Can An Empath Date A Narcissist? No, It's Is A Toxic Match!

Last updated by Katie M.

Certain couple combinations are completely and utterly toxic, and I personally can’t think of a more dangerous pairing than an empath dating a narcissist. Although no doubt many of us would agree that this coupling seems off, we don’t exactly choose who we fall in love with, and I can definitely attest to that... As a natural empath, my abusive ex wormed his way into my heart through what I now recognize as love bombing and outright manipulation. Being the emotional sponge I am, his deviously dark traits kept me firmly under his thumb for the duration of our relationship. So, let my relationship failures be a lesson to you, and the warning you need to stay away from narcissists!

Can An Empath Date A Narcissist? No, It's Is A Toxic Match!
Contents:

I’ve always been a truly empathetic person, and can finally admit that my inherent need to save and help people have been my biggest downfall when it comes to love. Looking back, I can now see that my kindness and willingness to be present for others, truly exposed me to the toxic depravity of what certain people are capable of. Over the years, whether it’s been in friendship, or in love, I’ve been left feeling crushed once too often, yet I guess the bitter heartbreak I felt wasn’t actually painful enough to ensure I paid attention to the red flags with my ex.

>>> Find out whether or not you are an empath

I was in love with a narcissist, and it almost completely broke me

If you are anything like me, you’ll know all about the advantages and disadvantages of being highly sensitive. Empaths feel everything ten times stronger than other people, and because we have such good intentions, nothing can stop us in our quest to heal people. In other words, we are simply incapable of keeping ourselves to ourselves and NEED to feel like we are putting something good back into the world, which probably goes some way in explaining why I ended up in a toxic relationship with a narcissist.

Now, the truth is, I knew what my ex was like, I knew he was an emotional vampire. Yes, I was aware of his narcissistic tendencies, and chose to ignore them in the hope that my love and support would change him. Sadly I was wrong, very wrong… I was with my ex for over 3 years, that’s right 3 years of hellish daily abuse and manipulation. Now, like every relationship, everything started out perfectly, things were so great between us that my friends described us as couple goals, and I think this encouraged me to plunge myself further into a field of denial with regard to his behavior. It made me want to ignore his vicious codependency and fight through the issues. Although, unfortunately, things didn’t remain rosy for long, and when the narcissist abuse really kicked in I felt like I was drowning in a lonely sea of darkness, and as if my soul had lost its purity.

It’s only natural for a narcissist to manipulate an empath, that’s why they can’t be together

As much as it pains me to say, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and only the strong survive, so, with that in mind, what chance does an empath like me faced against a raging narcissist like my ex? In my case, my ex-partner was never there for me and demonstrated a clear lack of empathy towards me, although, he expected me to be his emotional support system no matter how much it would wear me down. He was completely relentless in his demands, but his controlling behavior had a hypnotic effect on me and saw me tending to his every need, despite how terrible it made me feel. Yup, there was a clear power imbalance in my relationship, and I always came out on the losing side. I was his figurative punching bag, and I’d always allow him to unload his aggressive, damaging, and entitled attitudes onto me. This was certainly a one-way relationship, and in my honest opinion, an emotionally abusive one too!

Being an empath doesn’t mean I couldn’t walk away

Believe me, I tried with every fiber of my being to salvage my relationship, but my ex just wasn’t prepared to address his issues, which meant working towards something healthy was completely out of the question. Realizing that I deserved better was a tough journey, but thanks to the support of my friends and family, I eventually got there and was able to walk away permanently. I could no longer sacrifice my own personal growth and wellbeing for someone who was unwilling to reciprocate my feelings and efforts.

>>> Read up on what happens when an empath leaves a narcissist

Editor’s opinion - Being an empath doesn’t mean you have to suffer

Walking away from a relationship is a troubling prospect for many of us, although it’s even tougher for empaths who believe they have a duty to save those that they love. The truth is, not everyone can be saved, and not everyone wants to be saved either. This realization should act as a wake-up call for people to put their own happiness first, instead of sacrificing it for the sake of others, so one that note, no, an empath should never date a narcissist!

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe

Be sure to check out these articles too;

Article presented by Katie M.

Discover the world through my eyes.

Read our latest articles here:

Psychological Abuse: Identify It To Get Out Of It

A little belittling remark here, minimizing our emotions there... So many little things that show us that we’re being psychologically abused. It may seem trivial, but that’s the problem. We downplay it too much, which makes it the most common type of abuse. So, how do you identify psychological abuse? What should you do if you’re a victim? Let’s explain.

Behavioral Disorders: The List & Their Definitions

I suffer from an eating disorder, and several people around me have a mood disorder. I’m not completely unfamiliar with behavioral disorders, or at least not these. However, there are several types of disorders and they can even affect sexual behavior. So how do you define them? Here’s a list and some definitions related to behavioral disorders.

