A relationship with a narcissist is one huge mind f*ck.

You don’t even realize when it starts — it creeps in slowly. First, they love-bomb you with affection, praise, attention. You think you’ve finally found someone who truly sees you. But slowly, that shifts. The compliments turn to criticism. The warmth turns cold. Their affection becomes conditional. But you hold on, thinking it’s just a phase — because they made you feel like you were special once. You chase that high again and again, not realizing you're now trapped in their cycle.

You start questioning everything:

Is this person good or bad?

Are they really narcissistic, or am I just too sensitive?

Do they actually love me deep down, or am I just convenient for them?

Is what they’re saying real, or are they playing a game with me?

Are they lying to me, or am I just paranoid?

Am I the crazy one, or are they gaslighting me?

That’s the thing about being with a narcissist — they twist your mind until nothing feels certain anymore. You start doubting yourself. You lose your sense of reality. You second-guess every thought, every feeling, every memory. You’re constantly walking on eggshells, trying not to upset them, trying to keep the peace, trying to be "enough" for someone who is incapable of ever being satisfied.

You feel like you're spiraling, and the worst part is… they make it all seem like it's your fault. They’ll say you’re too emotional, too sensitive, too clingy. But really, it’s all a smokescreen. Behind their charm and charisma is a manipulator who knows exactly how to keep you off balance and confused — because that’s how they keep control.

You feel lost. Disconnected from who you used to be. There are days you don’t even recognize yourself. The anxiety, the overthinking, the emotional exhaustion — it becomes your new normal. You may start to feel like you're literally going insane. That’s not by accident — that’s the effect of repeated gaslighting and emotional manipulation.

The gaslighting in these relationships should be illegal.

They don’t just lie to you — they rewrite reality, and they expect you to play along. If you catch them lying, somehow, you're the one who ends up apologizing. If you cry from the pain they caused, you're “too dramatic.” If you try to set a boundary, you're “selfish” or “ungrateful.” It's emotional abuse, plain and simple, and it leaves deep wounds.

Being in a relationship with a narcissist doesn’t just break your heart — it breaks your mind. It chips away at your spirit. It drains your joy, your confidence, your peace. You become a shadow of the person you once were.

But let this be your reminder:

If it’s making you question your sanity, your worth, your reality — it’s not love.

If you constantly feel confused, anxious, and on edge — it’s not love.

And if someone has to destroy your mind to keep you, they were never worthy of you to begin with.