{"id":1626,"date":"2021-11-29T12:08:53","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T17:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thecelebritytherapist\/?p=1626"},"modified":"2022-12-26T11:42:26","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T16:42:26","slug":"saving-the-holidays-from-a-narcissist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thecelebritytherapist\/2021\/11\/saving-the-holidays-from-a-narcissist.html","title":{"rendered":"Saving The Holidays From A Narcissist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Red Christmas Ornaments on Wood Background and defocused lights. Spruce Tree branch on the left and right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The holidays are a special time of year for most people. They are a time of friendship, of giving, of sharing, and of being around the people you love and those who love you. Unfortunately, what makes the holidays so special for most people makes them intolerable for a narcissist.<\/p>\n

The narcissist must be the center of attention. In the holiday season, there are a lot of things to attend to, and trying to become better than everyone else at the family gathering, the concert, the staff party, or any other event can be impossible. Rather than trying to accept this, the narcissist moves to devalue and destroy the happiness of those they are around, showing their complete inability to express empathy and to simply enjoy the fact those around them are having fun.<\/p>\n

There is another factor at play in a holiday with a narcissist. As the partner, you are also setting expectations and perhaps giving the individual the benefit of the doubt they will handle this holiday season better. They may even indicate they are not going to repeat past behaviors, and they may initially manage to mimic or play the role of a supportive, positive, and engaged spouse, partner, or parent.<\/p>\n

Signs of Problems on the Horizon\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

It is not possible for the narcissist to remain in the honeymoon period of the holiday season. There are often a few key signs that begin to appear that signal the looming eruption of their narcissistic behavior.<\/p>\n

Some of the key signs to look for include:<\/p>\n