Please feel free to suggest topics you'd like me to cover in future videos

Give me an overt any day. Moving back with the covert has destroyed me. Update: I found a small apartment, and am moving. The sense of peace at my new place is amazing. My body is finally unwinding and relaxing after years of chronic abuse. I never thought this day would come. I pray everyone can find a way out. 🙏🏻

They will give you the silent treatment one minute, pretend to be your friend the next minute, start a smear campaign with triangulation the next minute, then plot to rob and hurt you in the end. They are wicked people and they’re very common in neighborhood communities.

"They attack from the position of victimhood" Whew! 🤦

Nothing is ever enough. Nothing. You can (and should) always give more, do more, love more, care more, work more, earn more, cook and clean more, do the honey-do list more, praise more, engage more. Everything that isn't them is competition, whether it's a half hour game show or the dog.

"Covert narcissist can throw a stone, say it wasnt me that hurt you, it was the stone. Deny the victim is in pain, then weep openly because the victim was rude to their favorite stone." Great explanation.

My covert pretends not to hear me and in 23 years of marriage, there has never been one problem resolved. He has never kept his word about what we would do together. There is no 'we' in this marriage.

Having a covert narc as a parent is terrible. They are such victims, and groom their kids from day 1, I don’t think they even know that what they are doing is wrong. Nobody outside the home sees it, so there is nobody to call them on it.

I am a child of two narcissistic parents. My dad was an overt one, and my mom the covert one. But the scary part is that I recognize some of my own behaviors. I am shy and introverted, I need assurance in a relationship, I easily feel left out, I can blame the other person for my sense of feeling lost, I have my past of trauma and abuse... Luckily, there are some traits I don't have. But it seems to me there could be a fine line between being a victim and behaving like the abuser - especially when you've never encountered good examples.

Took over a decade for me to realize what was going on... my children and i are free now from him. Thank you sir.

I just finalized a divorce from a female covert narcissist who I was with for 12 yrs. Everything you described in this video I endured without having any sense of how abusively I was being treated. I wish I could go back in time and warn myself that this relationship would cost me mentally and physically to the point of almost destroying me- and to run as fast as I could to a different future. Now having gone though and survived this storm, I am sharper to this than I ever imagined and stronger in my boundaries than I ever thought I could be- it’s like having a pair of X-ray glasses on where you can see people for who they really are.. a delightful dance or dangerously detrimental. Thank you for this video- you have helped me regain my footing to move forward to a better future. I am indebted.

Covert narcissists can wet the blanket and get traumatised and offended by the wet blanket.

I told my ex wife I was too depressed to assist her with Xmas Dinner. I'm not a chauvinist. I just couldn't bring myself to care about potatoes. We had visited my mum that afternoon and I was feeling so low and empty after. She was in long term hospital care and I was her designated visitor. I watched her slowly die for almost four years. She was so intelligent, so selfless and so loving. After a major op, she suffered brain damage, seizures/strokes, lost all mobility, was bed ridden and had a chronic/incurable infection which ultimately killed her. It broke my heart. This Christmas visit somehow just really hit home for me. Life as I knew it etc etc...Later that day I referred to the upset again and she sarcastically snapped at me "Oh yeahhh cos you're SOOOO depressed about your mum." while rolling her eyes. I stormed out. Cue six hours of me ignoring her crying sounds from the next room. Why? Because, as I told her, I couldn't face yet another moment where she will say she's done no wrong and where I am the one who ends up apologising. I knew I was right. I knew she was manipulating me. I knew what she had said earlier that day. I saw her eyes roll. I knew if I went in there she wouldn't apologise and I somehow would. I knew all this and still... Its exactly what happened. She was so hurt. I had misinterpreted her words. She didn't mean that. How could I possibly think she would be so cruel to me or to anyone. I was the cruel one for putting her down and making out she would be capable of such cruel words. So once again it was I, in the wrong, and apologising to her. It's both remarkable and frightening to look back and see how blind, lost and desperate these people can make you and the deeper in you are the worse it gets.

After nearly 20 years, I realized my best friend was the Covert Narcissist. And what’s the most upsetting to me is how often she used me as a “tool” to abuse her husband. I simply thought I was being the supportive best friend and often spoke on her behalf with her husband to help him “do better”. I’m honestly sick at heart knowing how easily she manipulated everyone in her life including myself. I went no contact over 7 months ago and the sense of relief I immediately felt was astounding!

