Can You Have A Healthy Relationship With A Narcissist?
For those caught in a trauma bond with a narcissist, unable to tear themselves away, staring down the barrel of years with this person, the inevitable question arises: Can you have a healthy relationship with a narcissist? In short, you wonder whether you can redirect the relationship toward smoother waters.
To answer that question, first we have to define what a healthy relationship is. Everyone will have a different set of expectations, but a basic list will do for now. A healthy relationship involves:
Intimacy: Two people who see each other, as in, truly see each other, including each other’s shame, negative emotions, hopes and dreams. Such a relationship calls for a basic sense of mutual-respect, dignity and boundaries. In a healthy relationship, each person sees the truth behind the mask, or at least tries to see it, understand it and work with it. This requires vulnerability, empathy and patience.
