Living with narcissism can be damaging both for the person exhibiting the symptoms and the people living with that person. Narcissism is a set of behaviors in which a person is exceptionally self-absorbed, egotistical, or vain. The roots of these behaviors can be varied, and they can sometimes be damaging for the narcissist himself. A person living with narcissism will need to first identify the problem and accept that it exists; if a person living with a narcissistic person has drawn attention to the problem but the narcissist is resistant, it may be necessary to seek outside professional help.
Learning as much as possible about the condition is the first step toward living with this condition. Various types of narcissism exist, so a narcissist or a person living with a narcissist will need to identify the specific type of narcissism being exhibited. Internet resources are available for this research, as are books at libraries and bookstores; it may be wise to consult a mental health professional or relationship counselor as well, as these professionals will be able to identify the type of narcissism and make recommendations for living with this personality disorder.
Unfortunately, no real chances to a narcissist’s behavior can be made if that person does not recognize there is a problem. Making such people aware of the problem can be exceptionally difficult, since narcissists often create false realities and place blame for problems on others. Coping with narcissism requires that people around the narcissist begin to draw boundaries. It is not enough to simply ignore the behaviors and hope they go away, because they most certainly will not. Friends and family will need to make the tough decision to either seek treatment ideas themselves or convince the narcissist that it is in his or her best interest to seek help.
People surrounding the narcissist cannot allow him or her to dominate the relationship. Narcissists seek out vulnerable people for relationships because they feel the relationships can be controlled and manipulated. Coping with this disorder will require a person to recognize the patterns and behaviors that trigger narcissistic actions and find ways to work around them. Of course, this is only avoidance of the real issue; if the narcissist is allowed to exhibit such behaviors, the problem will never cease and the relationship will never be valuable to him or her. In the worst cases, it may be necessary to end relationships with narcissists to avoid domination and abuse.