When you said how they aren't about resolution that really hit home with me. When I was growing up I experienced this with my parents. When you're a kid living under these conditions it sometimes takes a lifetime to figure this out. I now know there will never be resolution with a narcissist. Thank you! I see you love Star Trek, so do I!

It made such a huge difference when my covert narcissist sister had a lovely partner who was a great buffer between her and the rest of the world. We realized after he died young (mid-fifties) just how much he normalized her by interpreting the world for her.

It's one punishment after another for a perceived insult. It seems to be their goal to disrespect, inflict pain and blame shift onto the victim. They are covert because they have an agenda most people would shame them for.

I appreciate you deep diving into the covert narcissist. until then I had a lot of doubts if I was actually with one or was just abusive myself and delusional. You are restoring my sanity. Thank you for all that you do!

1000% Hypersensitivity ( for themselves...) . No forgiveness small things . Avoiding intimacy. Shyness...Negativity.. Sometimes demonic impulsive agreession ( not proportional emotionally to situation). Passive agreession. Stone walling

My narcissist asks questions like ‘so we aren’t doing that ?’ Always a negative question that puts responsibility on me.

Excellent video , you describe the ex narc husband I am trying to divorce ( 35 years married ). Folks , it is never too late ! I am realist , he will keep delaying the divorce to control and keep me but I am beyond that now , detached , determined and ready . The freedom is so worth it , I have recovered my soul !

You hit everything I experienced. I am an old woman. And I just realized it is not me who is " vindictive" or " do not think right". Going on 51 years of marriage. Feeling it was " your fault". Of course I did incorrect things at times in a 51 year time span. But nothing at all that comes to " being vindictive" ( which I know I NEVER was/ am a vindictive person). Your saying that when they say they will start doing something different. It is short lived. That really hit home for what I experienced. And yes. I am told over and over " you do not think straight" while my husband points his finger at his own head while saying that to me. Meaning he is calling me nuts for noticing he does what he wants even if that means it causes me to have less of living as most people do. He speaks to people ( his brother, maybe some friends. As he has a circle of friends and an outlet) while he makes very sure to keep me isolated. To the point he MAKES sure go go to stores EVERYDAY ( as though he is doing a difficult job) which keeps me from ever going out of the house. That is going on 10 years now. Since he retired and is at home 24/7 ( minus his going to grocery stores everyday) which keeps me in this house. He is like living with a junior high school punk who played sick to stay home from school and decided to make the most of it by laying around and expects to be serviced ( when he CHOOSES to be!) and wants to be left alone to do ONLY what he enjoys doing. Thank you for this video. I know I am NOT an abuser or a nut case. Or a burden. It's the other way around. It is taking courage to leave this comment. As it does make me seem stupid. Not being stupid is the ONE thing I AM sure about myself. I am FAR from stupid. I had better stop writing now. Or I will cause myself to look stupid by saying even more

For them, discrimination is a weapon to weaken their enemies.

Perfect. Every single thing 100%. A covert narcissist will stomp on your foot, and when you say "ouch"! they'll say that your foot shouldn't have been in the way and that THEY didn't hurt you, but rather it was your fault. And then they'll vilify you for saying "ouch" and say you're dramatic. This is the reactive abuse cycle, along with all the other things you discussed. As for the coded language, I once heard that they fail to use people's names on purpose, when relaying a story to you, because they view them as objects. Not real people. And they need to appear mysterious and interesting, which they are neither. But they like to keep you guessing as to who, what, where. Like WTAF is going on in this story?! 😂

They are sooo subtle that usually, no one thinks they are actually TRYING to play the victim. Mine would quietly happen to mention while on the phone to his mom that we were getting ready to eat dinner. It JUST SO HAPPENED that he was on the phone to her when I was struggling and didn't have dinner ready until late. It was his way of letting his very traditional mother know that he was being neglected by his wife. He was very quiet and humble with his delivery, but it was CALCULATED every single time. Took me forever to catch on, but you look crazy if you get mad. He's only stating a fact, not complaining, not saying anything "bad" about you. This was how he approached his entire smear campaign against me. Never would directly converse with me about our relationship or work on ways to improve it. I got stonewalled anytime I tried to approach it. Or manipulated or gas lit, or verbally/emotionally abused. He was cheating on me the entire time. But by the time it all came out, he had his backstory all firmly in place, to explain how miserable he was in our relationship and to explain WHY he was driven into the arms of another woman. When she left him after I told her all about him, he "decided" he loved me and wanted me back. He was sooo sorry, but once he felt sure I wasn't leaving, it was eventually put forth that it was "your fault too, but you don't want to accept any responsibility for it". And then more verbal abuse, more stonewalling, more blame-shifting, more emotional abuse. He absolutely still stuck to all his lies, and blamed me for "never being happy" and wanting to "humiliate" him when I would push back on his lies. He'd fly into a rage, throw things, draw back his fist, etc., when I called him on his lies. Covert narcs are the absolute WORST. They can make you lose all will to live and doubt your own sanity. To the outside world, it looks like they are doing all the right things. Only when you are inside the relationship, buried under their bullshi@, can you finally see the truth.

