I don’t want to encourage any of you to go out and purposely drive a narcissist nuts.
Is it worth your time and effort? Probably not.
All that will happen is you will look like the public antagonist, and they will be able to throw your reputation to the wolves.
However, I feel it’s always good to have one or two bites of knowledge about what drives a narcissist crazy.
I mean, just in case, right?
The Narcissist
Those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are never going to be self-confident, regulated people. Their emotions are all over the place due to never being taught how to cope.
It’s okay to be sad.
It’s okay to cry.
It’s okay to make mistakes.
It’s okay to try again.
Not hearing those things in childhood makes a person far more likely to turn out with narcissistic traits, such as finding what we would deem normal things to drive them nuts.
It’s not your fault that this happens, but they will damn sure try to pin that blame on you.
Let’s look at those 18 things.
#1 The Call Out
So, you think you can call out a narcissist, do you? What on earth are you sipping?
Listen, I am never going to stop you from doing what you feel like you need to do, but just know that it’s never going to be a challenge of smooth sailing.
Calling them out means shining a light on everything they do that’s wrong.
You’re breaking that fragile exterior, and you’re showing them what’s really underneath…
… Everything they’re trying to hide.
#2 The Truth
The narcissist works hard to create their version of the truth, and nine times out of ten, they will convince you that this is the truth.
It may have worked up to a point, but when you start to wise up, you start to see it for what it really is: lies.
So you stand, and you speak.
And that narcissist is furious with you.
Of course they are – what you’re doing is being brave and speaking up.
To them – you’re the world’s biggest threat.
#3 Fighting Back
I don’t want anybody to raise their fists and start fighting – this is more about not backing down from the injustice.
Somebody I once knew got a threat from her narcissistic brother. He threatened her with a court order so that she could never speak to him again.
The only problem was, she hadn’t spoken to him in years. Because she called out their narcissistic father, her brother felt it necessary to re-assert his power over her.
In turn, she called the police herself, and he was given an official warning to not make further threats.
She never heard from her brother again.
Pointless and laughable – but proof that they hate it when you fight back.
#4 When You Defend Yourself
In any situation where you are being accused of something, and the narcissist is trying to bring you down, I feel everybody should try their best to defend themselves.
You don’t have to match their volume or toxicity, but you can say things like:
You have your version of reality, and I have mine.
I refuse to engage further if you are going to continue to shout at me.
I know I never did that.
Watch them squirm as you strongly refute their attitude.
It’s well worth it – but of course – they will hate it!
#5 Ignoring Them
Narcissists are only happy when you are giving them all the attention they need. Believe me when I say: it’s never enough.
They act like the sun, and everybody and everything else are the planets and moons. If you’re revolving around them, they’re happy.
They get to do the talking, and they get to lap up the praise.
Until they don’t.
When everything reverts to another and they are ignored, they practically melt with rage.
Where is the validation they can’t live without?
Gone forever, hopefully!
#6 Absolute Silence
Imagine tucking into a nice dinner with the family, and the one narcissist sitting with you all is shifting uncomfortably.
Everybody is happily eating, and so there is real silence.
They can’t take it. They look around, wondering why nobody else feels how they feel.
Every person is content, eating away, and enjoying the food.
There’s so much for a narcissist to interpret in a silent moment. They’re that paranoid, they assume the silence is to do with them.
#7 Grey Rock
Grey Rock method is basically showing the narcissist your indifference.
You purposely give very little to nothing away, and again, this is a method that’s left wide open for the narcissist to interpret.
If they are used to you reacting and you give them barely anything – imagine how crazy that would make them!
#8 Exposing Them
Never expose a narcissist!
They worked so hard to create this hideously incorrect image of themselves – it’s going to be the end of their world if you tell all now.
The thought alone drives them crazy!
#9 Being The Butt Of A Joke
This is something they’re very good at dishing out, but not so good at taking.
A little bit of a taste of their own medicine unlocks old wounds that are covered by ego, and it’s painful for them!
#10 Not Knowing – Ouch!
Knowing everything leads to a knowledge of power that only narcissists crave for.
Without it, they feel like there are missing pieces to their puzzle – and it leaves them fuming!
#11 Damage To Their Reputation
Building their house of innocence takes time. It is carefully crafted to look perfect, so nobody suspects who lives inside.
The moment you try to damage it, they will go nuts.
#12 Losing Control
Control is like gold to them. It is worth more than anything they own, and without it, they aren’t able to manipulate or create the drama and conflict around them that they do on a daily basis.
Losing control is a big worry for every narcissist out there.
#13 Denial
To be denied information, affection, time, attention: you can count on it that the narcissist is going to feel crazy brewing on the inside.
They demand access to you, and everybody around them.
#14 Not Playing Along
If you play along with their game, all will be well.
The trouble is – nobody really knows the rules, because they change so frequently.
And even if we did – why should we play along?!
#15 Not Winning!
Narcissists want to come first in everything they do. They want the gold medal, the achievement, the attention, the compliments, the praise – they want it all.
Not winning reaffirms their secret belief that they’re worthless; a wound they won’t be keen on reopening.
#16 Cutting Contact
So, you decided to put yourself first and cut contact?
Good for you!
I can’t tell you how many victims this positively affects, but that about the poor narcissist?
They’re left raging that you’d dare be so crass. Now you’ve gone, so has your supply…
…And that drives them insane!
#17 Your Success
Listen, if you’re succeeding, then that means they aren’t.
They don’t want to see you earn more and create more of a life for yourself than they had.
They don’t need hard evidence that they’re a nobody underneath it all, and that’s what your success does to them.
#18 Any Empathy
If you’ve got a shred of empathy in your bones, then count yourself lucky. Good people carry good traits.
Narcissists will be driven to the brink of true craziness knowing certain kind characteristics shine from you so naturally.
