Attachment styles are formed in early childhood based on interactions with caregivers.
There are four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized.
Attachment styles can influence how we behave in romantic and close relationships.
This short free 15-question quiz measures feelings associated with the four main attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. This quiz is not a formal medical or diagnostic test and should not be interpreted as clinical or medical advice.
The Attachment Style Quiz
The Four Attachment Styles
Early attachment styles may not be exactly the same as those in adult relationships, but they can be a good predictor of adult behavior patterns.
Your attachment style consists of a variation of attachment strategies, which strategies show up the most depend on the overall safety you have felt in relationships.
Secure Attachment
Those of us with a secure attachment style are able to build healthy long-term relationships. A secure attachment generally leads to good self-esteem and the ability to enjoy close relationships, seek social support, and share feelings with others.
To put it simply, secure attachment is what most of us want.
Children who develop this attachment style had parents or primary caregivers who were more attentive to their needs. They felt safe, loved, and understood. Securely attached children sought comfort from the parent or caregiver when scared and preferred the comfort of this adult to strangers.
Research suggests that securely attached children are more empathetic as they get older.
Anxious or Ambivalent Attachment
Anxious attachment style, also called ambivalent attachment, is a type of insecure attachment. If you have this attachment style, you may tend to be wary of getting close to others and worry whether a romantic partner loves you or not.
It’s not easy for any of us when a relationship ends, but anxious attachment can make things especially difficult.
Children who are ambivalently attached are typically suspicious of strangers and distressed when separated from a caregiver. But unlike securely attached children, those with anxious or ambivalent attachment don’t seem to be comforted by the parent or caregiver’s return, and they may even refuse comfort.
Avoidant Attachment
Avoidant attachment style is marked by challenges with intimacy and close relationships. If you are avoidant, you might not be willing or able to share thoughts and feelings with others, and may even have problems with intimacy.
In some cases, this may look like what is commonly called “commitment phobia.”
Those of us with this attachment style may not invest as much emotion in relationships as others, and tend not to be as disappointed when relationships end. That last part may sound like a good way to protect ourselves from getting hurt (and it is!), but it’s also a good way to prevent ourselves from finding meaningful, long-lasting relationships.
Children with an avoidant attachment may have had caregivers who weren’t emotionally available. They may have been left to take care of themselves because they couldn’t rely on a parent or guardian. These children might avoid parents and caregivers and not have a preference between a caregiver and a stranger.
Disorganized Attachment
A disorganized attachment style includes a mix of behaviors. A person with this attachment style might be clingy at one time and emotionally distant at another time. It’s typically a response to parents or caregivers who may have been abusive or neglectful.
A child with a disorganized attachment style might feel both fear and comfort toward a caregiver, which can be confusing.
What Should I Know About Attachment?
Attachment describes the way people form relationships and how they interact and behave in those relationships. Our attachment style is formed during early childhood by the way we interact with our parents or primary caregivers.
John Bowlby, a researcher credited as a creator of attachment theory, described attachment as “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings.” He believed that forming attachment was also part of human survival, and these early childhood experiences shape development and behavior later in life.
Your bond with a primary caregiver forms the basis for your attachment with others. Children who can rely on their caregivers to be there consistently and meet their basic and emotional needs will likely see the same trend in other relationships and believe it’s safe to rely on others for comfort.
Psychologist Mary Ainsworth built on Bowlby’s work with her own study and concluded that there were three main attachment styles. Researchers then added a fourth style.
Who Is This Attachment Style Quiz For?
We all want to know why our relationships work—or don’t work, as the case may be. While a number of factors contribute to the success or failure of our long-term relationships, our attachment style represents a possible underlying explanation for our relationship behaviors that we didn’t previously understand.
This attachment style quiz is based on the four main attachment styles recognized by researchers and mental health providers. Each response corresponds to a different attachment style.
This quiz can be helpful if you want to learn more about attachment styles, what yours may be, and how attachment could impact your relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. It can help you better understand your behaviors in relationships and determine if you could benefit from working with a mental health professional to discuss concerns about your attachment.
Attachment theory has been making waves in recent years as we explore more ways in which the events of our childhood years can impact us today, especially with regards to our romantic and other close interpersonal relationships. The topic has exploded on TikTok, to the tune of over 16 million views tied to attachment, as mental health professionals and influencers alike take to the social media platform to share their knowledge of the topic.
Is My Attachment Set in Stone?
Remember, it’s called attachment theory for a reason. How we act under certain circumstances doesn’t define the rest of our lives and all future relationships. So even if you think you have a fix on your attachment style after taking this quiz, know that it may only be one small piece of the puzzle that is your life.
Old behaviors can be unlearned and replaced with new ones, and even a string of unsuccessful relationships doesn’t mean you have an insecure attachment style. All it may take is the right person and the right relationship to overturn everything you think you knew about your connection and attachment to others.
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Recognize when someone is using you by identifying if they often ask for favors and take but don’t give back.
Protect yourself by setting healthy boundaries to prevent being taken advantage of.
Seek guidance from a mental health professional or trusted person to help you manage relationships where you feel used.
Have you ever gotten the feeling that someone is manipulating you for their benefit? Or that they care more about what you can offer them than they do about you? In these situations, it’s possible that you’re being used. When someone is using you, it means they are manipulating or taking advantage of you for their own benefit.
When someone says they feel “used” by someone it typically means the person feels their rights have either been violated or they have been taken advantage of in some way, says Meghan Marcum, PsyD, chief psychologist at AMFM Healthcare.
“In some cases, the individual being used may not recognize the pattern until long after the behaviors first start. On other occasions, the individual is keenly aware they have been manipulated for another person’s gain right away,” says Marcum.
Keep reading to learn how to identify some signs that you’re being used and explore strategies to help you put a stop to it.
Signs You’re Being Used
Recognizing the signs of being used is important, but it isn’t always cut and dry. Sometimes, it’s easy to spot the signs that someone is using you, but in other cases, this behavior can be much more subtle.
While everyone’s circumstances are different, these are some signs that someone may be using you, according to Marcum:
The person asks you for money, favors, or other items. For instance, they may ask you to lend them money or pay their bills.
