Narcissism is a term often tossed around casually, but when it comes to Malignant Narcissism, we're delving into a much darker and more complex territory.

In the realm of Malignant Narcissists, there are two primary types: Overt and Covert.

Each type presents its own unique challenges and requires different strategies for coping and understanding.

In the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, few conditions are as complex and destructive as Malignant Narcissism.

As a couples therapist, I've witnessed the profound impact this personality disorder can have on relationships, families, and individuals.

Understanding the dynamics of a Malignant Narcissist is essential for anyone trying to navigate the tumultuous waters of such a relationship.

Let’s briefly overview the characteristics, behaviors, and impacts of Malignant Narcissism, all while reflecting on broader questions about the direction of the human experiment.

In this post, I’ll describe both the 5 traits of a covert narcissist as well as subtypes and how these traits show up in marriage.

We’ll talk about why the covert narcissist is so hard to recognize because their wives complain that they appear so “nice” and “humble” and even anxious to please.

They seem to care about what other people think of them and they appear so helpful, and yet the Covert Narcissist is just a less happy and more complicated version of the NPD.

Welcome, gentle readers, to a guide that might just save your sanity (and your marriage)!

As a couples therapist, I've seen my fair share of narcissistic behavior, especially the sneaky kind.

Covert Narcissists can be charming on the surface but manipulative underneath, making them tricky to spot.

But fear not, I'm here to help you navigate these murky waters with 26 telltale signs that your spouse might be a Covert Narcissist.

Entraining a narcissist refers to the process of synchronizing their behavior, thoughts, or emotions with those of another person or a group.

This concept is often used in the context of managing or influencing the behavior of someone with narcissistic traits.

Here's a more detailed explanation…

An induced conversation by a narcissist refers to a dialogue that a narcissist orchestrates to manipulate, control, or achieve a specific goal.

Narcissists often employ various tactics to steer conversations in ways that serve their interests or reinforce their self-image.

Toxic, Narcissistic men are quite predictable once you carefully study them.

In a narcissistic relationship, disengage and stop offering your attention.

Shut it down hard. Be superficial Don’t share what matters most to you. Don’t plead for fairness.

Here are 8 ways to distance your heart and soul as needed.

A codependent marriage is when a partner consumes considerable financial, emotional, and physical resources on behalf of their more problem-saturated spouse.

Yeah, but what do we really mean by a codependent marriage…and how did we begin to frame things that way?

Couples therapists hear all kinds of reasons to leave a marriage.

But a new research study by Professor Samantha Joel says that while twenty-three separate reasons were given by study participants, three dominant issues weigh heavily on whether you decide that you have reasons to leave a marriage…

Some people’s brains respond quite differently to alcohol.

New research suggests that folks who are more sensitive to alcohol’s pleasurable effects are more likely to become alcoholics.

A 10-year study of young adult drinkers found that future alcoholics experience greater stimulation, liking, and wanting for alcohol than others.

People who go on to become addicted to alcohol do not get used to its effects, as most people do.

Alcohol consumption, when done in moderation, has been linked to a variety of benefits, including improved cognitive function, enhanced attractiveness, and a reduced risk of certain diseases.

However, the research community has shifted to a more skeptical and measured discussion of the research suggesting the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.

Here's an objective, closer look at some of the contrarian findings on the benefits of moderate alcohol intake from recent research…

The more alcohol people drink, the greater the damage to the cerebral cortex. High alcohol intake can lead to a thinner cerebral cortex, research finds.

The cerebral cortex is the layer of neurons that support most higher-level cognition. However, the brain damage caused by drinking is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon.

The more people drank, the greater the damage to this area of the brain. The irony is that alcohol damages the very areas of the brain that are responsible for controlling alcohol intake.

However, people who had been alcoholics but now abstained showed the brain can recover.