Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who’s the most toxic of them all?
A narcissist ruins your whole life
Brings you nothing but trouble and conflict
Oh my! Good information, thanks for the warning!
Mirrors are perfect for showing narcissists their bad behavior, so if you’re brave enough, let’s find out when they catch their reflection…
Better be patient – it’s definitely a tough journey!
What Is A Narcissist’s Reflection?
When you reflect someone, you’re acting like a shiny object hanging on your wall. Whatever they’re doing, you’re showing them.
Related : Victims Share The ONE Phrase That Left Narcissists Speechless
Mirrors are useful! They help us drive, they’re useful for keeping an eye on ourselves, and they help us make sure we look presentable – they serve important purposes.
Mostly, we’re happy to check ourselves out in the mirror. We want to see, and seeing gives us a better idea of what’s staring back at us. Makes sense, right?
What do narcissists think of mirrors?
Well, if you show someone a mirror, they’re likely to take a quick look at themselves. It’ll be very superficial; I mean, they won’t want to look too much.
That’s surprising, isn’t it?
Why wouldn’t a narcissist—someone who loves themselves—want to stare at themselves in the mirror for long periods of time?
Because, in fact, they don’t like what they see.
Imitating a narcissist means becoming that mirror. You show them everything they do, mimicking their ways and reflecting them back in a way that reveals their behavior.
In fact, narcissists use their own reflection when they first meet someone, and this has probably happened to you.
They pretend to be your ideal partner by mimicking your interests, behaviors, and even the way you speak.
But when this mirror is deliberately turned upside down, it serves a different purpose:
To make them see their toxic behavior for real.
Related : How One Text Message Can Completely Destroy A Narcissist’s Control Over You
Let’s look at some examples.
They ignore you?
You also keep quiet.
Are they deceiving you?
You pretend not to understand.
They blame you?
You refuse to take responsibility.
They demand attention?
You ignore them.
When you imitate a narcissist, you disrupt their manipulation of you, and five things happen.
The5StagesOfANarcissistReactionToTheirMirror
- Confusion:
“Wait… What’s happening?”
This is a fun stage to watch. Narcissists are robbed of control. Instead of falling into the trap of imitation, you suddenly find yourself imitating them.
This is a confusing time for the narcissist; they don’t expect you to turn things around like this. Using their tactics directly against them is confusing.
For example, if they usually hold you back, they expect you to beg for their attention. If you ignore them, they won’t know how to respond.
Likewise, if they try to trigger your guilt and you respond with indifference or even coldness, they lose their balance.
Watch them try to cling to life!
- Frustration:
“Why aren’t you reacting?”
Once they realize that the tricks they usually try aren’t working, frustration sets in.
Narcissists need emotional feedback from others to maintain control, or their world will fall apart.
Related : Narcissists Give Up When You Stop Doing THIS!
When you imitate them and are unmoved, they try to push you further and further, hoping you’ll crumble.
This is when they may accuse you of being the problem. Does this sound familiar? Maybe because you know exactly what I’m talking about.
This is when narcissists begin to feel a loss of control, and it terrifies them.
The obvious discomfort is almost humorous.
- Anger:
“How dare you treat me like this?”
Bursts! What a nightmare for a narcissist, who is furious at being treated this way.
Don’t you know who they are?
Here you’ll see them accuse you of being abusive or manipulative. Furthermore, they’ve also been known to lash out, insult you, or even threaten you.
If someone feels completely cornered, they may play the victim to regain control. Watch out for tears here; they’re inevitable.
This shows how insecure they are, doesn’t it?
- Desperation:
“I need to regain control.”
It’s only natural for a narcissist to want to regain that control. If the situation continues as it is, they won’t really feel they have anything to worry about.
If their worst fears of losing control over you are realized, they’ll do anything to get you back.
Be prepared to be showered with love, or be overly kind and loving in an attempt to distract you from what you’re trying to manipulate.
I’m sorry, I promise I’ll change. Please believe and trust me on this.
Just don’t roll your eyes. It’s a way to control, nothing more.
Don’t give up like most people do at this point.
- Withdraw or Give Up:
“I need a new source.”
The narcissist realizes they can no longer do what they used to do, so one of two things will happen.
They withdraw and try again later.
Related : How To Accidentally Drive A Narcissist Crazy, Without Really Trying
Withdrawing before retesting the situation is common for narcissists. Don’t be fooled.
They abandon you and look for a new target.
When they realize you’ve finished imitating their first act, they’ll abruptly abandon you.
Finding someone new to control is easier than trying to convince you that you’re imagining things.
But getting rid of them is a victory! It means you’ve won!
Is Imitation of Narcissists Effective?
I want to say yes and no, because I’d be lying if I told you it’s either one or the other. Let’s look at both options in more detail.
When Imitation Works
When you want to show the narcissist their behavior without being directly confrontational.
When you need to protect yourself by refusing to engage in the urge to confront them.
When you plan to leave them and need to be able to remain emotionally detached.
Mirroring is not a long-term strategy. While it may give you temporary strength, it won’t change the narcissist. It will never push them toward self-reflection.
When Does Mirror Become Dangerous
If the narcissist becomes physically abusive or violent after you begin mirroring, that’s a warning sign in itself, but it’s a signal to leave now.
Related : 20 Things That Completely Ruins a Narcissist’s Day
If they’re extremely vindictive and prone to revenge, prepare for what’s to come.
If you’re emotionally vulnerable and know you may suffer the consequences, don’t set yourself up for even more suffering.
How To Use Mirror Safely
If you choose to mirror a narcissist, there are ways to do it right.
You must remain calm and collected. Don’t insist on recounting what you’re doing. Just focus on mirroring their behavior, not on an emotional response.
Use their words against them. If they say:
You’re too sensitive!
…Respond with:
Maybe you’re being overly sensitive about this conversation.
See how that works? You’re highlighting the hidden traits of a narcissist!
I don’t want you to overuse mirroring. Narcissists pick up on this quickly, so try to use it selectively to disrupt their tactics and know when to walk away.
Should You Mirror A Narcissist?
I’ll leave that to you!
You have everything you need to know to better assess your situation.
