purposes for the narcissist, reinforcing their sense of importance and desirability. By creating an atmosphere of scarcity around their attention and affection, narcissists can maintain control over their relationships and keep others in a constant state of seeking approval.
1.1 Narcissistic Supply
The concept of “narcissistic supply” is crucial to understanding narcissistic behavior. This term refers to the attention, admiration, and emotional responses that narcissists elicit from others to maintain their self-esteem and sense of importance. Narcissistic supply can be positive (e.g., praise, adoration) or negative (e.g., anger, frustration). The key is that it provides the narcissist with the external validation they desperately need to maintain their grandiose self-image.
Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychology suggests that this constant need for narcissistic supply is linked to underlying feelings of emptiness and a fragile sense of self-worth.
2. The Dynamics of “Chasing” in Narcissistic Relationships
2.1 Why People Chase Narcissists
There are several reasons why individuals find themselves chasing narcissists:
- Trauma bonding: Through a cycle of intermittent reinforcement, where affection is given and withdrawn unpredictably, narcissists create a strong emotional bond. This process, known as trauma bonding, can make it difficult for partners to leave the relationship.
- Hope for change: Many partners hold onto the hope that if they try hard enough, the narcissist will change and the relationship will improve. This hope is often fueled by periods of intense affection or “love bombing” from the narcissist.
- Low self-esteem: People with low self-esteem or unresolved childhood issues may be drawn to narcissists, seeking validation and approval they didn’t receive in their formative years.
- Empathetic nature: Highly empathetic individuals may be attracted to narcissists, believing they can help or heal them. This empathy is often exploited by the narcissist.
- Excitement and intensity: The emotional highs in narcissistic relationships can be intoxicating, creating an addictive cycle that keeps partners engaged despite the negative aspects.
- Fear of abandonment: Many people who enter relationships with narcissists have their own deep-seated insecurities or fear of abandonment. Narcissists exploit these vulnerabilities to keep their partners in a constant state of seeking approval and validation.
- Cognitive dissonance: The stark contrast between the narcissist’s charming facade and their abusive behavior can create cognitive dissonance in their partners. This mental conflict often leads to denial and rationalization of the narcissist’s harmful actions.
A study done by Dr. Donald G. Dutton in the Traumatic bonding: The development of emotional attachments in battered women and other relationships of intermittent abuse found that individuals with low self-esteem and a history of trauma are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled in these toxic relationships.
“Kindness from a narcissist is called an illusion.”
― Alice Little
2.2 The Cycle of Idealization, Devaluation, and Discard
Narcissistic relationships typically follow a predictable pattern known as the narcissistic abuse cycle. This cycle consists of three main phases: idealization, devaluation, and discard.
During the idealization phase, the narcissist showers their partner with excessive affection and attention. They may engage in love bombing, making grand gestures and promises of a perfect future together. This creates an intense emotional bond and sets unrealistic expectations for the relationship. The partner often feels like they’ve found their soulmate, experiencing a level of connection and understanding they’ve never felt before.
As the relationship progresses, the narcissist begins to show their true colors in the devaluation phase. They may become critical, dismissive, or emotionally abusive. The partner is often left feeling confused and desperately trying to recapture the initial “magic” of the relationship. This phase can be particularly damaging to the partner’s self-esteem and sense of reality.
In the final discard phase, the narcissist may abruptly end the relationship or dramatically reduce their investment in it. This can be devastating for the partner, who has likely become emotionally dependent on the narcissist.
3. Initial Reactions When You Stop Chasing a Narcissist
3.1 The Loss of Narcissistic Supply
First 24-48 Hours Response Patterns
The narcissist’s emotional reactions become intense right away. Research confirms that narcissists see rejection as a direct attack on their identity. My observations show they switch between aggressive outbursts and desperate attempts to win people back.
The narcissist’s first response almost always involves denial. They won’t accept the rejection and try to keep control through manipulation.
3.2 Impact on Narcissist’s Self-Image
A narcissist’s self-image is often fragile. When you stop chasing them, it challenges their sense of superiority and control. They might react by devaluing you or the relationship, convincing themselves that they didn’t need you anyway.
