Now, this one is disturbing. Some narcissists may demand that you sleep unclothed. While they might frame it as wanting more intimacy or closeness, the reality is much darker. Forcing you into this vulnerable state is all about stripping you—literally—of your sense of security. When you sleep unclothed, you are exposed, defenseless, and vulnerable, and that is exactly how they want you. Narcissists crave control—not just over your thoughts and emotions, but over your physical being. Forcing you into this state reinforces the power dynamic they thrive on. You are no longer protected, even by the barrier of clothing, and that reinforces the message they want you to internalize: you are not safe, you are in their control, and they own you. It’s dehumanizing, and the psychological impact of that kind of vulnerability can be massive.
Number three: They keep you busy with mundane tasks
This one gets under your skin slowly. A narcissist will give you trivial things to do just before bed to stop you from resting. They will ask you to cook them a meal late at night or demand that you scratch their back for hours. It’s not about the task itself; it’s about keeping you occupied, making sure you’re too tired to think straight, too drained to focus on yourself. My great-grandfather, who was a classic example of this, believed women should never rest. He would instruct his sons to throw something from upstairs if they saw their wives sitting down, making them run to fetch it as if they were a dog or something. The idea was that they must always be doing something, never allowed a moment’s peace. This is exactly how a narcissist behaves—creating endless, meaningless tasks to exhaust you mentally and physically.
Number four: They insist on sleeping in the power position
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