Dealing with a narcissist when you’re sick can be a difficult experience. They may show a lack of empathy, exploit your vulnerability, or even use your illness to their advantage. Let’s explore some common ways narcissists treat you when you’re not feeling well.

1. Lack of Empathy

One of the hallmarks of narcissists is their inability to feel empathy for others. When you’re sick, they may minimize your pain and suffering, showing little concern for your well-being. Instead of offering support and comfort, they may dismiss your illness as trivial or use it as an opportunity to refocus attention on themselves.

Furthermore, narcissists may struggle to understand the impact your illness is having on your daily life and relationships. They may be more concerned with how your illness is affecting their routine or image than with your true health and recovery.

In some cases, narcissists may blame you for your illness, suggesting that you brought the illness on yourself or that you’re exaggerating your symptoms to get attention. This lack of empathy can leave you feeling isolated and unsupported during a time of vulnerability.

2. Exploiting Weakness

When you’re sick, you may rely more on others for help and support. Narcissists may see this as an opportunity to exploit your vulnerability to their advantage. They may use your illness as a way to control you, manipulate your emotions, or exert power in the relationship.

For example, a narcissist may use your illness as a way to guilt you into complying with their demands or giving them special treatment. They may play the role of a caring partner or friend when others are around, but behind closed doors, they may use your illness as a way to get what they want.

Exploiting your vulnerability can create feelings of discomfort and fear, as you may feel coerced into doing things you wouldn’t normally agree to in order to receive the care and support you need during your illness.

3. Emotional Manipulation

Narcissists are known for their manipulative tactics and emotional manipulation behavior. When you’re sick, they may use these tactics to undermine your reality, distort the truth, or make you doubt your own perceptions of the situation.

Emotional manipulation can be especially damaging when you’re already feeling vulnerable because of your illness. Narcissists may downplay the severity of your symptoms, deny that you’re sick, or even blame you for exaggerating or making up your illness entirely. This can leave you feeling confused, invalidated, and questioning your sanity.

In addition, narcissists may use your illness as a way to manipulate you into feeling guilty or grateful to them. They may withhold care or support unless you comply with their demands, leaving you feeling trapped in a vicious cycle of manipulation and control.

4. Selfish Behavior

One common way narcissists treat you when you’re sick is by making the situation all about them. They may monopolize conversations, shift the focus back to their own needs and desires, or ignore your pain and suffering in favor of their own agenda.

When you’re feeling unwell, it’s important to have people around you who can offer genuine support and comfort. However, narcissists may struggle to provide this kind of care, as their primary concern is usually their own well-being and self-image.

Instead of showing empathy and compassion for your situation, narcissists may use your illness as an opportunity to seek attention, validation, or admiration from others. This selfish behavior can leave you feeling ignored, unheard, and disconnected from the support you need during a difficult time.

5. Emotional Manipulation

Another way narcissists may treat you when you’re sick is through emotional manipulation. They may use your vulnerability as a way to control your emotions, coerce your behavior, or exploit your insecurities for their own gain.

For example, a narcissist may exploit your fears and anxieties about your health to keep you dependent on him for support. He may create a sense of urgency or crisis around your illness in order to pressure you to comply with his demands or give him special attention.

This emotional manipulation can leave you feeling drained, anxious, and trapped in a vicious cycle of toxic behavior. It’s important to recognize these tactics for what they are and set boundaries to protect your emotional health and well-being while you’re sick.

6. Isolation and Withdrawal

When you’re sick, it’s natural to want the support and presence of loved ones to help you through difficult times. However, narcissists may respond to your illness by isolating themselves or withdrawing from the relationship altogether.

They may avoid contact with you, refuse to visit you when you’re in need, or even disappear completely when you’re at your most vulnerable. This behavior can leave you feeling abandoned, rejected, and alone during a time when you need support the most.

Narcissists may use your illness as an excuse to distance themselves from you or focus on their own needs and desires instead of providing the care and comfort you need. This isolation can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, sadness, and helplessness as you try to recover from your illness.

7. Competition and Comparison

One way narcissists may treat you when you’re sick is by turning your illness into a competition or comparison game. They may try to outdo you by sharing stories of their own health struggles, downplaying the severity of your symptoms, or invalidating your experience altogether.

This competitive behavior can leave you feeling ignored, misunderstood, and unimportant in your own struggle. Instead of offering empathy and compassion, narcissists may use your illness as a way to elevate their own status, garner sympathy from others, or seek validation for their own struggles.

It’s important to set boundaries with narcissists who engage in this type of behavior and prioritize your health and well-being over their need for attention or validation. Remember that your experience is valid and worthy of care and support, no matter how others may try to minimize it.

8. Control and Power Dynamics

When you’re sick, you may feel more vulnerable and dependent on others for help and support. Narcissists may see this as an opportunity to exert control and power in the relationship, using your illness as a means to manipulate your behavior and emotions.

They may make decisions about your care without consulting you, ignore your preferences or concerns, or use your illness as a means to gain leverage in the relationship. This control can leave you feeling trapped, unheard, and disempowered at a time when you need agency and autonomy over your health and well-being.

It’s important to recognize these power dynamics and set boundaries with narcissists who try to exploit your vulnerability for their own gain. Remember that you deserve to be treated with respect, compassion, and autonomy, especially when you’re not feeling well.

9. Psychological Manipulation and Invalidating Your Experience

Psychological manipulation is a common tactic that narcissists use to undermine your reality, distort the truth, or make you doubt your own perceptions of a situation. When you’re sick, they may use manipulation as a way to invalidate your experience, minimize the severity of your symptoms, or deny that you’re actually sick.

This can leave you feeling confused, misunderstood, and unsupported in your struggle. It’s important to trust your instincts and seek out sources of validation who can offer genuine care and compassion during a difficult time.

Additionally, narcissists may use manipulation as a way to shift the focus back onto themselves, redirect attention away from your needs, or blame you for introducing illness into the relationship. This manipulation can create a toxic dynamic that undermines your well-being and emotional health during your illness.

10. Creating Drama and Crisis

Narcissists thrive on drama, conflict, and crisis. When you are sick, they may use your illness as a way to create chaos, stir up emotions, or manufacture tension in a relationship. They may turn your illness into a spectacle, demanding attention, validation, or sympathy from others as your caregiver or victim of your illness.

This can leave you feeling overwhelmed, drained, and emotionally drained at a time when you need peace, comfort, and stability. It is important to set boundaries with narcissists who are trying to create drama around your illness and prioritize your well-being and recovery over their need for attention or chaos.

Conclusion

Dealing with a narcissist during your illness can be a difficult and stressful experience. They may lack empathy, exploit your vulnerability, manipulate your emotions, and invalidate your experience in order to meet their own needs and agendas. It is important to recognize these behaviors, set boundaries, and prioritize your well-being and emotional health as you navigate a difficult time with illness.