3.3 Rage, Power Play, Ego Protection and Retaliation
One of the most common initial reactions from a narcissist when you stop chasing them is intense anger or rage. This emotional outburst serves multiple purposes for the narcissist, acting as a power play aimed at intimidating you into resuming the chase.
The rage response can manifest in various ways, from verbal outbursts to more subtle forms of aggression. The narcissist may lash out with insults, threats, or attempts to manipulate your emotions.
3.4 Insults, Aggression and Verbal Abuse
In their attempts to regain control and protect their ego, narcissists may resort to verbal abuse, insults, and aggressive behavior. This can include personal attacks on your character, appearance, or abilities, belittling your achievements or goals, making threats or ultimatums, and engaging in public humiliation or embarrassment. T
3.5 Defensiveness: The Narcissist Lashes Out
Once a narcissist realizes you’re really pulling away, their next reaction is often anger. They may lash out with harsh words or blame you for everything wrong in the relationship. This anger comes from a place of fear and insecurity.
Some ways a narcissist might express anger include:
- Yelling or having angry outbursts
- Sending mean text messages or emails
- Putting you down or insulting you
- Threatening to leave or hurt themselves
- Breaking things or slamming doors
This phase can be scary and upsetting. Remember, the narcissist’s anger is about them, not you. They’re trying to regain control by making you feel bad.
Along with anger, narcissists often get very defensive. They’ll make excuses for their behavior or twist things around to blame you. They might say things like:
- “You’re too sensitive.”
- “I never said/did that. You’re making things up.”
- “If you weren’t so needy, I wouldn’t act this way.”
- “You’re the one with the problem, not me.”
3.6 Fear of Abandonment
When you stop giving a narcissist the attention they crave, it can trigger a deep-seated fear of abandonment. This fear is often masked by their outward confidence, but it lurks beneath the surface. Narcissists depend heavily on external validation to prop up their fragile self-esteem.
Without it, they’re left feeling vulnerable and exposed. This fear of being left alone can lead to desperate attempts to pull you back into their orbit, often using manipulative tactics like guilt-tripping or love bombing.
3.7 Loss of Control and Its Consequences
Control is everything to a narcissist. When you stop chasing them, they feel a significant loss of control over the relationship. This loss can lead to erratic behavior as they scramble to regain their footing. You might notice sudden mood swings or even attempts to undermine your confidence.

3.8 Coping Mechanisms Employed
To deal with the discomfort of losing their grip, narcissists often resort to various coping mechanisms. These can include:
- Denial: Convincing themselves they never needed you in the first place.
- Projection: Blaming you for the relationship’s problems to deflect their own insecurities.
- Seeking new supply: Quickly finding someone else to fill the void you’ve left.
3.9 Playing the Victim Card: Poor Me!
Another common reaction is for the narcissist to suddenly portray themselves as the victim. They may claim that you’re being cruel or unfair by withdrawing attention, accuse you of abandoning them when they need you most, or exaggerate or fabricate personal problems to elicit sympathy.
A narcissist playing the victim might say things like:
- “How could you do this to me after all I’ve done for you?”
- “No one has ever hurt me like this before.”
- “I guess I’m just unlovable. Everyone always leaves me.”
- “I can’t live without you. I’ll fall apart if you go.”
3.10 Narcissistic Hoovering Attempts: Trying to Suck You Back In
“Hoovering” is a term used to describe a narcissist’s attempts to suck their victim back into the relationship, much like a vacuum cleaner. When you stop chasing them, a narcissist may employ various hoovering techniques to regain your attention and engagement. These can include sudden declarations of love and promises to change, “accidental” encounters or reaching out through mutual friends, grand gestures or gifts, and feigning illness or crisis to elicit care and attention.
Hoovering can take many forms:
- Suddenly being super nice and attentive
- Making grand gestures or gifts
- Promising to change or get help
- “Accidentally” running into you in public
- Reaching out to your friends or family
- Pretending to need your help with something
The goal of hoovering is to reel you back in.
3.11 Abuse by Proxy and Unleashing “Flying Monkeys”
When direct attempts to regain control fail, narcissists may resort to “abuse by proxy” by enlisting others to do their bidding. These individuals, often referred to as “flying monkeys” (a term derived from “The Wizard of Oz”), may be mutual friends, family members, or even new romantic partners. They might reach out to you with messages from the narcissist, try to guilt you into reconnecting, or spread rumors or negative information about you.
