Dis you:

These characteristics, when persistent and chronic, lead to substantial difficulties in maintaining interpersonal connections, causing significant personal and social distress and usually calling for an assessment and treatment by mental health professionals.

Good Luck to you, Matt!

If you are in a situation where you have to communicate with a narcissist, the best strategy is to stay calm and avoid emotional reactions that are likely to fuel their manipulation tactics. Avoid using a confrontational accusatory tone and instead use ‘I’ statements to explain how you feel and what you need. Using 'I' statements when communicating with a narcissist helps to de-escalate situations by reducing defensiveness and promoting understanding. For instance, instead of saying, "You never listen to a word I say," try something like, "I feel unheard when I'm interrupted." By expressing your own feelings and needs, you create a much less confrontational atmosphere.

Remember that a narcissist behaves the way they do due to personal issues, such as low self-esteem and a distorted perception of reality. They may call you names, belittle you, or try to control you, but none of that is a reflection of your worth or value. When you refuse to internalize their negativity and begin to recognize that their destructive behaviors are driven by their own deep issues, it will safeguard your self-esteem and emotional well-being.

It is common for narcissists to use emotional tactics such as guilt-tripping, gaslighting, playing the victim, or love bombing to dominate their targets. These strategies are designed to disorient you, make you doubt your sense of reality, and, ultimately, bend you to their will. This is why it is important to learn about these manipulative tactics and be able to identify them so that you can better protect yourself. Stay strong and stand firm in your boundaries, believe in your intuition, and do not let them play on your feelings or distort your perception of reality.