Refusing to argue with a narcissist or explain yourself to them can drive them crazy. Narcissistic people are antagonistic by nature; they thrive on conflict and chaos. Most people are not built for conflict and are reasonably agreeable, but narcissists are notoriously disagreeable. Their focus is to obtain narcissistic supply by any means. While they may enjoy positive supply like admiration and compliments, if they run out of it or get bored, they will actively start testing limits with those around them by intentionally pushing buttons to provoke negative supply—conflict, arguments, and chaos. If you restrict their supply by not engaging in arguments, they might completely lose their minds because they are not getting the one thing they crave most: attention. It’s important to note that this doesn’t apply to reasoned, respectful arguments that are part of every healthy relationship and help resolve conflicts in a civilized manner.
Number 5: Implying They May Need Professional Help
Merely suggesting that a highly antagonistic narcissist may need professional help can cause tremendous rage. They may respond with endless denials, projections, and gaslighting. They might insinuate or openly accuse the person who suggested it of needing professional help, deny having done anything that would merit such an evaluation, or accuse the person of trying to get rid of them by implying they are insane.
Number 4: Setting Firm Boundaries
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