Oh and don’t be physically ill or depressed about anything. They don’t care and if more than a few weeks or months they are out the door. So much for all the “love” they professed. Be well fellow survivors.😇🙏

The truest thing I ever got to say to mine was “just because your voice is quiet, doesn’t mean it’s right. You can be cruel with a whisper”

This explanation of covert/vulnerable narcissism is absolutely spot on…

If their actions over time don’t match their words - you got a decision to make for yourself .

My dad is an Overt Narcissist, my mum is a Covert. He has been much easier to deal with because it’s so out there and everyone can see it. But my mum… wowee. Talk about doubting your own reality! All of those things you’ve talked about. Thank you so much Darren. Being able to put language around this and to even just begin to see that this is not my fault is huge. I’ve had to go not contact with both parents - it’s a really isolating place to be - but watching these videos helps me feel like I’m not so alone.

😑 they are so tiring…:( my ma is this…it took over 40 yrs to finally accept…but I began seriously questioning her and my family’s reality in my 30’s…but I held on to the fantasy they would change…they won’t. I had to lose my dad to finally accept it.

Boyy, the moving gloaposts.. A very accurate analisys. Thank you.

Thank you Darren for a great analysis of the covert narcisists behaviours. The example with the stone is perfect! Covert narcisists are the worst of them all, they are wolves in sheeps clothing and the masters of deceit.

Darren, absolutely spot on! This has been my reality for 51 years. I am free now. He passed away 2 months ago.

I’m fairly certain you have met my mother and are talking about her specifically 😅😳

It’s crazy making trying to make sense of their words and language. I’m getting better at not getting sucked in. What has helped me is to just notice when something is unclear i.e communication is loaded/cryptic/ vague/ multiple meanings etc. Instead of spending loads of time and energy trying to decode it, I will ask for clarification. If someone is genuine, you will get clarity fairly quickly. With a covert narc, it gets MORE confusing. I know then I am being manipulated, and that it is deliberate. With them it’s not about communication, it’s about control.

My ex had no money because he couldn't be bothered to get a job. I felt sorry for him so paid for everything. I realised later he had big savings, much more than me. He always felt he was entitled to my money and would get angry of I didn't pay for him. Zero compromise, zero intimacy, always in a world of his own, lots of narc rage, jealousy for no reason and if I said anything about any of these issues then he would rage and then collapse into depression. It relationship was only 7 months but it causes me deep pain that continues to today even after 10omtjs NC. He blamed me for all his abuse. So destructive.

Omg this describes someone I know, it’s crazy. Saying and doing things to get a response and reaction rather than just communicating in a normal way and being a victim all the time, it drives me nuts

When he raged at me and I cried he would then say don't be upset you know I love you. You have described my ex covert 100%

Absolutely stupendous, Thank you so much for this Darren, Beautifully described, Coverts always act like you've done them wrong, When they are the wrong doers, Always play victim and give you sob stories to draw you in, I'm well aware of these individuals, Peace, love to you Darren and everyone, Thank you universe 🧿😃💜🧝‍♀️🐉✨️💎🌌👽⚘️😍💫🌹🌹😁💞🌈💚⚽️🛸😊

Thank you Darren. This gives me some food for thought, especially about the indirect communication. They like to control others with their moods. They will go into a silent funk and expect others to make a fuss over how to read their minds and make them feel better. Later they can cash in on plausible deniability to evade responsibility.

It's like you grew up with me in my house & are describing my exact mother. Incredible.

It took me decades to realize I was with a covert. Our therapist was/is an overt narcissist so he was actually an impediment to my realization. After leaving his care it took me about 4 years to realize I was with a covert. I have learned to live my life parallel to his presence in our home. It feels soooo great to be able to invest in my own life, vs constantly trying to gain the love and interest of the covert. When he goes into withdrawal it just means more free time for me. I will never invest more than the covert on a moment to moment basis. And I totally ignore immature ploys for adoration.

