How narcissists make YOUR CHRONIC ILLNESS worse -

Let’s talk about a particularly difficult twist in narcissistic relationships: dealing with a chronic illness while being in one of these relationships. This article was inspired in part by someone who emailed a question about this topic. It’s a significant enough issue that I’ve thought a lot about it, and it truly deserves more focus. This is a very real and deeply challenging problem, one that many of you may be enduring.

The Basics: Chronic Illness in a Narcissistic Relationship

Having a chronic illness in a narcissistic relationship is a nightmare. Managing a chronic illness is tough enough, even when you’re surrounded by support, but under these circumstances, it’s far worse. Narcissistic individuals typically dislike dealing with sick people unless they are the ones who are sick. When they are, they often demand everyone’s full attention, expect the world to revolve around their needs, and lash out at anyone who doesn’t comply.

They also tend to disregard healthcare providers’ recommendations. For instance, they might leave the hospital early, ignore medical advice, or resume physical activities weeks earlier than prescribed—then blame others or the system when they don’t recover properly.

If you are the one dealing with a medical condition, it’s often a different story. Your illness becomes a source of shame or irritation for the narcissistic person. They may resent you for being sick as though it’s your fault. At the same time, they might feel obligated to appear supportive in public to maintain their image. This internal conflict leaves you trapped in a toxic dynamic: they’re angry at you for your illness but don’t want to look bad for not helping.