To an empath, the most dangerous kind of person they can give their time and energy to is a narcissist.
It’s pretty easy to see why, since narcissists stand at the exact opposite end in terms of their outlook on life and what they want to achieve.
When you see an empath and a narcissist together, it usually plays out like a game of cat and mouse, with the narcissist trying to pin down the empath while the empath tries their best not to get sucked in.
As an empath, a narcissist can definitely be a dangerous individual to your happiness and overall mental health, but there are some things you can do to keep yourself protected.
So stick around for the whole video, and by the end of it you’ll be able to avoid the traps narcissists leave for you and turn the tables on them!
Number 9: Your pity will be the end of you.
Empaths are not known to look down on others, but perhaps the narcissist is the rare exception.
While many people may see these types of people as walking red flags or too much trouble to mess with, the empath may have a slightly different reaction, instead deciding to try to empathize with the narcissist.
You see, narcissists do a good job at pretending that they care, that they want to change, or that they are actually, deep down, good people.
In reality, a narcissist may not feel these things at all, but it’s bait that most empaths will usually bite.
If you are an empath and are worried at being played by a narcissist, reining in your need to help others or to relate to them is a good skill to work on, and it should help you avoid falling into a trap.
Empaths are generally some of the best when it comes to truly understanding others and what they may be feeling, but learning when and where to use that ability can save you a lot of pain down the line when dealing with self-centered people.
Number 8: Don’t feel like you are letting them down.
Empaths understand how hard it can be to not feel like you’re being listened to, which is why they usually make such good friends.
An empath feels things so deeply that they can sometimes struggle to describe their emotions to a non-empath, so they can understand where a narcissist may be coming from when they say they feel lonely.
This, however, is not a good idea, as the narcissist may be using the empath’s kindness against them in order to manipulate them.
Empaths shouldn’t feel like they are letting the narcissist down by not opening up to them, as it usually just leads to them getting hurt down the line.
As good of a trait as it is to care about others, empaths must understand that trusting everyone that displays a bit of vulnerability can lead to a lot of suffering, and should be reserved for the people who have earned it.
Number 7: Empaths can’t stand being alone.
Although it’s true that empaths value their alone time, especially since it’s a rare opportunity to recharge their social batteries, in general you will find that most empaths would prefer to be in the presence of their friends and family than spend their time alone.
This fact alone is very important to narcissists, who generally try to isolate their friends and partners in an effort to take more control.
Empaths who are separated from their loved ones struggle much more than the average person, and it makes them more subdued as a result.
Narcissists and empaths usually have very toxic relationships because their world views and desires are so different, and the narcissist usually takes control after they are able to successfully isolate the empath.
Although most empaths tend to be accommodating, they should be extremely careful if someone is asking them to spend less time and energy with friends and family.
When empaths are alone, they are more likely to suffer from signs of depression, and also tend to lose their direction in a fairly major way.
Number 6: Empaths crave support and advice.
Another reason why empaths are more susceptible to the manipulation tactics of narcissists is that they are quick to turn to others for advice and support.
An empath is used to getting into the heads of others, and it's something they do on a daily basis, and as a result they tend to crowd-source their biggest decisions to those within their social circle.
This is actually a great trait for a friend to have, as it means they value your opinion, but it also opens them up to getting led down the wrong path.
Narcissists that have invaded the life of an empath may try to feed bad advice to the empath to get them turned around and so that they lose sight of their moral compass.
Since empaths regularly ask for advice, they may not even know that they are being influenced until it is pointed out to them by another friend or family member.
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Number 5: Empaths are very sensitive.
Being sensitive is not a bad thing, but it can leave you more open to attacks from people with bad intentions.
Empaths are some of the most sensitive people out there, as they are open and honest with their feelings and want to think the best of the world.
It doesn’t take a whole lot for an empath to feel attacked, and little jabs and remarks can really start to wear down a person with empathic abilities.
Narcissists, by nature, are pretty quick to lash out at others, and it takes a very strong defense to be able to leave a conversation with a narcissist unscathed.
When empaths hang out with narcissists for an extended period of time, it’s easy for them to become tired and a little defensive.
In many cases, a narcissist will start to use this to their advantage, and try to turn the crowd against the empath once they have no energy left to defend themselves.
Number 4: Empaths are quick to believe in a false self.
Empaths are sponges to the emotions of others, and have seen people grow and change in front of their eyes before.
The same goes for themselves, which is why a classic narcissist trick tends to work on empaths.
The trick is known as the false self, and it is a role the narcissist takes on to gain the trust of those around them.
Here they will pretend to care about hardships, give advice they don’t believe in, and in general start to behave in a way that in no way reflects their true self.
Empaths in particular seem to get drawn into this little act, and they will start to open themselves up to the person as a result.
When this happens and the empath has fallen into the trap, the narcissist will completely change up and start belittling and manipulating the empath instead.
This sudden change can shake up the empath, who doesn’t really know how to escape a situation as uncomfortable as this.
The false self is a very tricky tactic that most narcissists pull off on a regular basis, and it takes clear boundaries to properly overcome.
If you aren’t able to stand up for yourself, it is very hard to shake off this kind of behavior.
Number 3: A codependent mess.
The real reason that narcissists and empaths are drawn to one another is because they both gravitate towards codependent relationships.
As messed up as it is when narcissists use others to feel better about themselves and get what they want, empaths are also sometimes guilty of this.
Empaths like to be in relationships where they are able to help, and they often don’t feel useful unless they are assisting their friend or partner with some kind of challenge.
Because of this, empaths often prioritize the health and wellness of their partner over their own, and that can leave them feeling tired and overworked.
In simple terms, the empath generally wants to give, and the narcissist generally wants to take, which is why relationships between the two almost never end well.
Number 2: Empaths feel a lot of shame.
Shame is a really strong emotion, and it’s one that almost every human feels.
For a number of reasons, though, shame seems to be an issue that empaths deal with even more than the average person.
Many experts theorize that it has to do with the empath being able to forgive those that hurt them easily, and so they feel responsible for when things go bad even when it’s not their fault.
Whatever the reason is, shame is a weapon in the hands of a narcissist, who will often use it against the person they are trying to trick.
Therapy, meditation, and self-reflection can all help reduce the impact shame can have on a person, but it is also something that takes a lot of time and care to overcome.
Number 1: They focus more on people and not on their passions.
Empaths open up to the world easily, but sometimes they need to learn when to close off and pursue their own interests.
If all of your ties to happiness have to do with other people and what they are feeling, you are going to find it much harder to find stability and a foundation of happiness within yourself, which is a problem empaths often experience.
Focusing on your own interests and pastimes may seem like simple advice, but it is one that is often overlooked by those within the empathic community.
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