Excellent video thank you it is true you'll never be good enough for a narcissist even a top model and very well mannered they would look for faults it is good to get away from these abusive types

Covert narc mother: "The Royal We". Example: We wouldn't look suitably presentable wearing those clothes would we?

I work with a classic case , knowing your enemy is a way to deal with them

God help me. Married a covert. It’s the worst. Just the worst. Praying to survive my way out.

It took me so long to put this all into place. I made so many excuses and "Justs" for trying to protect and take care of him. I even USED the words "fragile" and "vulnerable" over and over. Without ever knowing this can be a narcissist presentation.

The eternal victim just wore me down. The whining, complaining. It wasn't about getting what he wanted because he'd change with the wind. It was about getting a thrill over watching people dance. And what I called The Notebook of Injustices....I was trying to white knuckle thru the marriage 'for the children' but he had an affair so BYE!

This is so accurate …from the first time I met the “poor little black sheep” to the miserable exhausting loneliness that is every single day. Thank you for understanding

Your description of the stone-throwing covert narcissist was gold 😄

My ex displayed traits of both covert and overt narcissistism...She just took up with someone else and never spoke to me again in the end, after being together for 11 years and raising two kids from toddlers, whom I miss very much and am deeply bonded with. It took me some time to overcome trauma bonding, and only now am I getting there....I still feel a knot in my throat and in the pit of my stomach, and my mind seeks for the answers that will never be forthcoming.

I’ve never heard this described more clearly. Thank you.

I can’t believe it took me more than 10 years to realize I was in such a relationship.

I’ve been married to covert narc for 32 years. Just figured this all out a little over a year ago and am coming out of the fog and becoming strong. There are entire years of time that he claims to not be able to remember. He can’t remember any of the abuse that took place. Do you think the not being able to remember is a ploy or do you think that the brain damage they received in their childhood really makes it impossible to hold onto memories that are unfavorable? He can remember a few other things. Just not the abuse.

Fitting title and your description below video is spot on. I only ever encountered one and I reckon she wrote the book.

Wow! This hits home.

The most impressive thing that i cant understand is how they switch so fast from friendly to a menace

I had to leave the country as I couldn’t bear to be under the same roof as him. He blocked /sabotaged my every way out: abroad was my only option/escape. He destroyed my life.

The mental turmoil is indescribable and people who haven't experienced it, just can't understand how you can be so manipulated.

Scarily close to home Darren

12 years married to a Fake husband. I didn't realize what he is until the brutal discard. He filed for divorce June 1st but he's making the process delayed. Liar,cheater, malicious, vile. My adult daughter, myself and our home with 9 pets are all the collateral damage

This is scary accurate.

If I did not have a corporate career I would have lost my mind with the covert narc in a 32 yr marriage. The last time I was given the silent treatment and passive aggression, the smirk and underlying anger about everything, he had a heart attack. Am a widow and still have no emotions of that day. Hearing my own voice of reasoning and freedom indeed paved a wonderful healthy life for me now.

I'm just watched this and a few other videos about this and for the most part you were spot on. It's somewhat different since we both are autistic so certain things were different. But she actually broke up with me cause I had no life left in me and I couldn't give her what she wanted she cheated on me then accused me of cheating. In the end I was a husk of the person I was and she lost interest. She then turned around called me abusive and called me a narcissist on her Facebook page. Even lied about me to the few ppl I still had in my life. She actively tried to weaponize the mental health system against me. I'm so happy to be free but at the same time I'm so confused and lost.

Endless mind reading, endless looks of contempt and disdain, endless guilt tripping, endless shaming and blaming, but the one thing I noticed is a covert narc parent does not notice when their child is abused by others be that physical emotional or whatever, they simply do not notice and turn a blind eye. If however you say the mildest thing and read their mind wrong they turn on the silent treatment leaving you utterly bereft and confused. Or you might get a venom word salad of how bad you are. All the while they have no empathy for you and don't notice anything you're struggling with. They're the victim, their back story is way worse than yours anything and in my mother's case, "well, where was I when that happened", I don't know mother, where the hell were you! FYI they don't get better with age especially if their friends have passed anything day and they have less supply. A covert narc parent is never there when you need them

