Before you get ahead of yourself, let’s look at all narcissists over 50 through one, very focused lens.
Expect to see a person with behaviors you will be unable to ignore. Don’t expect to see humility, or even a smidgen of self-awareness.
Ageing doesn’t make the over-fifty narcissists more reflective, it makes them more reactive.
These 11 things they start doing once they reach over fifty will have you wondering just how bad it can possibly get.
Bad. Keep reading to know exactly why.
#1 They become more obsessed with their appearance
A narcissist loves their youthful appearances, and finds it a struggle to admit that they’re getting older and perhaps starting to look different.
From sprouting grey hairs to a change in their bodies, narcissists will become more obsessed with how they look, wanting to ‘fix’ aging.
You’ll notice more products, more hair dye, more supplements, and perhaps even cosmetic procedures to try to slow down the process of looking their age.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but narcissists don’t see it that way!
#2 They want even more compliments
You look amazing!
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Have you been working out?
What’s your skincare routine?
You aren’t aging a single bit!
Narcissists love to hear these kinds of compliments, and will swim in them all day if they could!
In fact, they will go as far as fishing for them, be it in person or online. They will make a point of showing the world a new them, which usually means money spent on looking younger.
Posting photos online is their way of trying to appear to be nonchalant, when in fact, they’re relying on them for that vital ego boost.
#3 Talking about the ‘good old days’
Don’t we know about it…
The good old days will be on loop once a narcissist reaches a certain age. They want to talk of the past as if they no longer have a future.
They forget that they’ve still got so much time left, but what they do is revert back to a time that they wish they were still in.
Perhaps that was when their kids were all little, and they had more control in general. Kind of makes sense that they’d want that time back, right?
#4 Playing the victim: “I’m getting older”
Help me, I can’t manage this any more.
I need you around.
I was there for you when you were little, now it’s your turn.
Can you take me and rearrange your plans? I’m not well enough to drive..
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? That’s because the narcissist once they hit fifty will start to learn that they can make new demands from you, and will guilt you if you don’t comply or drop everything for them.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
#5 The control becomes another level
This is so common for all narcissists. As they realize in their older age that they can’t control the people who are now older themselves and living their own lives with their own families, they ramp it up.
Telling you how to run your life, how to raise your kids, what jobs to avoid, where to live and what car to drive; it will be neverending.
But it’s all they have. This is why many people choose to go no-contact with their older narcissistic parents.
You can see why!
#6 Wanting special treatment because of their age
If you thought the narcissist wanted special treatment, wait til they hit fifty. It’s as if it is the ultimate milestone for them to become even more entitled than they ever were before.
Help your dad, will you?
My back isn’t what it used to be.
I am top of the food chain, now.
I want you to spend more time with me!
These aren’t requests, they’re demands.
They aren’t truths, they’re guilt trips.
And who suffers the most because of them? Not the aging narcissist. It’s you! You’ve always been on the receiving end.
Narcissists do not deserve special treatment, but they will command it more as they reach fifty.
#7 Rewriting history
Oh, and by the time they get to fifty, there’s more history to rewrite than when they were thirty or forty.
Suddenly, memories become distorted fictional tales. And guess who the bad guy always ends up being?
That’s right. That will be you. And it’ll be you because it’s better than being them.
You’ll get frustrated, as you hear lie after lie being told. You’ll feel confused, as the aging narcissist is so convincing at telling you their version of what happened.
Dare I say it, but…
…You may even start believing the narcissist. They become experts at gaslighting by this age, and will have had plenty of practice.
#8 Panicking about how they will be remembered
It’s time to start any forms of damage control, as the narcissist gets older, they will want to be known and remembered as a good person.
This means one thing…
…Panic.
They try to fix issues they’ve had with people, or spreading lies to make themselves look good. It’s even been known for older narcissists to cut and run, starting afresh somewhere new where there’s no risk of their reputation burning out.
The community work and volunteering will start, and they may even turn to religion to pose themselves as good people.
Beware – you have been warned.
#9 Exaggerating any health issues
They will come thick and fast. From the bad back, to the memories slipping away conveniently. You’ll notice a slower pace, yet their mind will be sharp as a tack.
When you notice a narcissist flailing, never take it at face value. Age can be their weapon as their health declines and they call upon you more and more for help and support.
They aren’t as helpless as they make out, though.
Health issues only seek to gain sympathy for issues that don’t exist, and when the time comes where they need actual help, they may not be met with the patience or compassion they need.
#10 Using their memory as a weapon
I can’t remember.
Did I say that?
I wouldn’t have done that.
Are you sure?
That doesn’t sound like me.
I forgot.
All so convenient, isn’t it? Of course, the narcissist starts to forget. They will blame their age and wave their hand at you to dismiss you from further questioning.
But it will still stand – they know exactly what they’re doing. And they won’t stop until they’ve got you as manipulated as you possibly can be.
#11 Dismissing the youth
You guys don’t know what you’re talking about.
You have a lot of growing up to do.
You think you know.
You have it so easy.
Of course, when I was young I was clueless, too.
Right. So the youth don’t matter, or are allowed opinions because of their age. What kind of stupidity is that?!
It’s just an excuse for the narcissist over fifty to be mean. They thrive on making other people feel dumb, useless, or far from special.
If that’s ever been you, you’ll know exactly what it feels like.
