“How do you tell your partner is a narcissist?”

Oh boy. Communication is a way to learn how to deal with this type of person. There are energy medicine techniques and nlp strategies in getting a positive benefit from this type of person. If it is not dangerous, maybe a marriage family therapist would help.

Most people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

-Become impatient or angry when they don't receive special treatment
-Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
-React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
-Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
-Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
-Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
-Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability, and humiliation
-Easily perceive fault in others, but not in themselves

In these cases, you have to find mental health support in order to negotiate the relationship, or to make decisions about the future. Interpersonal relationships and dealing with personality disorders such as narcissism definitely requires professional support.

Dr. Siddique

You can see disturbing character traits and behavior patterns that are exaggerated, like selfishness, entitlement, a sense of superiority and deserving special treatment from others, as well as a tendency to be exploitative, punitive, threatening, shaming and blaming to those are cast in the role of serving their needs with little in return. There is also great resistance, sometimes inability, to change any of that to make your life better. Having reached the point of asking this question in this way, you’re going to benefit from professional guidance. The real challenge is in recovering your own sense of worth and figuring out what to do about your situation, which can get complicated.
I hope this is helpful.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism. A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they're not given the special favors or admiration they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships unfulfilling, and others may not enjoy being around them.

Symptoms:

- Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
- Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
- Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
- Exaggerate achievements and talents
- Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
- Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
- Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
- Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
- Take advantage of others to get what they want
- Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
- Be envious of others and believe others envy them
- Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
- Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office

At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

- Become impatient or angry when they don't receive special treatment
- Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
- React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
- Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
- Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
- Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
- Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder centers around talk therapy. Psychotherapy can help:

- Learn to relate better with others so relationships are more intimate, enjoyable and rewarding
- Understand the causes of emotions and what drives the person to compete, to distrust others, and perhaps to despise self and others
- Accept and maintain real personal relationships and collaboration with co-workers
- Recognize and accept actual competence and potential to tolerate criticisms or failures
- Increase ability to understand and regulate feelings
- Understand and tolerate the impact of issues related to self-esteem
- Release desire for unattainable goals and ideal conditions and gain an acceptance of what's attainable

I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Those can be some traits of narcissism, however I would recommend seeing a therapist to assist you in understanding the dynamic as well as being able to cope with any feelings you have related to feeling "beneath him".

I can only recommend that you seek counseling to process your feelings, sadly you have no control over your spouse, the only person you can control is yourself and learning coping strategies is very important and also identifying your needs and addressing them with a professional counselor.

There are numerous signs that may help you find out if your partner is a narcissist. According the DSM-5, there are nine characteristics listed for narcissistic personality disorder, and an individual only needs to meet five of these characteristics to be diagnosed as a narcissist. These nine criteria include: grandiose sense of self-importance; preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, beauty, or ideal love; belief they’re special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions; need for excessive admiration; sense of entitlement; interpersonally exploitative behavior; lack of empathy; envy of others or a belief that others are envious of them; demonstration of arrogant behaviors or attitudes.

I encourage you and your partner to seek couples counseling to communicate how his behaviors make you feel.

Check this out..
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-legacy-distorted-love/201412/is-your-partner-narcissist-here-are-50-ways-tell