The person imposes on you without consideration for your availability or preferences. For instance, they may move in with you unexpectedly or want to borrow your car at a moment’s notice.
The person expects you to take care of their needs. For instance, if you go out for dinner with them, they may not offer to pay and simply expect you to pick up the tab.
The person appears disinterested in you after their needs have been met. For instance, they may use you to meet their needs but may not want to spend time with you otherwise.
The person is only affectionate or intimate with you when it’s convenient for them. For instance, they may be affectionate toward you until they get what they want.
The person doesn’t make an effort to be there for you when you need them. For instance, even though they borrow your car regularly, they may not agree to give you a ride to the airport.
The relationship feels one-sided. They always expect things from you, but they never reciprocate.
Signs someone is using you may vary depending on the nature of the relationship. A friend who is using you may only want to do things together at their convenience. They may expect you to listen to them, but not be willing to hear what you have to say.
In a relationship, being used might involve selfishness and disinterest in your needs. It may also involve someone only being interested in a sexual relationship while refusing to make any other type of emotional commitment.
Commonly Used Tactics
People who are using you may also employ psychologically manipulative or abusive tactics to influence your actions and disguise their behavior. Examples of strategies they may use include:
Gaslighting: This involves denying your reality to make you doubt yourself and the abuse.
Love bombing: This behavior involves showering you with intense affection and attention to manipulate you.
Future faking is an extreme form of love bombing in which a person makes grand promises for the future that they never follow up on.
Passive aggression: This behavior uses passive, indirect expressions of negative feelings to avoid direct communication while still influencing your behavior.
Criticism: The manipulator may criticize you to undermine your sense of self-worth and make you doubt yourself, making you easier to influence and manipulate.
Isolation: They may isolate you from your friends and loved ones so that they have more control.
DARVO is a tactic that some people use to manipulate others. It stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim. Using this strategy, the manipulator will deny that they are doing something wrong, act aggressively, and then reverse roles to claim that they are the victim and that you are manipulating or harming them.
Reasons People Use Others
When someone uses you, it means they are taking advantage of you or manipulating you in some way for their own gain. It’s a painful experience, and sometimes recognizing why people engage in this type of behavior can be helpful.
Common reasons why people use others include:
Selfishness: They have a desire to get what they want and will do anything, including hurting others, to get it.
Greed: They may use others for financial gain.
Retaliation: They might feel that someone used them in the past, so they use others as a way to get revenge.
Sex: They may sexually exploit others for their own pleasure.
Control: Using others helps them to feel more in control.
Insecurity: People with poor self-esteem may use others as a way to boost their self-image
Lack of empathy: People who don’t understand how their actions affect others may be more likely to exploit and manipulate.
Beliefs about relationships: Those who see relationships as purely transactional often feel that they should be able to derive specific benefits with little concern for the other person’s feelings.
It never feels good for someone to take advantage of you. It can make you feel poorly about yourself and take a negative toll on your relationships. It can also make it harder to trust other people in the future. According to Marcum, here are some of the ways that you might be affected if someone has been using you:
Impact on Mental Health
Being taken advantage of can lead to significant mental health problems, especially if you have been used or harmed in a previous relationship. It can manifest symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Over time, you may have difficulty trusting others and forming new relationships.
Impact on Relationships
Meghan Marcum, PsyD
Being used is definitely not a sign of a healthy relationship. It means one person is taking excessively while the other is making all the sacrifices.
— Meghan Marcum, PsyD
It disrupts the power balance within the relationship. In a healthy relationship, both partners would be responsible for providing support, trust, and emotional security to their partner.
Strategies to Avoid Being Used
Marcum lists some steps you can take to avoid being used:
Set boundaries: Learning to identify violations to interpersonal boundaries and setting healthy boundaries is a great way to start protecting your mental health and ensuring you’re not being used.
Work on your self-esteem: Working to build self-compassion and recognizing your value can also help limit the possibility of being taken advantage of in relationships.
Seek guidance: Seeking guidance from a mental health professional, mentor, or someone you look up to can also be helpful as you work toward creating healthy boundaries.
This love quiz helps determine if your feelings are love by focusing on emotions like attachment, passion, and commitment.
Being in love might mean you care about someone’s needs as much as your own and want to peacefully solve disagreements.
Falling in love means seeing your partner’s flaws and still wanting them in your future.
Wondering if your feelings for your partner could be love? This love test can help you measure the emotions people feel that are associated with love, such as attachment, passion, care, intimacy, trust, and commitment.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Honestly, a lot. Love is an important part of the human experience. There are tons of different ways to love people. For example, the way we would love a family member isn’t the same way we would feel love for a romantic partner. In the past, romantic love was mainly discussed by writers and centered in many well-known love stories.
Fast forward to now, researchers have studied love and come up with theories on how and why we experience it. The jury’s still out on whether love is biological – linked to hormones and biology – or cultural – linked to social systems. It might be a little of both.
Research suggests that the hormone oxytocin, AKA “the hormone of love,” can have an effect on social behaviors. There’s also some evidence to suggest that the culture we grow up in can determine the way we view love and how we act in romantic relationships. Still, we’re all individuals who bring personal experiences into love and relationships.
Turns out, love can also have an impact on our mental and physical health. Loving relationships with healthy attachment can lower our risk of heart disease, depression, stress, and even diabetes.
Who Is This Love Test For?
Whether you’re catching feelings for a certain someone or curious about whether it’s love or lust in your current situationship/relationship, this quiz is for you. It won’t tell us if we should stay in a relationship, but it can help us better understand our feelings. Each question relates to feelings associated with love.
Being in love involves seeing the imperfections in your partner and still accepting them. Whereas non-romantic love is centered on the positive things you gain or aspects of them you enjoy.
— SABRINA ROMANOFF, PSYD
Is This Love Test Legit?
This love test is based on the feelings and experiences researchers and psychologists have identified as being associated with love. Each response corresponds to our feelings about love—a strong chance of being in love, likely not in romantic love, or not in love. To put it simply, yes!
How Do I Know I’m in Love?
Although researchers have identified common emotions associated with love, the feelings of love aren’t exactly one-size-fits-all. Here are some signs you may be falling in love with a romantic interest:
You don’t want to date anyone else! Chances are, you’d rather use your time and energy to focus on the person you have feelings for.