4:25 ...this is soooo common among so many people. I get so sad when workplaces I have been to, where the topic in breaks and lunches are just about gossip of others. There are some people that leaves you with a sense of being "wrong" or "weird" that makes me doubt myself and is incredibly destructive if you adhere to it, or if it is said by someone you actually think is a good friend. I wish there was a way to highlight this issue more, because any relationship, wether private or from work/school should be positively reciprocating eachothers strengths and abilities. Finding ways to communicate in a way that is showing support, affirmation, acknowledgement and in a respectful way, even if opinions disagree, we can have a meaningful and empathetic approach to evolve communication in a healthy way. No wonder so many in society today struggle with mental health issues when the climate of dialogues has turned into passive aggressive poison delivered to slowly dissolve ones sense of self-worth, self-esteem and self image. There are so many wanting to air their opinion which they are entiteled to, but who do not see the consequences of them airing some things that has no purpose or function other than dragging down what they targeted with their opinion. Some say it's better to be truthful (as a defense for airing demoralizing opinions) I.e. if someone finds some article of clothing non flattering. Should you say omg [insert derogatory terms here] Or is there another way of delivering a well-intentioned suggestion? For me, I try to encourage if a person feels good about themselves, no matter what I think, it is the person wearing that needs to feel nice & comfortable and with that self-confidence will get a boost. I wish I knew this in my teens. People really need to know subtile and covert attacks on self-/worth/esteem/image It is important to be aware of this. Thank you.

One favourite sentence is “I don’t know”

This has summed up my experience deadset to probably 95% accuracy. Goddamn

This marriage has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me

It's about time someone said it >> Darren Magee is by far the number 1 authority on COVERT Narcissism on KZfaq

Bringing up things of offense from our childhood - 65 years later…still furious and upset yet passive aggressive. Seems engaged and sharing family experiences empathically then quite suddenly pivots to an “incident” from distant past where she has felt terribly wronged, misunderstood or hurt and not rescued by “anyone” (me) from her upset, misfortunes or abuse by other people-often our parents or extended family. The narrative is “you were treated better - looked better, unfair unfair unfair, you didn’t deserve or earn better treatment, cheater, shallow, sinner, too proud, vain, aggressive, irresponsible, etc etc etc. Pent up blame and resentment showered down upon me. This is a consistent narrative I cannot seem to impact with any amount of effort, attention, denial, understanding, explanation or empathic support. Our parents were both fairly narcissistic, one substance abuser and they emotionally neglected all of us. I was only 18months older than this sister, but she somehow believes I’m responsible for her passivity and emotional pain growing up. It is exhausting and frankly frustrating thinking I’m nurturing an adult relationship but she seems unwilling to accept I’m not that “bad” undeserving sister she cannot seem to forgive who got away with ??? and did not protect and rescue her. I was barely surviving our parents myself. It’s awful and sad this happened to us but worse it’s been carried on into the future after the parents are long gone. Trauma leaves a stamp on every person’s mind especially if exposed to it long term in childhood. Healing ❤️‍🩹 is possible but it’s not a quick fix nor easy…

Packs of these creatures gather together in the darkest parts of the web, just to single out and prey on repeat targets they never let go of. The carnage is as real as the mass shootings nobody seems to realize weren't in existence BEFORE the internet.

This is the most accurate description I’ve ever heard, thank you 🙏🏻

Never ceases to amaze me how accurate and very specific these videos are. There are just a handful of top KZfaq channels on narcissism and this is definiltey up there with the big narcissism-specific channels. Every word I know is hitting home with everyone watching it because we've lived every single word over and over again and will never forget, although hopefully, we all are able to heal, move on and grow again.

Spot on descriptions and examples, as always. What I would also point to is their absolutely shocking two-facedness they will go from completely the terrified shook up victim to smirking and hubris at the drop of a hat, it only depends on who’s ’dominating’ (in their mind) that specific moment. That‘s actually the number one sign of a covert for me whenever you‘re down for whatever reason they feel elated you will see the smirk and you WILL get the fake pity the talking down on it makes them feel great, however when you‘re doing great they will start playing the victim they will completely devalue your achievement (‚so and so got the promotion way earlier into their career‘, ’many people have achieved xyz‘ etc), the devaluation is often so subtle where it sounds as if they‘re just chiming in with some related story but in your gut you know sth‘s off, it‘s the small and subtle daily digs that will destroy you over time, run as fast you can, these people will create hell on earth for you

They are nice, but they are not kind. Always using their own trauma to control you, punish you, and blame you. Never addressing your traumas, only theirs. It can drive you crazy because they manage to convince you that you are triggering them, that you are a bad person. Not to mention (my personal experience) how he was never happy. If we were having a nice day by the pool he’d say “can you imagine if we had a hot tub”, if we were having the best day at the park he’d say “imagine if we were on a boat”… always finding ways to make any experience further away from whatever ideal he had that particular day. They feed off people’s energy and success. They leave when you have nothing (material) left to offer. Run.