3.12 Identifying Flying Monkeys
My practice shows that flying monkeys come in two distinct types: benevolent enablers and malevolent actors. You can spot these individuals through specific behaviors:
- They side with the narcissist whatever the evidence
- They spread rumors and gossip about you
- They dismiss or minimize your feelings
- They pass information about you to the narcissist
- They use manipulation tactics to make you doubt yourself
Of course, many flying monkeys don’t realize their role. They believe they help resolve a conflict, unaware of their own manipulation.
3.13 Handling Mutual Friends
My clients’ experience shows that managing mutual friendships brings unique challenges. The emotional toll combines with a real concern: these friends might become unwitting information channels to the narcissist.
Here are the key points to think about when dealing with mutual friends:
- Establish clear information boundaries
- Share minimal details about your life
- Observe their behavior patterns
- Distance yourself from those who relay information
- Focus on building new, healthy relationships
3.14 Protecting Your Reputation
My years of counseling show how narcissists systematically try to dismantle their target’s support network. They often launch campaigns to damage your reputation right after you stop chasing them.
These proven strategies will help protect you:
- Document all interactions and keep records of any harassment
- Maintain professional relationships separate from personal drama
- Focus on building strong, genuine connections with trusted individuals
- Avoid engaging in public disputes or defending yourself on social media
3.15 Smear Campaigns: Turning Others Against You
If all other attempts to regain control fail, a narcissist may launch a smear campaign against you. This involves spreading false or exaggerated negative information about you to mutual friends, family members, coworkers, or even on social media. The goals of a smear campaign are typically to damage your reputation and credibility, isolate you from your support network, and provoke you into responding, thus re-engaging with the narcissist.
A narcissist might:
- Tell your friends and family that you’re “crazy” or abusive
- Spread rumors about you at work
- Post negative things about you on social media
- Try to turn your kids against you (if you have children together)
3.16 Triangulation: Using Others to Get to You
Another common tactic narcissists use is called triangulation. This means bringing other people into the situation to try and make you jealous or insecure.
Some ways a narcissist might use triangulation include:
- Flirting with others in front of you
- Talking about how great their ex was
- Suddenly posting lots of pictures with other people on social media
- Telling you how much attention they’re getting from others
- Using your friends or family to relay messages to you
Triangulation can be very hurtful. It’s normal to feel jealous or upset when you see a narcissist seeming to move on quickly. But remember, this is all for show. Narcissists struggle to form real, deep connections with anyone.
3.17 Social Media and Digital Manipulation Tactics
My clinical practice has revealed a troubling pattern of narcissists weaponizing social media after you stop giving them attention. Let me share what I’ve discovered about their digital manipulation tactics and how you can stay protected.
Online Stalking Behaviors
Narcissists often resort to digital surveillance when you withdraw attention. They might create multiple anonymous accounts to monitor their former partners. These fake profiles serve multiple purposes:
- They track your daily activities
- They watch your friend connections
- They save screenshots of your posts
- They monitor your location check-ins
- They watch your interactions with others
Their sense of entitlement makes them believe they deserve to know about your life even after you’ve cut contact. They might block you on certain platforms while staying connected on one to keep tabs on you.
Social Media Smear Campaigns
A narcissist’s smear campaign can cause serious damage. My clients have experienced them spread false narratives through digital channels. Their usual targets include:
- Mutual friends and acquaintances
- Family members
- Professional connections
- Online communities
3.18 Financial and Professional Retaliation
My experience as a workplace psychologist has shown me countless cases where narcissists release professional and financial warfare after losing control. Here’s what you should know about protecting yourself from these devastating tactics.
Common Workplace Tactics
Workplace retaliation follows predictable patterns. Narcissistic colleagues or supervisors use these harmful strategies:
- Spreading false rumors about incompetence
- Intentionally withholding vital information
- Taking credit for your work achievements
- Creating obstacles to block your progress
- Undermining your control with team members
Financial Manipulation Attempts
My career has taught me how to direct clients through complex financial abuse situations. Money becomes their control tool. They might drain joint bank accounts or make big purchases without consent.
