Today, we’ve got something really important for you. We’re diving into the twisted world of narcissism and taking a closer look at the top five ways these messed up individuals want to toy with their minds and emotions.
You know how it goes when a narcissist sees that it’s not easy to get their claws into you, they become downright sneaky. They’ll risk a lot just controlling you and keeping you wrapped around their finger. So, here are the top 5 games narcissists like to play when they feel like they’re losing their grip on you.
Number 1: Acting clueless like it’s their job.
One of the oldest tricks in the narcissist playbook is to play dumb and pretend like they have no clue about basic human decency, cultural norms, and society’s expectations. They’ll act like they don’t know right from wrong just to duck out of trouble and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. It’s a classic way for people with NPD and other personality disorders in the cluster B spectrum to manipulate and guilt you.
You can find endless threads about this on the internet, and some folk even wonder if this is a result of narcissism or Autism. But let’s be real, it’s easy to see right through their facade of fake cluelessness. Say you’re in a relationship with a narcissist and have an argument about something morally wrong they did.
They may claim they didn’t know it was wrong, but if you’re watching a show together and they correctly call out the bad character’s actions, it just proves they’re fully aware of what’s right and wrong. Playing dumb is just one of the many mind games narcissists love to play to control and manipulate you. Up next, we’ll get into game number two: their all-time favorite.
Number 2: Distraction and destruction.
Narcissists are notorious for using the sneaky technique called distraction and destruction, aka “what about ism.” This gem was originally designed in Soviet Russia to distract people from criticizing the government by flipping it back on them, basically asking them what they’ve done to make the world a better place. Sound familiar?
So, when a narcissist gets caught red-handed, they’ll use this tactic to deflect the blame onto the person who caught them, even if there’s solid evidence against them. They’ll shift the attention away from their wrongdoing by attacking the accuser, bringing up something else they did wrong, or even straight-up lying.
If they’re lucky, they might even trigger a reaction in the other person called reactive abuse, which they can then use to make the person seem unstable or just plain old crazy.
Number 3: Refute and reroute.
In this game deny and distract two-step, narcissists pull off by denying they did anything wrong, even with evidence staring them in the face. They’ll even claim they never said something, but if they did, it was taken out of context. It’s legit infuriating for anyone trying to get a straight answer or some form of justice.
To make matters worse, they’ll often pivot to a different topic altogether or rehash an old wound they know will trigger a reaction in the other person. By doing this, they can dodge accountability and redirect the attention away from their dirty deeds.
This tactic can be incredibly effective in manipulating people and avoiding consequences. The key is to recognize when a narcissist is refuting and rerouting and to stay on topic.
Number 4: Mind reading tricks.
The notorious mind-reading tricks that narcissists thrive on. They’ll tell you what you know or don’t know, what you feel or don’t feel, and what you did or didn’t do, even if they weren’t even there to witness anything. This is how they trap you in their crazy reality and make it impossible for you to argue your way to a logical conclusion.
It’s like they’re playing 4D chess or something. For some people who grew up dealing with this kind of manipulation, it can trigger some serious childhood trauma and lead to breakdowns or full-blown rage episodes. And of course, the narcissist will swoop in and use that as proof that you’re the crazy one, hoping to distract everyone from their own crappy behavior.
It’s so important to recognize these games and tactics of narcissists so you can protect yourself from their twisted mind games and gaslighting. Always trust your gut and stay true to your own reality.
Number 5: Spins on.
You know this move. It’s the reframing trick that narcissists love to pull when they’re caught doing something wrong and there’s no way out. They’ll spin the whole thing around to be about something completely unrelated. Suddenly, it’s like the issue isn’t even about them anymore. It’s about some other person or problem in your life.
Anything to throw you off their scent and con their way out of accountability; This move is particularly brutal if they know that the other issue or person is a hot-button topic for you. By bringing it up and reframing the situation, they can press all your emotional buttons and smack you with a double whammy of manipulation.
The key is to see through their spin zone and stay laser-focused on what they’ve done wrong. Don’t let them distract you or gaslight you into thinking you’re the one with the problem. Stay sharp, stay calm, and stay in the driver’s seat of your own reality.
So, what can we pick up from all this? Do you know what really sucks about all these twisted games? It’s how they mess with your head and leave you feeling like you’re just banging your skull against a brick wall. That’s a real thing to remember here.
Narcissists make everything about them, but the truth is, it’s about you and how you react emotionally. So many people talk about narcissists like they’re the be-all and end-all, but that’s such a false narrative. The toxic, abusive nature of these relationships is all about your emotional responses to their garbage. It’s like they’re trying to get a rise out of you and make you doubt your sanity.
The key to breaking free is recognizing what you’re feeling and how they’re trying to manipulate you. Your emotions matter and you don’t have to put up with their mess. It’s time to take back control and focus on healing yourself instead of playing their messed-up games. Now, it’s time to fight for what you deserve.
How can we fight back against these freaking narcissists and their games? First off, we need to reframe our thinking. These aren’t normal, reasonable adults we’re dealing with here. They’re practically aliens speaking a whole different language of manipulation and deceit.
They don’t care about truth or honesty. They just want to get a rise out of you. That’s it. So, don’t waste your breath trying to reason with them or be sincere. They’re not interested in anything except pushing your buttons and tearing you down.
Think of them like a swarm of killer nanobots shape-shifting into whatever freaky form they need to invoke maximum anguish in you. It’s like something out of a sci-fi horror flick. But the real-life horror show is how they slowly turn up the heat on you until you’re a melted puddle of exhaustion, ready to do whatever they want.
But you don’t have to be their zombie slave. You can fight back by recognizing their tactics and refusing to play their game. Don’t give them the emotional response they crave. Stay calm and strong, and don’t let them break you down.
Read More: The Other Type of Covert Narcissist
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