00:00Have you ever felt someone sweet on the surface was manipulating you?
00:03Today we will reveal the hidden tactics of covert narcissists,
00:07the wolves in sheep's clothing who might be silently sapping your joy.
00:12Hi everybody! It's good to see you on the channel again. Covert narcissists are the
00:16most subtle manipulators and have the best camouflaged masks as their means of staying
00:21undetected. They could be the most non-boastful and least grandiose person in the world living
00:27a shadowy life and no one would ever notice. Instead, they are seen as timid, delicate,
00:33or even suffering. But this deceptive demeanor hides the same me-me-me attitude that is the
00:39hallmark of all narcissism. Let's take a look at the ten key signs that could help you spot a
00:45covert narcissist among your acquaintances. Sign by one. The first sign is the eternal victim mentality.
00:52Covert narcissists always present themselves as the victims of circumstances.
00:56They never take blame. If they are late, it is due to heavy traffic. If they flop,
01:02it is because somebody is working against them. Their victim status serves them as armor against
01:08being held accountable and as a tool for evoking your sympathy. Sign number two. The second sign is
01:14they are master of passive-aggressive behavior. One of the most common ways they express their anger
01:20indirectly is by the use of subtle insults, silence, the silent treatment, or forgetting
01:27to do something they've asked. They will turn the tables on you and make you feel insane for being
01:33aware of it or for bringing it up, often saying things like, you're too sensitive, or I was just
01:39kidding. Sign number three. The next sign is that they make backhanded compliments. You look beautiful
01:45today. I almost did not recognize you. Or, that was quite smart of you considering who you are.
01:51These phrases simultaneously flatter and offend you, which is precisely what they want. Sign number four.
01:58Lastly, be alert to emotional withdrawal as a means of punishing. They will emotionally detach themselves
02:04whenever they don't get what they want, which will cause anxiety and necessitate you to work harder
02:09for their acceptance. This will breed a perpetual cycle where you keep trying to satisfy them and be
02:15in a state of caution. Sign number five. Next, the fifth sign is the silence of a higher being.
02:22Those people do not need to say anything as they already are convinced of their being the best.
02:28It is going to be noticed here and there through little eye rolls, belittling voices,
02:33or by their discrediting the success of others while promoting their own not-so-modest triumphs.
02:40Sign number six. On the sixth sign, they're just like blood-sucking creatures. Discussions about
02:45anything will always come back to them and their problems. They will give you their attention long
02:49enough to make you feel like they care, and then quickly shift the focus to them again with a larger
02:54and more important issue. Sign number seven. Narcissists have a strange association with compliments.
03:01Covert narcissists might even act humble while fishing for compliments, in contrast to the
03:07obvious narcissists who openly demand admiration. They might denigrate themselves merely to receive
03:13the you are great from you. Sign number eight. Eighth sign. All the time, they are counting points
03:20in relationships. Everything, but absolutely everything they do for you will be registered
03:26mentally and will be presented again. After everything I've done for you, is their catchphrase
03:31whenever they need anything from you. Sign number nine. Next, they have problems with sincere empathy.
03:38Although they might use the right words, you will see an inconsistency between what they say
03:43and what they do. They may appear to care when others are around, but become apathetic when no one is
03:48there. Sign number 10. Eventually, they are the boundary testers. Little by little, they will always
03:55find a way to push your limits and see how far they can go. And when they are called out, they will make
04:00you feel bad for enforcing the boundaries at all. In case a person that you know presents multiple signs,
04:06then possibly you are facing the situation of a covert narcissist. Be alert that the first step is to
04:12recognize it. The second one is to set positive limits. In some cases, limited contact or total
04:18separation might be the only way to ensure your health and safety. What's your story with covert
04:23narcissism? Share your experience in the comments section below. And if this video has been helpful
04:28for you, please like it and subscribe to our channel for more content dealing with mental health protection
04:34and healthy relationship building. Take care till the next time. You deserve relationships that support
04:40you rather than those that sap your energy. Thank you for your time. You might also want to watch our other videos.