Financial abuse escalates when you stop giving them attention. They may:
- Cut off your access to shared resources
- Hide or manipulate assets
- Refuse to pay shared expenses
- Make unreasonable financial demands
- Reduce their income to avoid obligations
3.19 Family Dynamics and Children Considerations
My psychological practice has faced its toughest challenge in working with families affected by narcissistic behavior. Experience taught me that children make stopping the chase much more complex.
Co-Parenting Challenges
Traditional co-parenting rarely works with narcissistic ex-partners. Narcissistic parents view their children as extensions of themselves rather than independent individuals.
My practice recommends parallel parenting because it works better. This approach limits direct interaction between parents yet keeps the focus on children’s needs. A business-like arrangement helps parents maintain emotional distance.
- Keep communication strictly about children
- Use written communication channels only
- Document all interactions
- Maintain separate decision-making processes
Protecting Children From Manipulation
Narcissistic parents can cause lasting emotional damage to children. They often use children as pawns in their control games, leading to deep psychological effects.
My clients learn to protect their children from manipulation by:
- Creating a safe emotional environment
- Confirming children’s feelings and experiences
- Maintaining consistent routines
- Documenting concerning behaviors
- Getting professional support as needed
4. Increased Attempts at Manipulation And Reconciliation
4.1 Love Bombing And Grand Gestures
When initial attempts to regain control fail, a narcissist may revert to love bombing tactics. This involves showering you with excessive affection, attention, and grand gestures reminiscent of the early stages of your relationship.
4.2 Future Faking
Future faking is a manipulative tactic where the narcissist makes grand promises about your future together to lure you back into the relationship. They might talk about marriage or long-term commitment, having children or starting a family, buying a house or making other significant life changes.
4.3 Guilt-Tripping And Playing The Victim
If love bombing and future faking don’t work, the narcissist may switch to guilt-tripping tactics. They might remind you of all they’ve done for you in the past, claim that you’re abandoning them when they need you most, or exaggerate or fabricate personal problems to elicit sympathy.
This emotional manipulation is designed to exploit your empathy and make you feel responsible for the narcissist’s well-being.
Guilt-tripping can be particularly effective because it taps into your sense of obligation and care for the narcissist. They may use phrases like “After everything I’ve done for you…” or “I don’t know how I’ll survive without you” to make you question your decision to distance yourself.
4.4 Gaslighting: Manipulation and Control
Gaslighting is a particularly insidious form of psychological manipulation where the narcissist attempts to make you question your own reality. When you stop chasing them, they might deny or downplay their past abusive behaviors, claim that you’re overreacting or being too sensitive, or insist that you’re remembering events incorrectly.
Some common gaslighting phrases include:
- “That never happened.”
- “You’re too sensitive.”
- “You’re imagining things.”
- “You’re crazy.”
Learning to spot gaslighting is crucial for breaking free from narcissistic abuse on time.
A study published in the American Sociological Review found that gaslighting is a common tactic in abusive relationships and can have severe long-term effects on victims’ mental health.
4.5 Devaluing-Discarding
If all attempts at reconciliation fail, the narcissist may resort to a final cycle of devaluing and discarding. This involves suddenly becoming cold and distant, criticizing you harshly and pointing out your flaws, or abruptly ending the relationship or dramatically reducing contact.
This behavior serves multiple purposes for the narcissist: it protects their ego by framing the end of the relationship as their choice, it’s a final attempt to provoke an emotional reaction from you, and it sets the stage for potential future hoovering attempts.
4.6 The Silent Treatment: The Cold Shoulder
The silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse where the narcissist completely withdraws communication as a way to punish you and regain control. When you stop chasing them, they might ignore your calls, texts, or attempts to communicate, refuse to acknowledge your presence in social situations, or withhold affection or emotional support.
The silent treatment serves a few purposes for the narcissist:
- It’s a form of punishment. They’re trying to make you feel bad for pulling away.
- It’s a way to regain control. They hope you’ll get anxious and reach out first.
- It protects their ego. By withdrawing, they don’t have to face rejection.
- It creates mystery. They hope you’ll wonder what they’re up to and get curious.
5. Understanding the Psychology Behind These Reactions
Narcissists often display a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. When someone stops chasing them, it triggers a series of psychological responses rooted in their deep-seated insecurities and fear of abandonment.
