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Is your SKID a covert narcissist? BONUS points for examples of Adult SKIDs

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Is your SKID a covert narcissist? I've been reading up on the signs/traits - listed below. Please share stories and examples on why your SKID may be a covert narcissist and the traits they have shown. BONUS points for examples of Adult SKIDs.

Passive aggression

Lack of empathy

Hypersensitive to criticism

Dysfunctional relationships

Envy

Hypersensitive

Manipulation

An exaggerated sense of self

Depression and anxiety

Grandiose fantasies

Procrastinating

Sense of entitlement

Subtle smugness

Victim mentality

Blaming and shaming

Creating confusion

Disrespecting boundaries

Gaslighting

Putting themselves down

Silent treatment

Tendency to hold grudges

A need for excessive admiration

A need for validation

Acting innocent

Comments

Lillywy00's picture

YES! 
 

I think most kids are inherently selfish by nature but some kids are way more self centered, entitled, and lacking empathy than others. 
 

I highly believe that Disneyland parents are more likely to raise narcissistic or narcissistic-tendency kids. If Disneyland parents were more mentally stable and emotionally intelligent themselves then their maladjusted spawns would have better chances for success in life without having to manipulate others to get what they want/need. 

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Yes, kids are inherently selfish and as they move to adulthood the hope is they see beyond - I am finding that many of us with adult SKIDs are NOT seeing that growth. The selfishness and tactics become more covert- they lack a real understanding or emotion for others. Thansk for this !

ESMOD's picture

I don't know.. that's a pretty long list.. and I think most people(if they are honest) can find several things on the list they are guilty of.. and maybe more if you widen your view to include situational application.

What I mean by situational.. is that people can be one way in certain situations.. with certain people.. but the wider world may not see those things.

A child.. may be immature towards their parents.. but not to the outer world. for example.. you know.. you go home for the holidays.. and that parent child dynamic is there.. and you are a petulant teen at 45.. lol?

 

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

To be honest one of my adult stepkid squarely hits all these factors. And I believe that many stepparents are viewed as objects in the way of getting what a skid or adult skid wants. I have read numerous posts about SKIDs cutting their parents off when they don't do something they want - very transactional relationships.

I have also found that many SKIDs don't fit the profile of an overt narcissist waiving around and gloating but more of the sullen sulky ones that suck the air out of the room- for me I thought, OH! It's just because they are teenagers, but that's proven not to be the case. I have adult skids. 

Dogmom1321's picture

Two biggest things that stick out for SD13....

- Dysfunctional relationships. Every single relationship that SD13 has is dysfunctional. Including with both bio parents & also friends. She isn't capable of KEEPING friends. Easily "lures" them in and hyperfocuses/obsesses over the friendship. Some sort of falling out ensues, then on to the next "BFF". It's a vicious cycle that SD almost seems to enjoy because she loves the drama of it all. Time will tell, but I think SD13 dating life will be very similar as she gets older. SD is the common denominator in all of these relationships. 

- Manipulation. All kids, especially teens, lie. The manner at which SD13 does it is especially concerning. She manipulates to gain sympathy and then uses to her advantage. Her lies are thought out and well planned to fit a narrative she is trying to portray (to whoever she is lying to). Basically 99% of my posts on here are about the manipulation from SD and BM. 

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

This is very perceptive and detailed understanding of your SKIDDO - at 13 and a role model like BM she's likely going to stay firm in these cycles. Oye...what a rollarcoaster you are on. Hoping you disengage. 

Dogmom1321's picture

Agree. Sadly, I don't think it's a generational cycle she will break anytime soon anyway. I'm 100% disengaged, but it's like watching a trainwreck in slow motion *oooff*

Exjuliemccoy's picture

I've shared before that my husband's older daughter is highly narcissistic. Being conservative, she checks 16 of the 24 items on OP's list and could be the poster child for why teens shouldn't have kids.

It's clear (to me at least, having been around for 30+ years) that her parents never corrected, guided, or socialized her. So the narcissism and maladaptive coping techniques she developed flourished. To be fair, she has some positive traits and is intelligent, but that just makes it more of a shame that she's essentially emotionally and socially handicapped. What a waste of potential.

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

So sad indeed. But very important you recognize who she is. 

One of my SS meets the following (all but one on the list above): Passive aggression, Lack of empathy, Hypersensitive to criticism, Dysfunctional relationships, Envy, Hypersensitive, Manipulation, An exaggerated sense of self, Depression and anxiety, Grandiose fantasies, Procrastinating, Sense of entitlement, Subtle smugness, Victim mentality, Blaming and shaming, Creating confusion, Disrespecting boundaries, Gaslighting, Putting themselves down, Silent treatment, Tendency to hold grudges, a need for validation, and acting innocence. The only one I don't see ouright is excessive admiration - it might actually be the case but so hidden by the covert behavior. 

One of the wildest examples comes under grandiose fantasies - SS blamed me for the reason he is not playing professional sports - like as in PRO is because I didn't let him play football (to be clear I never stopped the kids from playing sports and in fact the kid chose his sport, was enrolled in sports and played sports throughout his entire youth which makes the accusation even stranger.) He comes up to me and my PARENTS and starts yelling at me about ruining his future, having a sports agent and the opportunity to go pro. Just to give some reality the kid is NOT in shape, NOT athletic, NOT disicpline enough, NOT even enrolled in training to be pro over the years - he played recreational sports. But somehow he believed he was stripped of his right to go professional because of big bad stepmom who paid for his jerseys, sports equipment, (don't forget the amount of time driving and attending all these events), etc. It was very good for my parents to view this outburst - it allowed them to see what I deal with day to day. 