You try to get through disagreements peacefully because you want to maintain the relationship and don’t want to hurt the other person.
You care about this person’s needs, interests, and desires as much as you care about your own.
You feel grateful to have them in your life.
Your feelings for them are consistent and just keep getting stronger.
You’re interested in conversation and emotional connection—it’s not just about the physical.
You see them in your future plans.
You can have a disagreement, and your feelings toward them don’t change.
You enjoy their company and look forward to doing the little things, even grocery shopping, with them.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Robards J, Evandrou M, Falkingham J, Vlachantoni A. Marital status, health and mortality. Maturitas. 2012;73(4):295‐299. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.08.007
Being angry at your boss but taking it out on your spouse instead
Denial
Denying that something exists
Being the victim of a violent crime, yet denying that the incident occurred
Repression
Unconsciously keeping unpleasant information from your conscious mind
Being abused as a child but not remembering the abuse
Suppression
Consciously keeping unpleasant information from your conscious mind
Being abused as a child but choosing to push it out of your mind
Sublimation
Converting unacceptable impulses into more acceptable outlets
Being upset with your spouse but going for a walk instead of fighting
Projection
Assigning your own unacceptable feelings or qualities to others
Feeling attracted to someone other than your spouse, then fearing that your spouse is cheating on you
Intellectualization
Thinking about stressful things in a clinical way
Losing a close family member and staying busy with making the necessary arrangements instead of feeling sad
Rationalization
Justifying an unacceptable feeling or behavior with logic
Being denied a loan for your dream house, then saying it’s a good thing because the house was too big anyway
Regression
Reverting to earlier behaviors
Hugging a teddy bear when you’re stressed, like you did when you were a child
Reaction Formation
Replacing an unwanted impulse with its opposite
Being sad about a recent breakup, but acting happy about it
Displacement
Have you ever had a really bad day at work, then went home and took out your frustration on family and friends? If you answered yes, you have experienced the ego defense mechanism of displacement.
Displacement involves taking out our frustrations, feelings, and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening.
Displaced aggression is a common example of this defense mechanism. Rather than express your anger in ways that could lead to negative consequences (like arguing with your boss), you instead express your anger toward a person or object that poses no threat (such as your spouse, children, or pets).
Denial
Denial, probably one of the best-known defense mechanisms, is an outright refusal to admit or recognize that something has occurred or is currently occurring. It functions to protect the ego from things with which the person cannot cope and is used often to describe situations in which people seem unable to face reality or admit an obvious truth (e.g., “They’re in denial”).
For example, people living with drug or alcohol addiction often deny that they have a problem, while victims of traumatic events may deny that the event ever occurred.
While it may temporarily shield you from anxiety or pain, denial also requires a substantial investment of energy. Because of this, other defenses are used to help keep these unacceptable feelings from conscious awareness.
In many cases, there might be overwhelming evidence that something is true, yet the person will continue to deny its existence or truth because it is too uncomfortable to face.
Recap
Denial can involve a flat-out rejection of the existence of a fact or reality. In other cases, it might involve admitting that something is true, but minimizing its importance. Sometimes people will accept reality and the seriousness of the fact, but they will deny their own responsibility and instead blame other people or other outside forces.
Repression
Repression acts to keep information out of conscious awareness. However, these memories don’t just disappear; they continue to influence our behavior. For example, a person who has repressed memories of abuse suffered as a child may later have difficulty forming relationships.
Suppression
Sometimes you might repress information consciously by forcing the unwanted information out of your awareness. This is known as suppression. In most cases, however, this removal of anxiety-provoking memories from awareness is believed to occur unconsciously.
Sublimation
Sublimation is a defense mechanism that allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these behaviors into a more acceptable form. For example, a person experiencing extreme anger might take up kickboxing as a means of venting frustration.
Freud believed that sublimation was a sign of maturity and allows people to function normally in socially acceptable ways.
Projection
Projection is a defense mechanism that involves taking your own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people. For example, if you have a strong dislike for someone, you might instead believe that they do not like you.
Projection works by allowing the expression of the desire or impulse, but in a way that the ego cannot recognize, therefore reducing anxiety.
Intellectualization
Intellectualization works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way. This defense mechanism allows us to avoid thinking about the stressful, emotional aspect of the situation and instead focus only on the intellectual component.
For example, a person who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness might focus on learning everything about the disease in order to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of the situation and their feelings about it.
Rationalization
Rationalization is a defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a rational or logical manner, avoiding the true reasons for the behavior.
For example, a person who is turned down for a date might rationalize the situation by saying they were not attracted to the other person anyway. A student might rationalize a poor exam score by blaming the instructor rather than admitting their own lack of preparation.
Rationalization not only prevents anxiety, but it may also protect self-esteem and self-concept.
When trying to explain success or failure, people using this defense mechanism tend to attribute achievement to their own qualities and skills while failures are blamed on other people or outside forces.
Regression
When confronted by stressful events, people sometimes abandon coping strategies and revert to patterns of behavior used earlier in development. Anna Freud called this defense mechanism regression and suggested that people act out behaviors from the stage of psychosexual development in which they are fixated.
For example, an individual fixated at an earlier developmental stage might cry or sulk upon hearing unpleasant news.
According to Freud, behaviors associated with regression can vary greatly depending on the stage at which a person is fixated. For example, an individual fixated at the oral stage might begin eating or smoking excessively, or might become verbally aggressive. A fixation at the anal stage might result in excessive tidiness or messiness.
Reaction Formation
Reaction formation reduces anxiety by taking up the opposite feeling, impulse, or behavior. An example of reaction formation would be treating someone you strongly dislike in an excessively friendly manner in order to hide your true feelings.
Why do people behave this way? According to Freud, they are using reaction formation as a defense mechanism to hide their true feelings by behaving in the exact opposite manner.
7 Main Defense Mechanisms
This list is sometimes shortened to provide only seven main defense mechanisms, which are denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, repression, and sublimation.
10 Other Common Defense Mechanisms
Since Freud first described the original defense mechanisms, other researchers have continued to describe other methods of reducing anxiety. Some of these defense mechanisms include:
Acting out: Coping with stress by engaging in actions rather than acknowledging and bearing certain feelings. For example, instead of telling someone that you are angry with them, you might yell at them or throw something against the wall.