They simply don’t care.. pretending to love u until something seemingly more valuable arrives.

I have known a narcissist so closely that she appears to be both an overt narcissist as well as a covert narcissist - overt narcissist with some people, whom she wants to insult and belittle and covert narcissist with some others, whom she wants to have full control of because they are the ones who are useful for her to forward her agenda.

Thank you Darren for this video. I made notes of every comment you made as each point struck a chord with me.

Unfortunately, my kid is married to one and refuses to recognize it is a horribly dangerous covert narcissist. Trapped! Please help with tips how can I take my kid out of the illusion before they are completely drained and left deceived!!!

Thank you, thank you, I have dealt with this problem of narcissism all my life with my family. They hate any good deeds I do and boast of their own good deeds. They attempt to schmooze my husband and treat me disrespectfully hoping he will think something is wrong with me. I have cut them off from us so that we see them only one time a year. During that time I keep my distance but am hospitable not allowing myself to become like them. They would like nothing better than to cause rude reactions from me. I do not give it to them.

I never thought anything was wrong with me. I just didn't understand what was his problem or why he was overreacting to things like a paranoid, overgrown baby with minimal emotional regulation when he was triggered by something random. He actually was calmer when their was a real issue. But when it was in his head he lost it. I thought a couples therapist would point out the insanity of his ways. And after some progress he doubled down and got even worse until he blew the relationship up beyond repair with his betrayal and false accusations. But his feelings are evidence is a true fact of what they belive and how they act.

Insidious, under the radar....so spot on! 👍 And love your humour at the end 😂😂 Thank you

Brilliant description!

This is spot on. Every word

Scary how relatable this is

Super-accurately described!

Dang, Dude!! You are genius! ❤

Great description! Thank you! I love the last comment about the stone as well as your description at the end. Glad to hear the update to you oft used phrase😊.

You describe this subject so well and it's very, very helpful. Thank you.

Great content thank you, too quiet to listen to on the road unfortunately when I listen to a lot of videos

This description of behaviour is so accurate it's both amazing and frightening. Thanks for sharing Darren, it's a big help

Love the imperial storm trooper on the counter in the background.

Wow! For a video of this length that has to be the most in depth discription of a covert narcissist I've ever heard! Included were some things i rarely hear talked about. Great video!!

My elderly covert narc MIL to a tee. Nightmare woman to have to deal with. We walked away 3-4 yrs ago.

This is absolutely spot on. Laughed out loud at "victim was rude to their favourite stone"! Keep up the good work Darren. Respect to you and your work from the NE of England.

Thank you so much for this total validation, incredible insight which I am sure so many people resonate with. I would love for you to expand on covert father relationship with children into late adulthood. There are dynamics which play in this relationship which I and others are working out. example, I experienced covert father ping pong emotions almost bi polar implied. Grandiose "I am god like, father, creator - you will adore and worship my greatness, it is your duty and privilege" switching immediately to implied "Please love me, appreciate me, don't make me punish myself anymore, i am the worst affected victim ever" followed by, "I am the most victimized ever, no one is a big a victim as me, I just have to cope, i am great" and round he goes - exhausting. any of that make sense? Thanks for all you do Darren.

It was so difficult and at times still difficult for for me to see clearly that my ex partner was in fact the person you describe because I personally have many failings and flaws ,namely apathy and career underachievement that have always been part of my personality that compromised the equality of our relationship.This made me feel inadequate compared to her in the relationship. But this explanation and others have enabled me to identify her condition and explain her behaviour patterns very clearly. I now realise she would not have wanted me as a partner if I was her equal or better . I am working on acceptance of myself and failings and am improving these slowly everyday and finally free of the mouse wheel I was on dealing with my covert narricist Thankyou.

This is sooooo good! And so validating. Those rare moments of genuine apology you mentioned, was what kept me in for much longer than I should have ever stayed. It was only 3 years for me, but 3 years too long. Thank you!