I Blindly Fell for Jekyll and Found I Was Married to Hyde
Are you in love with a Jekyll and Hyde Narcissist?
You may have heard of Jekyll and Hyde Narcissists. People who, like the famous literary character, are charming and friendly sometimes; cruel and heartless at others. It’s a dual nature that’s incredibly confusing if you’re in a relationship with a narcissist. It can also be what keeps you with them.
According to Dan Neuharth Ph.D., MFT people with narcissism display several double standards. They “demand attention but are poor listeners. They seem supremely confident yet are terribly insecure. They expect special treatment yet rarely reciprocate — unless they get something in return.”
For me, it all sounds very familiar, but I’m not going to diagnose my ex-husband as a narcissist. With his mental health issues, personality, and specific traits it would be difficult to diagnose, even for an expert.
But I don’t think it really matters. Whether or not your partner/ex-partner is a full-blown narcissist is irrelevant in understanding the relationship. You’re most likely as ill-equipped to diagnose them as I am.
What does help is to recognize the common behaviors of abusers, even if you can’t get a diagnostic label. It makes you feel less alone and gives you some…