Aim inhibition: Accepting a modified form of their original goal. An example of this would be becoming a high school basketball coach rather than a professional athlete.
Altruism: Satisfying internal needs through helping others. For example, someone recovering from substance use might volunteer to help others in recovery as a way to deal with drug cravings.
Avoidance: Refusing to deal with or encounter unpleasant objects or situations. For example, rather than discuss a problem with someone, you might simply start avoiding them altogether so you don’t have to deal with the issue.
Compensation: Overachieving in one area to compensate for failures in another. For example, someone who feels insecure academically might compensate by excelling in athletics.
Dissociation: Becoming separated or removed from your experience. When dealing with something stressful, for example, you might mentally and emotionally disengage yourself from the situation.
Fantasy: Avoiding reality by retreating to a safe place within your mind. When something in your life is causing anxiety, you might retreat to your inner world where the cause of the stress cannot harm you.
Humor: Pointing out the funny or ironic aspects of a situation. An example of this might be cracking a joke in a stressful or traumatic situation.
Passive-aggression: Indirectly expressing anger. Instead of telling someone that you are upset, for example, you might give them the silent treatment.
Undoing: Trying to make up for what you feel are inappropriate thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. For example, if you hurt someone’s feelings, you might offer to do something nice for them to assuage your anxiety or guilt.
While defense mechanisms are often thought of as negative reactions, we all need them to temporarily ease stress and protect self-esteem during critical times, allowing us to focus on what is necessary at the moment.
Some of these defenses can be more helpful than others. For example, utilizing humor to overcome a stressful, anxiety-provoking situation can actually be an adaptive defense mechanism.
Recap
There are many different types of defense mechanisms that can be used to protect the ego from anxiety. Some of these can be healthier and more helpful than others.
How Do Defense Mechanisms Work?
In Sigmund Freud’s model of personality, the ego is the aspect of personality that deals with reality. While doing this, the ego also has to cope with the conflicting demands of the id and the superego.
The id: The part of the personality that seeks to fulfill all wants, needs, and impulses. The id is the most basic, primal part of our personalities and does not consider things such as social appropriateness, morality, or even the reality of fulfilling our wants and needs.
The superego: The part of the personality that tries to get the ego to act in an idealistic and moral manner. The superego is made up of all the internalized morals and values we acquire from our parents, other family members, religious influences, and society.
To deal with anxiety, Freud believed that defense mechanisms helped shield the ego from the conflicts created by the id, superego, and reality. So what happens when the ego cannot deal with the demands of our desires, the constraints of reality, and our own moral standards?
According to Freud, anxiety is an unpleasant inner state that people seek to avoid. Anxiety acts as a signal to the ego that things are not going the way they should. As a result, the ego employs some sort of defense mechanism to help reduce these feelings of anxiety.
Types of Anxiety
Not all types of anxiety are created equal. Nor do these anxieties stem from the same sources. Freud identified three types of anxiety:
Moral anxiety: A fear of violating our own moral principles
Neurotic anxiety: The unconscious worry that we will lose control of the id’s urges, resulting in punishment for inappropriate behavior
Reality anxiety: Fear of real-world events. The cause of this anxiety is usually easily identified. For example, a person might fear a dog bite when they are near a menacing dog. The most common way of reducing this anxiety is to avoid the threatening object.
Although we may knowingly use coping mechanisms to manage anxiety, in many cases, these defenses work unconsciously to distort reality.
Coping With Unhealthy Defense Mechanisms
While all defense mechanisms can be unhealthy, they can also be adaptive and allow us to function normally. For example, altruism, humor, sublimation, and suppression are four mature defense mechanisms that signal higher adaptiveness.
At the same time, problems can arise when defense mechanisms are overused in an attempt to avoid dealing with problems. To keep this from happening to you, here are a few ways to cope with unhealthy defenses.
Develop greater self-awareness. Self-awareness helps you identify when you may be using one or more defense mechanisms too often. Once you take this step, you know where you need to make changes.
Learn effective coping skills. If you have an unhealthy defense mechanism, learning new coping skills can help you better deal with uncomfortable emotions. Coping skills include meditation, establishing healthy boundaries, and asking for support.
Seek mental health therapy. Psychoanalytic therapy can help you uncover your unconscious defense mechanisms and find better, healthier ways of coping with anxiety and distress. According to licensed psychologist David Susman, PhD, “cognitive-behavioral therapy could also be helpful in addressing maladaptive use of defense mechanisms, since defense mechanisms can often contribute to irrational thoughts and beliefs as well as problematic or impulsive behaviors,” he says. “For example, someone who uses denial in the face of a diagnosis of a serious medical condition may delay or avoid going to the doctor by mentally discounting the seriousness of the health issue.”
Cognitive-behavioral therapy could also be helpful in addressing maladaptive use of defense mechanisms, since defense mechanisms can often contribute to irrational thoughts and beliefs as well as problematic or impulsive behaviors.
Remember, defense mechanisms can be both good and bad. They can serve a helpful role by protecting your ego from stress and providing a healthy outlet. In other instances, these defense mechanisms might hold you back from facing reality and can act as a form of self-deception.
If you notice that the overuse of certain defense mechanisms is having a negative impact on your life, consider consulting with a mental health professional. Psychotherapy may help whether you pursue a traditional face-to-face treatment or an online therapy option.
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Dreaming about snakes can symbolize change, rebirth, and letting go of old habits.
The spiritual meaning of a snake in a dream can vary, often suggesting transformation or a warning of danger.
A black snake in a dream might indicate danger, fear, or hidden emotions.
Dreaming about snakes can have powerful and often symbolic meanings. In general, dreaming of a snake can indicate something unpredictable or untamed in your life.
Snakes can represent transformation, change, and the power to overcome obstacles in our lives. If the snake sheds its skin in your dream, it may symbolize new beginnings or letting go of old habits that no longer serve you.
In terms of prevalence, Tzivia Gover, a Certified Dreamwork Professional at Third House Moon, notes “Snakes are counted among the universal dream symbols that people experience across countries and cultures. When it comes to animals that appear in people’s dreams, snakes rank high: They are often counted among the top 3-5 animals that appear in dreams.”
