Overcoming Narcissistic Men

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Ph.D. in dating Narcissistic men. Just kidding, you can't get a Ph.D. in that, but I've got enough experience to get some Emeritus status somewhere. Lol! Maybe, the School of Hard Knocks.

Want to overcome your addiction to Narcissistic men, read on. The article highly our antihero, Narcissus, the original mythological Narcissist, and how to overcome Narcissistic men to find real love. I know how much loving a man like this sucks, so I hope this article helps you out.

The concept of Narcissism is loosely based on the Myth of Narcissus, a man so in love with himself that he could not love another. Narcissus was a hunter. They never said what he hunted, but I’m pretty sure it was vagina and lots of it. He wowed the maidens and then tossed them aside. No matter how impressive, incredible, fantastic, gorgeous, and brilliant the maidens were, his plan was always the same: F them, then forget them. In the tale, the Maidens killed themselves to prove their love was real.

But, how well did these maidens even know Narcissus? Were the maidens really in love with Narcissus or the idea of who he could be? Did they really want Narcissus or to be the most wanted?

Here's the story of the last Narcissistic man I dated and the lesson I finally learned.

Late one evening I decided to do online dating. Loneliness is hard to take, so I looked for someone to click with. His super sexy dating profile talked of money, cars, homes, and looking for his princess to pamper and treat like gold. All he wanted to do was to find "The One." But when we connected at 12 am on a Tuesday night the story changed to, “When are you coming over to give me a BJ?”

I feel in love with his profile, not the man. I kept trying to twist the conversation back to PG rated topics, after all he sounded great and I didn't want to be that kind of girl. He would give me a few, get-to-know me answers, and then steer the conversation right back to his dick. He refused to meet me for more than coffee, and he told me all women were alike, and none were special, and all they wanted were dinners.

I decided to make it my mission to be the one to prove him wrong. After all, I'm a Masters Level Therapist with a good career, and I specialize in saying the right things to help people to heal themselves. If anyone could fix a broken, twisted man, it was me. I would prove my worth to win the prize. I offered him homemade soup. I offered to get him medication when he was ill. I made it clear I was smart and going places. I offered to help him fix his home.

All he wanted was sexual favors, and he sent me five dirty texts a day, then one or two- get to know me texts- when I chastised him. I loved the push-pull drama. I wanted the fairy tale life and a Prince with a plane to save me, even if I had to play games to get him interested.

He relished how annoyed I would get by him talking sexually which made him more turned on because he wanted to dominate me into submission. Finally, I asked, "Where did the guy in the profile go?" His reply: "My friend wrote it." Some friend!!!

Wait, could I meet that friend instead, or was he the same way too?

Unfortunately, I ended up the loser. I lost self-respect. I slept with him. It was the emptiest moment of sex I had ever experienced in my life. I lost dignity and what mattered most in life, being my own best friend. However, I learned I was shallow, codependent, and emotionally unavailable for healthy love because I didn't love myself.

When a man has a way of operating with women, no woman, regardless of her worth, looks, or, winning personality can make him change.

I could have chosen to pursue anyone; I had free will. I picked him because I was unhealthy. I realized I couldn't heal anyone who doesn't want to be treated, especially if they don't think they have a problem. I realized I wanted him because I distrusted men and he fit the bill of what I knew and expected. From the male role models of my childhood, love was coupled with distrust and insecure support.

Unfortunately, as an adult unaware of my pattern, I sought partners that perpetuated my childhood education. My idea of normal love was actually dysfunctional love. What I thought were the butterflies of love, was an addiction to anxiety and pain. I realized that by saying "yes" when I wanted to say "no" I was violating my boundaries. I re-injured my self-esteem. He didn't do it to me, I did it to myself. I've been in Codependents Anonymous and private therapy ever since.

When you’re with the right guy, it’s easy. You don’t have to prove your worth. They know it, and they make you feel at ease and special, no matter who you are in the moment. A weak man will make you feel scared; a strong man will make you feel peace.

Maya Angelou put it best, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." So, don't believe the charming person who loved and bedded you and go into denial about the rest. Believe the whole picture and understand that if you stay, you'll get more of the same. Narcissistic men will only love you when they want something from you. Plus, if you have to change someone to love you, do you love them or even like them? Don't' confuse love with lust. Love is unconditional; whereas, lust is conditional.

So, here's the takeaway. If you blame the Narcissistic man for your mistake, that makes you the victim. The victim mentality achieves nothing but anger, poor physical health, and more of the same. And if you blame yourself, you'll stop trusting your judgment and feel self-pity and depression. The best thing to do is to identify the issues behind choosing a Narcissistic man. Then, after you're all better date better men.

So, remember, when someone shows you who they are, save yourself the trip to hell and believe them the first time.

And if you do decide to make the trip to hell, you can get yourself back by working on the issues that led you to the dark side of love. History will repeat unless you take responsibility for your choices.

Be your own best friend. Don't date these types of men. Heal and find yourself again.

You're worth it!!!