Proof that one of your parents is a narcissist

Not every parent wins the award for Best Parent Alive, but if one of your parents is a narcissist you are in for a tough time. What can you recognise that one of your parents is a narcissist? Well, just ask yourself these questions.

• My father/mother is not interested in my problems
• My father/mother sees me mainly as something decorative. Nice to show off, but above all I shouldn't be tricky/ complicated or time-consuming
• My father/mother often makes me feel that I am not good enough
• My father/mother often makes me feel that his/her happiness in life depends on my performance
• My father/mother often shows me that he/she had to sacrifice a lot for me. I immediately think of the scene in The Morning Show, where Jennifer Aniston tells her daughter that she was completely ripped out during childbirth and that her daughter should have been more grateful for that.
• Did you feel you were never doing well enough?
• Did your father or mother have a special preference for any of the children?

If the answer in many cases is ‘yes’, it could very well be that your father/mother is a narcissist.

It is important to set your boundaries properly because narcissists tend to cross them. But you always have the right to monitor and maintain your own boundaries. In the case of narcissism, I would recommend contacting a therapist who can guide you through this process. It is important to know that you cannot change someone, but you are in a position to start directing and shaping your life from this point on.