What Is the Spiritual Meaning of a Snake in a Dream?
The spiritual meaning of dreaming about snakes is highly subjective according to various cultures and belief systems.
Tzivia Gover, a Certified Dreamwork Professional
When it comes to animals that appear in people’s dreams, snakes rank high: They are often counted among the top 3-5 animals that appear in dreams.
— Tzivia Gover, a Certified Dreamwork Professional
Generally, a snake in a dream can represent transformation, rebirth, or the shedding of outdated habits and beliefs.
It could also be a warning sign that something dangerous may soon enter your life, or it could symbolically represent an unknown force within you attempting to break free from its cocoon.
Is It Good to See Snakes in Dreams?
Whether dreaming about snakes is good or bad largely depends on how you interpret the dream.
How You Interpret and Perceive the Dream Matters
If you perceive the dream to be a sign of transformation, then it can be interpreted as such. However, if it feels like a warning sign from your subconscious that something dangerous may enter your life, then it might not have such positive connotations. The interpretation is entirely up to you.
What Do Two Snakes in a Dream Mean?
Dreaming about two snakes usually signifies a balance between the opposing forces in your life. It could also be an indication that you are coming to terms with the duality of who you are and what you want.
It may also represent a powerful energy that is both creative and destructive in nature.
In some cases, dreaming about two snakes can represent temptation or conflicting desires, which could signify internal conflict or inner turmoil. This could be anything from anger, fear, confusion, or guilt. It may also represent a powerful energy that is both creative and destructive in nature.
Multiple Snakes in Your Dream May Indicate Toxicity in Your Life
Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, a certified dream analyst, notes that everything about your dream is important to think about. Where the snake is, what it’s doing, and even the type of snake are all important details to think about.
“Everything in a dream is a piece of the puzzle. The bigger the snake or the more snakes there are, the bigger the issue or the more of a threat this toxic person poses. In fact, multiple snakes could be several people that are toxic in your life, for example, a toxic work environment,” says Loewenberg.
What Does It Mean When You Dream About a Snake Trying to Bite You?
If you’re being chased by a snake in a dream, it could symbolize something that is chasing you in waking life, such as an unresolved issue or an emotional burden.
Alternatively, it could represent a fear or insecurity that is preventing you from making a necessary decision or moving forward.
What If the Snake in the Dream Actually Bites Me?
If the snake actually bites you in your dream, it could symbolize a feeling of vulnerability or helplessness.
It might also point to feelings of betrayal, guilt, shame, or regret about something that happened in the past.
I Saw a Black Snake in My Dream—What Does That Mean?
A black snake in a dream can symbolize danger, fear, and the unknown. It could be a warning sign that something dangerous will soon enter your life or it could represent a suppressed emotion or hidden power within you.
Other color variations of snake dreams can symbolize different things, so it’s important to pay attention to the details of the dream. For example, a white snake can be interpreted as a sign of healing and transformation.
What Does It Mean If You Dream About a Snake Wrapping Itself Around You?
The behavior of the snake that appears in your dream can also reveal hidden messages from your subconscious.
For example, if the snake is aggressive or attacking you, it could be a sign of anxiety and fear. On the other hand, if the snake is peaceful and not confronting you, it can signify healing and renewal.
You May Be Feeling Overwhelmed
Dreaming of a snake wrapping around you can be interpreted as the feeling of being overwhelmed by something or someone in your life.
It could also symbolize passion and desire, or it could signify fear or anxiety surrounding an upcoming event.
What Does It Mean If You Dream of a Snake Slithering Away From You?
Dreaming of a snake slithering away from you might mean that you are trying to avoid something or someone in your life.
It could also signify a fear of change or uncertainty surrounding an upcoming event. Additionally, it could represent suppressed emotions or past experiences resurfacing.
What Does It Mean If a Snake Appears in a Sensual Dream?
Snakes may represent temptation or desire, particularly if the dream includes a conflict between yourself and the snake. It could also signify a power struggle or the fear of intimacy.
A snake can also be a symbol of love, so if you’ve entered a new relationship or are feeling affection for someone, it’s possible the snake is representative of that connection.
What to Do If You Dream About a Snake
If you dream about a snake, take the time to reflect on your experiences and feelings during the dream. Consider how you felt in the dream and note any symbols or details that could help explain what the dream may be trying to tell you. It can also be helpful to write down your thoughts and feelings in order to gain clarity.
Dream Interpretation Advice From a Certified Dreamwork Professional
Gover’s advice—”Because each individual has different associations and experiences, it’s best to use these interpretations as a starting point. Write about your dream, draw it, and or talk to a trusted friend or dream worker about it. Ask yourself how you felt in the dream, what snakes mean to you, and what message your dream might be bringing you.”
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology.
Asking deep questions helps build strong friendships by creating emotional bonds.
Deep conversations include complex thought and require vulnerability from both parties.
Our closest friends are a true lifeline—people who care about us, understand who we are at a core level, and who remain at our side through thick and thin. Cultivating genuine, fulfilling friendships takes real work, though, and often it starts by simply asking questions.
Beginning a relationship with lighthearted questions—usually focused around interests, hobbies, and their life—is the perfect place to start. But as you develop your friendship, it makes sense to start asking deep questions to engage on a whole new level.
If you lived in a college dorm, there’s a good chance you’ve engaged in your fair share of deep conversations with friends already, and those may be some of your most cherished memories.
Asking friends deep questions is important for developing a strong bond. It’s a great way to learn more about others, increase closeness between you, and have more interesting conversations. It is a healthy attribute of any relationship and can create emotional intimacy.
Read on to discover the importance of deep questions over surface level conversation topics, check out a list of questions to get you started, and some tips on initiating deep conversations with friends so you can strengthen your relationships.
50 Deep Questions to Ask Your Friends
These questions cover a variety of topics including childhood, relationships, personal philosophies, and more. Many of them should spark natural follow up questions and conversation. You know your friends best, so choose the questions that you think may generate the best conversations and won’t make anyone too uncomfortable.