5.1 Fear of Abandonment and Loss of Control
At the core of narcissistic behavior lies a profound fear of abandonment. When you stop chasing a narcissist, it activates this fear, leading to:
- Intense anxiety about losing their source of attention and validation
- Desperate attempts to regain control over the relationship
- Escalation of manipulative tactics to draw you back into their orbit
5.2 Narcissistic Injury and Narcissistic Rage
Narcissistic injury occurs when a narcissist’s inflated sense of self is threatened. This can lead to narcissistic rage, characterized by:
- Intense anger and aggressive behavior
- Verbal abuse and emotional manipulation
- Attempts to devalue and discredit the person who has stopped chasing them
- Make threats
- Destroy property
- Become physically aggressive
5.3 The Role of Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance plays a significant role in a narcissist’s reaction. When faced with the reality that someone has stopped pursuing them, narcissists often experience conflicting beliefs:
- Their belief in their superiority and irresistibility
- The evidence that someone has chosen to walk away from them
To resolve this dissonance, narcissists may:
- Rationalize the situation to protect their self-image
- Engage in self-deception to maintain their sense of grandiosity
- Project their feelings of inadequacy onto others
5.4 Narcissistic Collapse
In extreme cases, when a narcissist’s defenses are overwhelmed, they may experience what’s known as a narcissistic collapse. This is characterized by:
- A breakdown of their grandiose facade
- Intense feelings of emptiness and worthlessness
- Potential for self-destructive behaviors or severe depression
6. The Narcissist’s Internal Struggle
When you stop chasing a narcissist, it initiates an intense internal struggle as they grapple with the loss of attention and validation.
6.1. Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a state of psychological stress that occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. For narcissists, this dissonance can be particularly acute when someone stops chasing them:
- They believe they are superior and deserving of constant attention
- Yet, someone has chosen to withdraw that attention
6.2. Conflicting Beliefs About Self-worth And Rejection
Narcissists often struggle with:
- An inflated sense of self-importance that demands constant validation
- Deep-seated feelings of inadequacy that they desperately try to suppress
When someone stops chasing them, these conflicting beliefs come to the forefront, causing:
- Intense anxiety and emotional instability
- Fluctuations between grandiose behavior and periods of insecurity
- Increased need for external validation from other sources
6.3 Behavioral Shifts Observed
When faced with cognitive dissonance, narcissists often exhibit noticeable changes in behavior. They might become more aggressive or defensive, particularly if their self-worth feels challenged.
Cognitive dissonance doesn’t just affect the narcissist. It also significantly impacts victims of narcissistic abuse, leading to confusion and emotional turmoil.

6.4 How Narcissists Rationalize The Situation
To protect their fragile sense of self, narcissists employ various defense mechanisms to rationalize the situation:
- Projection: They might accuse the other person of being narcissistic or manipulative, projecting their own traits onto them.
- Denial: Some narcissists may simply refuse to acknowledge that the other person has stopped pursuing them, maintaining a false reality.
6.5 Devaluation of the Relationship
When a narcissist faces rejection, they often resort to downplaying the significance of the relationship. They might act as if it never held any real value to them. This is a defense mechanism to protect their fragile ego.
6.6 Reconstructing Their Self-Image
Rejection can severely threaten a narcissist’s self-image, leading to a need for reconstruction. They might rewrite the narrative of the relationship, casting themselves as the victim or the hero. This helps them rationalize the rejection and preserve their self-worth.
They often engage in self-aggrandizing fantasies where they are still in control or where the other person comes crawling back. This reaction is deeply rooted in their fear of inadequacy and need for superiority. Ultimately, it’s a way to cope with the emotional turmoil that rejection brings.
7. Seeking New Sources of Narcissistic Supply
When faced with the loss of attention from someone who has stopped chasing them, narcissists often quickly seek out new sources of narcissistic supply to fill the void.
7.1. Moving On Quickly To New Relationships
Narcissists may engage in a pattern known as “narcissistic orbiting,” where they:
- Rapidly enter into new relationships or rekindle old ones
- Showcase these new relationships on social media or in public
- Use these new connections to provoke jealousy or regain the attention of the person who stopped chasing them
7.2. The Cycle Of Idealization And Devaluation With New Targets
As narcissists move on to new relationships, they often repeat a predictable cycle of idealization and devaluation. This cycle, sometimes referred to as the narcissistic abuse cycle, typically involves three phases:
- Idealization (Love Bombing): In this phase, the narcissist showers their new target with excessive affection and attention. They may present themselves as the perfect partner, mirroring the target’s interests and desires.