10 Reasons Why Your Ex Slept With Someone Else After Your Breakup

We are all unique individuals, and we, therefore, go about handling breakups and the other obstacles life throws our way, differently. Now, when it comes to breakups, there are those of us that almost become celibate and decide that they can't stand the idea of getting to know anyone ever again. Then, on the other hand, there are those that fill their phones with dating apps and jump from one one-night stand to the next. This second scenario may seem harmless, but once we dig a little deeper into the repercussions of it, we soon realize that sleeping with other people so freshly out of a relationship masks troubling sentiments of unhappiness and uneasiness.

I Constantly Need Recognition

Ever since I was a child, I’ve felt like I do things according to others. My choices and my behavior have long been dictated by the approval of others. As I’ve got older, I’ve learned to assert myself and detach myself from what others might think of my actions. Why do we constantly seek this validation, and how can we get rid of this need for recognition when it becomes toxic? Having been there myself, I’ll explain it all to you!

How To Camouflage Your Cellulite At The Beach

You were well on your way. You were holding on, motivated by the idea of finally having a bikini body this year. But then the lockdowns and the laziness all hit you at once... That’s right, your cellulite is still there and not ready to leave just yet. But guess what?! Cellulite is like a little pimple, either we own it, or we resort to using tricks to camouflage it.

I Never Thought I’d Say This, But I Hate Working From Home…

Work has always been a synonym of repression for me because it takes up so much of our precious time. Let’s be honest, a 9-5 job with a horrendous daily commute often means that work is sadly our sole occupation. So, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck over a year ago, and we were all ordered to stay home, I found it hard to hide my joy in front of my distraught coworkers; although thankfully my acting talents saved me. You can probably already tell, but going into the office every day was nothing less than torture for me. Yet, all these months later, I’ve realized that I despise working from home and would do anything to sit in my uncomfortable office chair once again!

Do We Always Need To Have The Last Word?

Today, I’m focussing on a habit that drives me crazy: wanting to have the last word. It’s probably because I’m not very good at comebacks or self-confident enough that I’m both fascinated and annoyed by people who always want to be right. But why do they always want to have the last word? What’s behind it?

I Still Suck My Thumb As An Adult

In general, thumb sucking ends around the age of 6. I say “in general” and not “normally”, because as an adult I don’t feel weird or particularly bothered by it. When I get stressed, I allow myself to let go and return to my childhood self by sucking my thumb. Those who know about it or catch me by surprise make me realize I should be ashamed… But is this habit a big deal? What if it makes me feel better? It’s certainly no worse than lighting up a cigarette or biting your nails…

Why Do Hugs And Physical Contact Make Me Feel Uncomfortable?

There are people who don’t like to be touched at all, and who are almost disgusted by physical contact. There are people who like to caress and be caressed for anything and everything, and there are people like me who always recoil when someone tries to touch them. Why do I shy away from physical contact? What if it’s all linked to the past?

10 Examples Of Text Messages A Narcissist Sends

Narcissists definitely move with the times, which is why many of them constantly troll dating sites for new victims. Chatting with a manipulator of this magnitude can be a rollercoaster experience, with dizzying heights that might lead you to believe you are in love, to gut-wrenching lows which will make you question your worth. For any raving narcissist, text message exchanges are a great way to reel in victims and follow through with their master plans for ultimate control over them. Are you texting someone you suspect to be a narcissist? The examples below could confirm your suspicions.

Wengood's favorite tunes 🎵

Wengood's playlist

wengood

  1. Only LoveBen Howard
    4:08
  2. Invalid date
  3. Fix YouColdplay
    4:55
  4. Beautiful DayU2
    4:08
  5. Thinking out LoudEd Sheeran
    4:41
  6. White FlagDido
    4:00
  7. Lay Me DownSam Smith
    4:13
  8. Nine Million BicyclesKatie Melua
    3:17
  9. Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae
    3:35
  10. Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey
    4:24
  11. Imagine - Remastered 2010John Lennon
    3:07
  12. Shake It OutFlorence + The Machine
    4:37
  13. Space Oddity - Love You Til Tuesday versionDavid Bowie
    3:46
  14. What A Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
    2:19
  15. With Or Without YouU2
    4:56
  16. HelloAdele
    4:55
  17. Don't Stop Me NowQueen
    3:29
  18. Skinny LoveBirdy
    3:21
  19. WingsBirdy
    4:12
  20. Californian SoilLondon Grammar
    3:41


"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." 

- Oscar Wilde


How to detect a narcissist

How to detect a narcissist

How to soothe an anxiety attack

How to soothe an anxiety attack