It’s also important to first make sure that you would be comfortable answering the question yourself. Once you put someone else on the hot seat, it’s only a matter of time before they turn the question back on you. Avoid anything that may be too traumatic or triggering, unless that is something you and your friends are all comfortable with.
Some of these may seem lighthearted, but actually can lead to some of the most interesting insights into you and your friends’ psyche.
Deep Questions to Ask About Relationships
These questions can help generate some interesting insights into how your friends feel about the relationships in their lives, and perhaps yield some insights into why you are good friends with them in the first place:
What is the most important relationship in your life?
What was your childhood like, and how is your relationship with your parents?
What does it mean to be a good friend to you?
If your exes were all stuck in a room together, what would they say about you?
Do you think there is one person out there that each of us are meant to be with?
What’s the most unconventional thing that can attract you to someone?
What’s the most petty dealbreaker that will instantly turn you off of a potential love interest?
If you could change one thing about me, what would it be and why?
What’s your approach to handling disagreements and conflicts in your relationships?
Deep Questions to Ask About the World
Everyone has their own opinions about what is right and wrong with the world. These questions can help you and your friends dig in on how you really feel, and why you feel that way. These kinds of questions could provoke some intriguing and enlightening—but friendly—arguments.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
What’s something about the modern-day world that bothers you, and what’s something about it that brings you joy?
What is your favorite place in the world to be?
If you could choose any decade to live in, which one would you choose?
What is one thing that society has lost that you wish we could get back?
If you could erase one technological advancement from the world, what would it be?
Deep Questions to Ask About Life and Death
There are no bigger questions than those that address where we came from and where we’re going. These are some serious topics, so be prepared for things to get heavy. As long as you’re in a safe space, these questions will make for some fascinating conversation:
What are your best and worst memories from childhood?
What’s something that happened in grade school that really impacted who you are today?
Do you believe in fate, or do you think we have control over our own destinies?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
Do spirituality or religion play any role in your life? Why or why not?
Do you regret the path your life has taken to this point?
If you could live a different life, what would it look like?
If you could erase the bad memories from your mind, would you?
If money were no object, what would you do with your life?
How do you want to be remembered?
Do you have any secrets that would change your whole life if they became public knowledge?
Would you trade a long life for a short life full of distinction and success?
If you could relive one day of your life, which day would it be and why?
If you only had 24 hours left to live, how would you spend it?
If you could know the day of your passing, would you want to know?
Deep Questions About Success and Failure
Sometimes, our friends may be the people we are most jealous of. But they probably feel the same about you! These questions about success and the various paths our lives can take will help you put things in perspective:
Where do you want to be in 10 years? Are you currently on that path?
Are you satisfied with your current career trajectory?
What are your biggest fears, and how do you cope with them?
What’s a challenge you’ve recently overcome or are currently facing?
How do you define happiness, and what do you do to cultivate it in your life?
What are the core principles that guide your decision-making and actions in life?
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in the past year?
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Deep Questions to Get Weirdly Philosophical
It’s time to have some fun! These questions are best asked later on in the evening when everyone has loosened up a bit and is ready to say some things that nobody expects. At first glance, some of these may not seem like serious questions, but you will be surprised by how much insight you can glean from the answers you’ll hear:
Would you rather time travel to the past or future?
What would your role be in the zombie apocalypse?
What fictional world would you most want to live in?
What skill is the closest thing you have to a superpower?
If your inner monologue was a book, what genre would it be?
If aliens came to Earth and you were the first person they saw, what would you do to communicate to them that you were friendly?
If you could be famous, what would you most want to be famous for?
What’s the most morally questionable thing you would do for a lot of money?
Who’s your favorite Beatle and why? (Adjust as needed for your friends’ musical tastes)
The Importance of Asking Deep Questions
The key difference between surface level conversations and deep questions is that the former has a quick and dry answer while the latter invites both parties to explore the topic more deeply. For example, lighthearted topics might be around today’s news or what happened at work today, while a deeper conversation goes beyond the surface.
Patel says deep conversations fulfill the following criteria:
There’s a time and place for these lighthearted conversations, of course—you can’t be deep all the time without your exchanges becoming exhausting—but it’s important to weave in deeper subjects for juicier conversations and more fulfilling relationships.
What Topics Are Considered Deep?
Deep conversation categories run the gamut, but include:
personal values
life philosophies
family dynamics
interpersonal relationships
dreams and aspirations
fears
challenges
self-reflection
Reena B. Patel, clinical psychologist
Engaging in deep conversations with people allows us to develop empathy, increases our own mental wellness, and creates connections.
— Reena B. Patel, clinical psychologist
“Engaging in deep conversations with people allows us to develop empathy, increases our own mental wellness, and creates connections,” Patel explains. “It also has benefits of intellectual stimulation and increased positive emotions.”
What’s more, research shows that going beyond small talk tends to make people feel happier, even though it’s challenging to initiate these deeper conversations. A 2021 study found that people felt more connected to others when having deep conversations versus shallow ones.
Another study from 2018 found that when we have these deep bonds, it promotes self-esteem, improves life satisfaction, fosters a sense of belonging, and boosts both our mental and physical health.
Advice on Initiating Deep Conversations with Friends
The 2021 study we referenced above was interesting in that it noted people’s desire to connect deeply, but acknowledged just how difficult it can be to start these conversations.
Reena B. Patel, clinical psychologist
Create a space where one feels safe to share, make time, validate and establish rapport. Ask questions about their values and perspective and actively listen without judgment.
— Reena B. Patel, clinical psychologist
The truth is that asking deep questions requires vulnerability from both parties. You’ll find, though, that once you start talking about these topics the other person will open up slowly, which leads to a snowball effect of continued relationship growth. But how do you get there to begin with?
“Create a space where one feels safe to share, make time, validate and establish rapport,” Patel says. “Ask questions about their values and perspective and actively listen without judgment.”
Remember, asking deep questions is a two-way street, meaning that there’s give and take from both sides. Remain open to your friends’ responses, be willing to share your own thoughts and experiences, and respect any desire to end the conversation or switch to a new topic.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Covert narcissists act in subtle ways and may seem self-effacing, but they still crave importance and admiration.
They often use manipulation, such as guilt trips and shaming, to control others and keep focus on themselves.
To protect yourself, set clear boundaries and limit interactions with covert narcissists.