- Devaluation: Once the narcissist feels secure in the relationship, they begin to devalue their partner. This can involve criticism, emotional manipulation, and various forms of emotional abuse.
- Discard: If the partner fails to provide the desired narcissistic supply or challenges the narcissist’s control, they may be discarded. The narcissist then moves on to a new target, restarting the cycle.
8. Long-Term Effects of No Contact on Narcissists
8.1 Narcissistic Collapse
When you cut off contact with a narcissist, you might trigger something called a “narcissistic collapse.” This is when their carefully built image starts to fall apart. Without someone to feed their ego, they often feel empty and lost. They might even get depressed or have thoughts of self-harm. It’s like their whole world is crumbling because they don’t have the constant praise they crave.
8.2 Potential for Self-Reflection
Now, while a narcissist might face these intense feelings, there’s a small chance they could start looking inward. This period of no contact might push them to think about themselves in a new way. But let’s be honest, real change is rare. Most narcissists don’t suddenly become self-aware or change their ways unless they get professional help.
In a nutshell, going no contact can really shake up a narcissist’s world. They might feel lost and try to find new ways to get the attention they need. But don’t expect them to change overnight. Blocking a narcissist and sticking to no contact can be tough, but it’s often essential for your own well-being.
9. Communication Changes When the Chase Ends
9.1 Erratic Communication Patterns
When you stop chasing a narcissist, their communication style can become unpredictable. They might switch between being overly attentive and completely ignoring you. This inconsistency is often a tactic to keep you on edge, making you question your decision to step back.
9.2 Manipulative Language Use
Narcissists are known for their manipulative texting habits. Once you stop chasing them, expect a shift in their language. They might use guilt trips, subtle threats, or even flattery to pull you back in. Their words are carefully chosen to provoke a response, keeping you emotionally hooked.
9.3 Attempts to Re-Establish Contact
After you decide to stop chasing, a narcissist might attempt to re-establish contact through various means. They could use social media, mutual friends, or even unexpected calls to get your attention. This is often part of their strategy to regain control or simply to test if they can still influence you.
Conclusion
Stopping the chase with a narcissist is a brave and powerful act. It’s the first step towards reclaiming your life and your happiness. Yes, the narcissist may react in hurtful or manipulative ways. But their reaction is not your responsibility.
Your job now is to focus on your own healing and growth. Surround yourself with supportive people who value and respect you. Take time to rediscover who you are outside of the narcissist’s influence.
Narcissists use predictable tactics to regain control. They switch between love bombing, social media manipulation, financial retaliation and smear campaigns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Narcissists Respond When Ignored?
Narcissists typically react negatively when ignored, as it challenges their sense of superiority and need for constant attention. They may intensify their manipulative tactics to regain control and attention. This behavior stems from their deep-seated insecurities and fragile sense of self-worth, often leading to emotional abuse in relationships.
Do Narcissists Want You To Chase Them?
Yes, narcissists often crave being pursued as it feeds their need for external validation. The chase provides them with a sense of power and importance, reinforcing their inflated sense of self. This desire for attention is rooted in their deep insecurities and constant need for narcissistic supply.
What Happens When You Stop Giving A Narcissist Attention?
When deprived of attention, narcissists often experience a sense of emptiness and may react with intense anger or aggressive behavior. This reaction stems from their reliance on external validation to maintain their self-image. The lack of attention threatens their sense of superiority and control.
How Does A Narcissist Feel When You Move On?
When you move on, a narcissist often experiences a complex mix of emotions, including anger, fear, and sometimes even panic. Their sense of control is threatened, and they may feel a profound loss of narcissistic supply. This can trigger their deep-seated fear of abandonment and feelings of inadequacy.
What Is A Narcissist’s Reaction To Being Called Out?
When confronted, narcissists often react defensively, employing various manipulation tactics to avoid accountability. They may gaslight, deflect blame, or become aggressive to maintain their false sense of superiority. This reaction stems from their inability to accept criticism and their need to preserve their grandiose self-image.