You are Too Sensitive!
I Don’t Remember It That Way!
According to experts, Narcissists often use the same phrases to shift blame and manipulate you. If they are some of the following phrases frequently, you should start doubting if they might be a Narcissist.
We asked Experts by experience from our Facebook group what phrases their Narcissists use and they revealed these 11 phrases used by their narcissists.
You’re too sensitive
This belittles your feelings and invalidates your concerns.
When a narcissist tells you, ‘You’re too sensitive,’ they’re effectively belittling your feelings and dismissing your concerns, making you doubt your own emotional responses.
They’re trying to control the narrative, making you the ‘problem’ instead of addressing their behavior. It’s their way of evading accountability.
I don’t remember it that way
This is a typical gaslighting phrase intended to make you question your reality.
Just as undermining your feelings is a common tactic, so is the manipulation of your perception of past events, often heard in the phrase, ‘I don’t remember it that way.’
This phrase, dripping with gaslighting, is a narcissist’s tool to make you question your reality, doubt your memory, and feel insecure about your judgment.
When you’re certain about an incident, and they deny it with this phrase, it’s not about genuine forgetfulness.
It’s a calculated move to control the narrative. Their goal is to keep you off balance. If you’re always second-guessing your recollections, you’re less likely to challenge their version of events.
It’s always about you, isn’t it?
They use this to deflect attention from their actions or behaviors and shift the blame onto you.
Another manipulative remark narcissists often resort to is, ‘It’s always about you, isn’t it?’ aiming to shift the focus from their wrongdoings to your perceived selfishness.
This cunning tactic deflects attention from their actions and behaviors while placing the blame squarely on your shoulders.
By making such a statement, they’re implying you’re self-centered or egotistical, thus diverting the conversation from their questionable behavior.
It’s a classic case of projection, with the narcissist projecting their negative traits onto you. In their skewed perspective, you’re the one at fault – not them.
I’m only doing this for your own good
This phrase is a way to justify controlling or harmful behavior.
Shifting gears slightly, let’s look at the phrase ‘I’m only doing this for your own good,’ which narcissists often use to justify their controlling or harmful behavior. This is a classic manipulation tactic, where they make you believe that their actions, however painful, are for your benefit.
It’s a way for them to exert control while avoiding responsibility for their actions. They’re not being hurtful. In their view, they’re helping you. But, it’s important to remember that this is just a smokescreen.
Always trust your feelings and instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Nobody else would put up with you
This is used to make you feel insecure and dependent on them.
This phrase is designed to knock down your self-esteem, making you believe you are impossible to love or tolerate.
It’s a cruel tactic, aiming to make you feel lucky to be with them, despite their negative treatment of you.
It’s a method to make you feel trapped and scared to leave because who else would have you? Don’t buy into this lie.
You wouldn’t understand
Used to dismiss your opinions or thoughts, making you feel inadequate.
Often, a narcissist will dismiss your thoughts or feelings, making you feel intellectually inferior and inadequate. This tactic belittles your perspective, ensuring that they remain the dominant voice.
It’s a way of maintaining control, undermining your confidence, and keeping you on the back foot.
It is a clear red flag of emotional manipulation. They’re not just invalidating your thoughts. They’re also creating an imbalance of power.
They’re trying to paint a picture where they’re the enlightened ones and you’re just unable to grasp their ‘complex’ state of mind.
I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you
They use statements like this to inflate their importance in your life.
When a narcissist claims this, they’re trying to inflate their importance in your life. This isn’t a declaration of love or a compliment. It’s a power play.
They tell you you’re lucky to have them, implying you’re undeserving. Such a statement is designed to make you feel grateful for their presence and, by extension, more willing to tolerate their behavior.
You may even start questioning your worth. Remember, no one person should define your happiness or self-worth. You’re not dependent on them for your happiness or success.
You’re just jealous of me
This phrase is often used to dismiss your justified concerns or objections and turn them into personal flaws.
‘You’re just jealous of me’ is a common phrase narcissists use to deflect your valid concerns or objections, twisting them into personal shortcomings. When you voice an issue, they instinctively protect their ego, and instead of addressing the problem, they push the blame onto you.
They’re skilled at manipulating the narrative, so you question your motives. You might wonder if you’re envious rather than acknowledging the selfish behavior that sparked the dispute. Don’t fall into this trap. It’s a classic diversion tactic to keep you distracted from their faults.
They’re turning your objections into a character flaw, effectively silencing you.
You’re overreacting
They use this phrase to dismiss your feelings or reaction to their harmful behavior.
Similarly, if you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘you’re overreacting,’ it’s another classic move in the narcissist’s playbook to disregard your feelings or downplay their harmful behavior.
This statement is a convenient way for them to belittle your emotions and reactions, making you question your feelings and perspective.
Their goal is to make you feel you’re too sensitive or irrational, undermining your trust in your judgment.
It’s your fault that I’m upset
Narcissists shift blame for their feelings or actions onto others to avoid taking responsibility.
If you’ve ever been told, ‘It’s your fault that I’m upset,’ you’re dealing with a common narcissistic tactic to shift blame and evade responsibility.
Narcissists excel in the art of blame-shifting. They’ll make you feel guilty for their negative emotions, painting themselves as victims.
In their world, they’re never wrong; it’s always someone else’s fault. They use this strategy to manipulate your emotions, making you second-guess yourself, doubt your judgment and feel responsible for their emotional well-being.
It’s a powerful and destructive tool in their arsenal, designed to keep you off balance.
I’m sorry you feel that way
This is a classic non-apology. Instead of acknowledging their role in how you feel or expressing genuine regret for their actions, the narcissist uses this phrase to subtly imply that your feelings are the problem, not their behavior.
Here, the narcissist avoids accepting their role in causing your distress and, instead, subtly suggests that your feelings are the real issue, not their actions.
This classic non-apology deflects blame while undermining you. They’re not apologizing for their actions or behavior; they’re apologizing for your reaction to it. This tactic invalidates your feelings and experiences, making you doubt your perception of reality.
It’s convenient for them to dodge accountability and shift the focus onto you. So, beware when you hear this phrase. It’s a clear sign of narcissistic manipulation and a red flag you shouldn’t ignore.
Final Words
There you have it. These are the things Narcissists say a lot to their partners and if your partner is using this a few times to many, you should wonder if you might be dealing with a Narcissist.