A covert narcissist is someone who craves admiration and importance, lacking empathy toward others but may act in a different way than an overt narcissist. They may exhibit symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) but often hide the more obvious signs of the condition. While it can be more difficult to recognize, covert narcissism can be just as destructive as more overt narcissistic behaviors.
Common narcissistic traits include having a strong sense of self-importance, experiencing fantasies about fame or glory, exaggerating self abilities, craving admiration, exploiting others, and lacking empathy.
In the field of psychology, behavior can be described as overt or covert. Overt behaviors are those that can be easily observed by others, such as those of the traditional narcissist described earlier. Covert behaviors, however, are those that are more subtle and a bit less obvious to others.
Verywell / JR Bee
When considering the behavior of narcissists, it might be hard to imagine how someone could be a narcissist and be inhibited in their approach and behavior. A covert narcissist may be outwardly self-effacing or withdrawn in their approach, but the end goals are the same.
Causes of Covert Narcissism
The exact causes of covert narcissism are not entirely understood, but it is likely that a number of factors contribute. Experts suggest that narcissistic personality disorder is linked to factors including:
One study found that people with narcissistic personality disorder are more likely to have grown up with parents who were highly focused on status and achievements. Because they were often made to feel superior to other children, the belief that they are special and more valuable than others may persist into adulthood.
What Triggers a Covert Narcissist?
It is not clear, however, why narcissistic behavior is sometimes displayed in covert rather than overt ways. Some situations that might trigger a covert narcissist include:
Being ignored
Feeling disrespected
Threats to their ego
Feelings of shame
Being around high-status people
Feeling less attractive or less educated than others
Having less of something than others
Not getting the attention they think they deserve
Jealousy
Lack of control
Recap
Covert narcissism is characterized by the same behaviors of overt narcissism that are displayed in less obvious, more subtle ways. The exact causes for this are not known, but genetics and early relationships may play a role.
Click Play to Learn More About Covert Narcissism
Overt vs. Covert Narcissists
Covert narcissists are only different from overt (more obvious) narcissists in that they tend to be more introverted. The overt narcissist is easily identified because they tend to be loud, arrogant, insensitive to the needs of others, and always thirsty for compliments.
Their behaviors can be easily observed by others and tend to show up as “big” in a room. Overt narcissists demonstrate more extroverted behaviors in their interactions with others.
Researcher and author Craig Malkin, PhD, suggests that the term “covert” can be misleading. In his work, he states that the term covert is often used to suggest that the covert narcissist is sneaky or that their striving for importance is not as significant as an overt (more extroverted) narcissist. In fact, he reports, the traits of the overt narcissist and the covert narcissist are the same.
Both overt and covert narcissists navigate the world with a sense of self-importance and fantasize about success and grandeur.
So do covert narcissists know what they are doing? While they may be aware on some level that their behaviors have a negative impact on other people, narcissists also tend to lack self-awareness and insight. Because they often believe they deserve the attention and accolades they seek, they may see nothing wrong with their behavior as long as it achieves the intended results.
Both overt and covert narcissists need to meet the same clinical criteria to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, whether they are extroverted or introverted. Both have deficits in their capacity to regulate their self-esteem.
Covert narcissists can be difficult to recognize at the outset of a relationship. Many people have fallen victim to the manipulative behaviors of a covert narcissist without realizing what has happened until they are already in emotional pain.
It might be more accurate to suggest that the extroverted (overt) narcissist would be a lot easier to see coming than the introverted (covert) narcissist. In relationships, covert narcissists cause hurt due to a sense of a lack of partnership or reciprocity in the relationship.
What Are Signs of a Covert Narcissist?
How can you tell if someone is a narcissist? Although there are clinical criteria that need to be met in order for someone to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, there are some general traits and patterns to look for in everyday interactions if you suspect you might be dealing with a covert narcissist, such as poor empathy and disregard for others.
In addition to looking for the red flags of a narcissist, it is also important to be able to recognize the more subtle behaviors of a covert narcissist. Being aware of these traits can help empower you, helping you to recognize and better navigate potentially unhealthy relationships and interactions.
What are some common phrases used by covert narcissists?
Types of comments you might hear from a covert narcissist include:
“I’m too good for this. I shouldn’t have to tolerate these people.”
“I deserve all of the good things life has to offer.”
“Other people have it better than me and it isn’t fair. I deserve more because I am better than other people.”
“People never appreciate how special I am.”
“I can’t believe you did that. Don’t do that again. You should feel ashamed.”
“Remember when I helped you a few years ago? You owe me a favor.”
“I’m the best you’ll ever have. You’ll never find anyone else like me.”
“No one else would give you the time of day. You should be grateful I stick around.”
“I was just joking. I can’t believe you took that seriously.”
Are You or Someone You Know a Narcissist? Take the Test
This free narcissistic personality test may be helpful in assessing whether or not you or someone you know display signs of narcissism.
This quiz was reviewed by Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD
Passive Self-Importance
Where the more overt, extroverted narcissist will be obvious in their elevated sense of self and their arrogance when interacting with others, the covert narcissist may be less obvious.
The covert narcissist certainly craves importance, or narcissistic supply, and thirsts for admiration but it can look different to those around them. They might give back-handed compliments, or purposefully minimize their accomplishments or talents so that people will offer them reassurance of how talented they are.
The reality for both the overt and covert narcissist is that they have a fragile sense of self.
The overt narcissist will demand admiration and attention, where the covert narcissist will use softer tactics to meet those same goals. The covert narcissist will be much more likely to constantly seek reassurance about their talents, skills, and accomplishments, looking for others to feed that same need for self-importance.
Blaming and Shaming
Shaming is a tactic that narcissists may use to secure their sense of an elevated position in relation to others. The overt (extroverted) narcissist might be more obvious in their approach to gaining leverage, such as explicitly putting you down, being rude, criticizing you, and being sarcastic.
The introverted, covert narcissist may have a more gentle approach to explain why something is your fault and they are not to blame. They might even pretend to be a victim of your behavior or engage in emotional abuse to put themselves in a position to receive reassurance and praise from you. Whether overt or covert, the goal is to make the other person feel small.
