Remember that kick in the stomach, the icy sting you feel when you’re not important to your lover—your partner whose actions are so indifferent that they make you feel unimportant and unwanted?

A narcissist needs to be superior to you, to be, and they have to make you small. In order to be important, you have to be unimportant. Most conflicts are based on this assumption: you question their superiority, and because of that, they have to make you small.

In this article, I’ll show you nine things narcissists do to make you feel unimportant and unwanted

1 Constant Criticism

They may relentlessly point out your flaws or mistakes, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy.

When dealing with a narcissist, you may find yourself constantly under scrutiny as they relentlessly point out your flaws or mistakes, which can make you feel inadequate. It’s like living under a microscope, where every move you make is analyzed and criticized.

Related : 13 Not-So-Subtle Signs You Might Be Married To a Narcissist

They are adept at highlighting your flaws while minimizing their own. This constant criticism isn’t meant to help you grow; It’s a way to make you feel small and insignificant. It’s a tactic to keep you on shaky ground, so you always seek their approval.

But remember, their criticisms aren’t a reflection of your worth. They’re a manifestation of their insecurities. You’re not incompetent; they’re just trying to make you believe you are. Stand tall in the face of their barrage of negativity; you’re stronger than their words.

2 Manipulation

They can erode your self-confidence by manipulating situations to instill self-doubt, making you question your sanity or judgment.

Narcissists often use psychological manipulation as a cunning strategy to erode your self-confidence, manipulating situations, instilling self-doubt, making you question your sanity or judgment. They’re experts at twisting reality, creating confusion, and leading you to distrust your perceptions.

Imagine that you vividly remember an event, but they insist that it happened differently. Little by little, they eat away at your self-confidence until you begin to doubt your memory, your understanding, and your sanity. They may say things like “You’re too sensitive” or “You’re imagining things,” making you question your own reactions.

This psychological manipulation can leave you feeling isolated, helpless, and questioning your own reality. It’s a dangerous tool in the narcissist’s arsenal, designed to make you feel unimportant and unwanted.

3 Overconfidence

Their inflated self-importance and artificial confidence can overwhelm and diminish your sense of self-worth.

Just as narcissists use manipulation to undermine your self-esteem, their overconfidence and inflated sense of self-importance can overwhelm and diminish your sense of worth.

They’ll brag, show off their bodies, and raise their voices, filled with unwarranted certainty. They’ll talk about you, dismiss your ideas, and refuse to acknowledge your accomplishments. The goal? To make you feel small and unimportant.

Their overwhelming need to be the smartest, most talented, most successful person in the room can leave you feeling ignored and devalued. They use a tactic to ensure they remain the center of attention and the center of admiration.

4 Entitlement

They often act as if they are entitled, putting their needs and desires above yours, leaving you feeling neglected or unimportant.

You may notice a sense of entitlement in narcissists, where they constantly put their needs and desires above yours, leaving you feeling neglected and unimportant.

They act as if they deserve everything, ignoring your wants, wishes, and feelings. This selfish behavior can make you feel like you’re just a background character in their brilliant performance.

They may demand attention, expecting you to drop everything to accommodate their every whim without regard for your needs or plans. Narcissists also tend to invade your personal space, assuming they have the right to do so.

They are not above dismissing your accomplishments simply because they don’t fit their inflated self-importance. Their all-encompassing sense of entitlement makes you feel small, unwanted, and unimportant.

5 Blaming

Narcissists are experts at projecting their flaws onto others. They can make you feel like you’re the one causing the problems.

In the twisted world of narcissists, it’s always someone else who’s at fault, especially when that person is you. They’ve mastered the art of blaming others, so when things go wrong, the finger is pointed at you. It’s a relentless cycle where you’re constantly accused of causing problems even when you’re not at fault.

Imagine a scenario where they’ve upset you. Instead of owning up to their actions, they twist the narrative, making you the one at fault for getting upset in the first place.

They’re quick to criticize and slow to apologize if they do. This blame game makes you doubt yourself, feel guilty, and question your worth.

6 Attacking

They may resort to personal attacks or insults, especially when their ego feels threatened, making you feel insignificant.

When a narcissist’s ego takes a hit, they often attack you personally and hurl insults at you, making you feel insignificant and unimportant. It’s not about you. Rather, it’s their defensive response to a perceived threat to their self-worth.

They may twist your words, blame you for their actions, or diminish your feelings to elevate themselves. Their attacks can be direct or subtle, but the goal is always to make you feel small so they can feel big.

You may find yourself doubting your worth or questioning your value.

7 Taking Credit

They may steal credit for your accomplishments, making you feel less valuable and ignored.

Narcissists don’t just attack your self-worth, they also have a knack for stealing credit for your accomplishments, making you feel less valuable and ignored. It’s a common tactic in their arsenal.

They will claim your ideas are their own, suggest they played a major role in your success, or ignore the effort you put in. This isn’t just frustrating; it destroys your self-esteem and makes you question your abilities.

8 Playing the Victim

When something goes wrong, narcissists often portray themselves as the victim, manipulating your emotions and making you feel guilty.

Related : 9 Ways How Narcissists Turn People Against You

You’ll often find that narcissists portray themselves as victims when things go wrong, skillfully manipulating your emotions and instilling guilt in you.

It’s their way of evading responsibility and throwing you off balance. Suddenly, you’re the one apologizing, and they’re the one tending to their wounded ego.

It’s no surprise that you’ll find yourself circling cautiously around them, afraid of causing another disaster. They’re using your empathy against you, turning your compassion into a weapon. They’ll play the victim, but remember, it’s all part of their game.

Don’t let them use your kindness as a way to escape. Stand up for yourself. You’re not the one at fault here. Acknowledge the manipulation for what it is—a desperate attempt to make you feel unimportant and unwanted.

9 Ignore or invalidate your feelings

Narcissists can easily dismiss your feelings or experiences, leading to feelings of insignificance.

It’s a common way for narcissists to ignore or invalidate your feelings, making you feel like your experiences and emotions don’t matter. They may belittle your thoughts, causing you to question your judgment. This can be particularly damaging, making you feel unimportant and unheard.

Narcissists don’t just ignore your feelings; they actively invalidate them. They may tell you that you’re overreacting or that your feelings are wrong. This behavior is part of their control strategy—by belittling your emotions, they maintain the upper hand and keep you off balance.

FinalWords

Do you recognize these patterns? You’re not alone.

Try to understand that this behavior is theirs, not yours. Don’t let their tactics undermine your self-esteem. You’re worth more than their criticism and manipulation.

It’s okay to set boundaries, ask for support, and prioritize your mental health. Remember that you matter and deserve respect and kindness.