Five Stages of a Relationship with a Narcissist

Stage two: the domination stage. This is the stage where the magic fades, and the true colors of darker hues start to show. Narcissists begin to make their dominance felt. This is the phase where lies and abuses take place. Such lies and abuses instill fear—fear that compels their partners to stick to them no matter what. Fear makes them focus on nothing else but catering to the narcissist’s demands, to the point that even family, friends, and themselves are disregarded. They might even justify the narcissist’s behavior and cover for them if they must. Unfortunately, the victim often brushes off such lies and abuses because victimized partners are blinded by the ideal love they previously experienced during the intimate stage. This leads them to believe that there is still a chance for that love to be reawakened. They hope to be treated with the sweet and flawless gestures they once experienced. Sadly, it would never happen again. Holding on to such little hope gradually leads to the victim’s powerlessness, which, in turn, enables the narcissist to gain complete control over them.

3. The Exploitation Stage

Number three: the exploitation stage. After seizing complete control, narcissists now carry out their real intent. Abuse is still present, but this time it is more severe and frequent. It makes them even more fearful and powerful than they were during the domination stage. They leave their partners with nothing but one choice: to give in—give in regardless of whether they like it or not. This is the stage where narcissists drain their partners dry. It could be attention, power, money, sex, or whatever they deem worth exploiting, over and over until nothing is left to use. Narcissists in this stage act like miners who dig deeper and deeper until the crust weakens and gradually loses its foundation, causing it to break down and eventually collapse. At this point, the victim realizes that their narcissistic partner is not as romantic or affectionate as they appeared at the beginning of the relationship. They are not fairy godmothers granting wishes but rather witches who steal youth. They only performed sweet gestures to obtain the more precious things they wanted in the first place, with no feelings involved—no strings attached, just pure business.