By Ammad Qureshi March 20, 2024

8 weird ways through which covert narcissists undermine others

Do you have the weird experience of encountering someone who is seen as supportive by everyone, but you feel confused and abandoned by their acts? When you notice someone appears to be supportive, but they actually are mean, you should know you’re dealing with a covert narcissist.These are the people who function in shadows, while they appear to be the brightest people with positive energies. Weird things covert narcissists do, include using tactics to undermine and manipulate the people around them. It can be very frustrating dealing with them, as they make you feel low of yourself while they are the perfect people. It is also very hard to identify them and realize what’s actually happening to you.

In this article, I will be covering all the weird things covert narcissists do to sabotage the self-esteem and achievements of people around them. All because, they need to feel better about themselves. After reading this article, you will be able to identify covert narcissists by the weird things covert narcissists do. You will then be better able to protect yourself from their emotional manipulation tactics.

First, how to identify covert narcissists?

Covert narcissists are the masters of disguise. They are known to be charming, empathetic, and even self – deprecating. While in reality, they are the most selfish people you will ever see. They take on every opportunity to jump on others.

Covert narcissists excel at playing the victim card, they love getting sympathy and support from others. They do everything to be the center of attention. Their need for admiration comes from a deep – rooted insecurity that they hide with all the masks.

If you ever see these signs in a person and find yourself second – guessing their actions and words, you have identified a covert narcissists. Just keep a look on the weird things covert narcissists do.

Weird ways covert narcissists undermine others

Convert narcissists thrive socially. Because they crave admiration, they have this urge to control others. Weird things covert narcissists do include exerting control on those around them. And they do it so flawlessly, that it’s actually pretty hard to detect. Here are some weird ways through which they undermine others.

1.Back-Handed compliments

Covert narcissists use back – handed compliments to undermine others. They do so by disguising criticism as compliments. They might say something like, “You look so great in that dress…for your age,” or “Wow, you finished that report! I never thought you could be so organized.” Such comments make you feel low of yourself and you don’t really understand how to respond.

2.By Offering Help

One more weird thing covert narcissists do to undermine you is to offer help. They make you rely on them and then disappear. It looks like they are the best person to help you, they want to help you, but when the time comes, they get busy or disappear. They might miss your important presentation or “accidentally” lose track of an essential document you entrusted to them. They position themselves as reliable, but their unreliability leaves you questioning your own competence.

3.Playing With Your Insecurities

Covert narcissists love to play with your insecurities. Weird things covert narcissists do to undermine others include comparing you to others, emphasizing your perceived shortcomings. They might downplay your accomplishments or express “concern” about your abilities, leaving you questioning your own judgment and skills.

4.Using Victim Mentality

It is worth noting that covert narcissists have the victim – mentality. You will see them talking about their misfortune, subtly deflecting attention away from your achievements and garnering sympathy in the process. This constant negativity drains your emotional energy and leave you feeling responsible for their mis – haps. It will also drain all your social battery.

5.Gas Lighintg Others

The weird things covert narcissists do to undermine others top up with gaslighting. They make you question your sanity. You will observe them rejecting something they clearly do or twist things to show you as a person who is clearly an unreasonable one. This continous reality distortion leaves you feeling puzzled, perplexed, and doubting your own observations.

6.Portraying Themselves as Selfless Martyrs

Covert narcissists depict themselves as selfless martyrs. They want everyone to think that they go above and beyond for everyone else. This guilt trip can make you feel obligated to them. You end up ruining your ability to set healthy boundaries and prioritize your own needs. You also feel like it’s your duty to be there for them.

7.Hiding Important Information

Covert narcissists do weird things to undermine others like hiding important information and ignoring, just to create chaos and slow down your progress. This leaves you frustrated and you end up taking the blame for their calculated omissions. Everything appears to be your mistake and an after – math of your incompetency.

8.Pitting people against each other

One of the weirdest things covert narcissists do, is pitting people against each other. By doing so, they deflect attention away from themselves and create a sense of competition. You will also see them gossip about others all the time. They also manipulate situations to create conflict, ultimately weakening the bonds between people and solidifying their own position.

How to protect yourself from covert narcissists?

Identifying the weird things covert narcissists do is the first step towards protecting yourself from their manipulations. Once you see the weird things covert narcissists do, you should set your boundaries with them. Remember, don’t be afraid to say no. Limit your interactions with the covert narcissist and avoid taking on extra responsibilities because of them.

You should trust yourself. Covert narcissists are experts in the gas lighting. Therefore be careful and never fall for their tricks. Trust your gut feelings and pay attention to weird things covert narcissists do. And don’t ever ignore red flags.

It is extremely important to keep an eye on the weird things covert narcissists do. As, it can be extremely helpful if you want to counter them or seek support from health experts. In addition to that, you must also communicate with trusted friends, relatives, or a counsellor about your encounters with narcissists. Here, getting outside validation can aid you counter the self-doubt the covert narcissist tries to instill. It is very important to be able to join the dots.

There is no doubt that going no contact with covert narcissists is the ideal solution. But you need to understand that it’s not always feasible. If you must interact with the covert narcissist, try the gray rock method. This involves being emotionally unresponsive and uninteresting, essentially becoming a human rock they can’t get a reaction from.

Final Thoughts

The company of a covert narcissist can be incredibly damaging to your self-esteem and sense of reality. By recognizing the weird things covert narcissists do, you can use the strategies explained in this article. It will help you empower yourself to break free from their manipulative tactics.

Remember, you are not alone. Many people have successfully handled relationships with covert narcissists, and you can too. The key is to prioritize your well-being, trust your intuition, and build a strong support system. With self-awareness and a commitment to self-care, you can reclaim your power.