Unless/until you find yourself in relationship with someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or narcisstic traits, it can be difficult to understand the unique challenges that come with navigating this treacherous landscape. Understanding attachment styles, patterns, and needs, and acknowledging your own attachment wounds and adaptive coping skills become critical to emotional survival. As gut wrenching as this experience can be, it can also be a portal to accelerated emotional development and freedom. Unsure if the person you are thinking of leans narcisstic or what that even means? While this issue is trending right now, the information you're digesting through social media is likely just scraping the surface of the reality of these concerns. NPD is a clinical diagnosis, and is rarely given by clinicians, in part because the label itself can be so stigmatizing but also because those who do exhibit narcissistic traits are not prone to engage in treatment. (Hint: that means if you're here, you are unlikely to be a narcissist, although it is common for victims of narcissistic abuse to wonder this.)  While it might be helpful to apply a label to gain insight through research or find community, the fact is you suspect you have been a victim of narcissistic abuse, you have at a minimum experienced a toxic relationship, and getting help is essential. I understand the challenges you face and the steps you need to take to take back control and heal.