Creating Confusion
Although they are not always sneaky, some covert narcissists can take joy in creating confusion. They may not engage in blaming or shaming, but instead, causing people to question their perceptions and second-guess themselves.
This is another way to create leverage between them and another person. A covert narcissist needs to use tactics like this to elevate themselves and maintain power in the interaction. If they can get you to question your perceptions, it allows them the opportunity to manipulate and exploit you more.
Procrastination and Disregard
Because their need for self-importance reigns supreme, covert narcissists will do whatever they need to do in order to keep the focus on themselves. So, where an extroverted narcissist will blatantly push you aside or manipulate you to accomplish their goal, the covert narcissist is a professional at not acknowledging you at all.
It is not a coincidence that narcissists, in general, tend to gravitate toward interacting with caring and compassionate people. The covert narcissist recognizes those opportunities for manipulation as well.
They have no problem letting you know that you are not important.
Rather than explicitly telling you that you’re not important, they might stand you up on a date, wait until the last minute to respond to texts or emails, always show up late, or never make confirmed plans at all. There is no regard for your time or interests, leaving you feeling small, unimportant, and irrelevant.
Giving With a Goal
In general, narcissists are not givers. They find it difficult to put energy into anything that doesn’t serve them in some way. A covert narcissist might present themselves in a way that looks like they are giving, but their giving behavior always has the intent of getting something in return.
A simple, everyday example could be something like putting a tip in the jar at your local coffee shop. A covert narcissist would be much more likely to put their tip in the jar when they know the barista is looking, in order to help facilitate some kind of interaction that allows them to be praised for giving.
The intent of giving for a covert narcissist is always more about them and less about those to whom they are giving.
Emotional Neglect
Narcissists are inept at building and nurturing emotional bonds with others. The covert narcissist is no different. So, although they may appear kinder and less obnoxious than their extroverted counterpart, they are not emotionally accessible or responsive either.
You will likely not receive many compliments from a covert narcissist. They are always focused on staying elevated to maintain their sense of self-importance, so it is easy to understand how a covert narcissist would find it difficult to compliment you. There is usually little regard for your talents or abilities.
Just as with an overt narcissist, you will likely find yourself doing most of the heavy emotional lifting in a relationship with a covert narcissist. Although the covert narcissist is more likely to appear emotionally accessible, it tends to be a performance and is usually done with intent to exploit or eventually leave the other person feeling small through disregard, blaming, or shaming.
Since one of the hallmark traits of narcissistic personality disorder is lack of empathy, the covert narcissist is not going to be emotionally responsive to their partner in a healthy way.
Recap
Covert narcissists often behave in passive-aggressive ways. They disregard others while exaggerating their own importance. They also blame, shame, and ignore the feelings and needs of other people.
Examples of Covert Narcissist Behavior
To spot the signs of a covert narcissist, it can be helpful to look at how narcissistic traits may emerge in different settings.
In the workplace, covert narcissism may look like:
Treating colleagues with superiority and condescension
Creating a public image that is completely different than private behaviors
Making unreasonable demands on co-workers and subordinates
Belittling and blaming others for mistakes
Gossiping about others in the workplace
Expressing rage and then denying their anger
What Do Covert Narcissists Do in Relationships?
In other relationships, such as those with partners, parents, siblings, or other family members, covert narcissists might do any of the following:
Display a lack of empathy for the feelings, thoughts, and needs of others
You may currently be in a personal relationship with a covert narcissist, whether it be a family member, co-worker, or significant other. Although you cannot control what a narcissist does, you can control how you behave and interact with them. There are steps that you can take to protect yourself from covert narcissistic abuse.
Avoid Taking It Personally
When dealing with a narcissist, whether covert or overt, their manipulative behavior can feel very personal. The lack of regard, sense of entitlement, patterns of manipulation, and deceptive behaviors can feel very personal when on the receiving end.
No matter how painful the behaviors might feel in the moment, it’s important to remember that they have nothing to do with you.
A narcissist behaves in negative ways because of something unhealthy within them—not because there is something unhealthy about you.
It is OK to look at the situation and the interactions in regard to how you contribute to them. However, it is very important when dealing with a narcissist that you let them “own” their part.
Narcissists want you to take it personally because that is how they maintain leverage. Remember, a narcissist feels small, so they have to make themselves “big” somehow.
Set Boundaries
Narcissists do not have healthy boundaries. Because covert narcissists lack empathy, have a strong sense of entitlement, and exploit others, boundaries are something that gets in the way of their goals. The more you can practice setting boundaries with a narcissist, the more consistently you are conveying to them that their tactics are not working.
Setting boundaries can be very difficult, particularly with a narcissist. Remember that boundaries are just a way for you to let someone else know what your values are. Consider what is important to you, what your values are, and work to create boundaries to support them.
Understanding why you are setting particular boundaries can help you have more confidence in establishing them and can keep you on track if someone attempts to violate or disregard your boundaries.
Advocate for Yourself
When interacting with a covert narcissist, it can be easy to lose your voice. Because the patterns of interaction are so manipulative, it may take time for you to realize that you’re not advocating for yourself.
Take time to tune back in with yourself, who you are, and what you are about. Take stock of your values, your goals, and your talents. Strengthening your relationship with yourself is key in being able to speak up during interactions with a narcissist.
When advocating for yourself, the narcissist gets a chance to meet the part of you that is aware and knowledgeable of their tactics, making it less appealing for them to keep trying those things with you.
Create a Healthy Distance
Being in a relationship with a covert narcissist can feel frustrating and overwhelming. There are times when it can be difficult to create distance between you and that person, such as with a family member or co-worker.
Limiting personal interactions, asking to be moved to a different location in your office, taking breaks at a different time, or simply cutting off contact might be what is necessary if you are being hurt by someone’s narcissism. The goal of creating distance is not to hurt the other person; the goal is to protect yourself and create space for you to heal.
When to Seek Help
If someone you know shows signs of covert narcissism that are creating distress or affecting areas of your life, encourage them to talk to their healthcare provider. A doctor or therapist can recommend treatments that can help address these symptoms and improve their ability to cope.
There are also resources available for people who are in a relationship with a covert or overt narcissist. Consider visiting the Narcissist Abuse Support organization to find information and resources.
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