 

Exjuliemccoy's picture

That IS wild. And delusional. Was your SO present for this tantrum? I hope somebody shut him down.

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

It totally is. DH was not there- myself, mom and dad sat in silence. He was an adult in his early 20s when he claimed this. He creates his own reality, tells his reality and then believes it - I have seen this over and over again. I am fairly certain he is a covert narcissist and pretends to be the victim, but really he's doing what they call DARVO: deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender. Seen it over and over, a classic covert narcissist behavior. In this scenario he was denying his accountability in doing nothing with himself at the time (promised employment if he came back to live with us yet immediately when he got in the house he found a way to get "let go"), attack the stepmom - he wouldn't have shitty employment if he was a professional sports athlete, and reverse victim and offender - by stating I was the one that hinders his professional attempts. Crazy making. 

1st3rd5thWEInHell's picture

I have a similar story. OSS22 blames me for quitting school at 16yo. He often times claims that I am the reason why he left school because after he was disrespectful and still allowed to live with us by my husband, he decided to leave and drop out after we told him to focus on studies and work part time instead of full time. He says if I didnt make his "life hell" (by asking to stop making messes and closing cabinets), he would have been able to stay with us and remain in school and be in college now. The thing is he has been in and out of school systems since age 9 and had awful grades and wouldnt put in any work....If you hear him, you would think he was Einstein and I marched to the school to unenroll him and make him get a job but in reality he said at the time that he wanted to work and not go to school because he wanted to make money...

Years later, it has now become my fault and they all live with that sob story. My husband even told me he feels bad "because he couldnt protect him"....Thankfully I know the truth and dont let it phase me.. I just look in silence when they start going down that sob story road about school and university. He cant even spell much less do proper maths

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

You're kidding me?! Your DH believes that crap. Wow...I am glad you have thick skin- that lie being so far from reality would make me want to throw them ALL out. Part of me wants you to expose this with the facts- this kid is the reason for his failures and neither DH nor the SKID should be allowed to blame for his actions that led to his failures...but then again here I AM allowing this SKID to believe I was the reason he didn't become a professional athelete. Lawrd...this stepparent thing has become so backward and the covert narcisssists are feeding on us. 

1st3rd5thWEInHell's picture

Its so hard because I used to argue and try to prove to them that its not true but all I did was bring upon me a bigger headache....I just now put my headphones and tune it out when they start talking about school or what could have been lol

Surprisingly there has been times when my husband has told OSS22 that he was the reason for not being successful in his life due to dropping out but thats only when OSS22 goes down the other sob imaginary story of "being an abandoned child having to raise himself"

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Kind of crazy...but somewhat parrallel story with SS24...he's convinced himself he's "been on his own." Ahhhhh YEAH RIGHT DUDE! Interesting that your DH is willing to correct that reality when his hide is being fried. 

Livingoutloud's picture

One of my adult SD fits the description. The other is just fine. Normal person. It's not a surprise that sisters have been estranged from each other for the past 9 years. As long as I've known my DH and them. 

 

 

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Yep only in one of mine too, the other one doesn't seem to have these symptoms. He can be very tough on us but not a covert. 

1st3rd5thWEInHell's picture

I am afraid that so far 3 out of 4 might fit not to mention ex wifes son who my husband also considers his son

I have so many examples for each of the traits lool im wondering if I live in another dimension...I will have to come back and update this with instances when I am actually alert and awake

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Please do - we can learn from each other's examples and we might also find patterns in them. I'll share another one for you: this same SKID spread big time lies to his new extended martial family. One of them being that we would not provide him a vehicle. He left out the fact that we had already gifted him a vintage vehicle that he did not take care of, a truck which he "gave away" and a basically brand new car which he did not change the oil and the engine exploded. He ruined and gave away THREE vehicles - then demanded a 4th. We said no- thankfully DH was sensible to realize this is CRAZY. He went on to tell a tale of woe to everyone - we were branded as unloving and not providing for this adult SKID.....yes he was an ADULT not a child (albeit if he was a child and had ruined or given 3 vehicles away I would still feel the same...just adds to the gravitus that he was an adult when this went down and didn't feel accountability.) His tale of woe was sung long, far and wide - it was ridiculous and he not only sulked for over a year but that quiet rage of a covert narcississt was seen as he brooded about it. To this day he has never acknowledged that maybe he was negligent in this whole thing, he simply feels bad for himself. 

Livingoutloud's picture

Would hypochondria count as part of attention seeking? Like making up illnesses for attention?

My OCD makes up new ailments every few months and now assigns illnesses to SGD, her kid, too. Sometimes she forgets and makes up new things that contradicts what she said a week ago. It's exhausting. 

ImperfectlyPerfect's picture

Yes...anything where it brings the attention towards themselves in a covert way. My SKID has always made it appear that things are so much harder or feigns illness, sleep deprivation you name it - it's always WORSE for him. We actually gave up asking "How are you?" because it would be met with a litany of problems - narcissisim in this form is about being the victim, being harmed, alignments - I think it goes along with the territory IMHO. Also inabiltiy to care about YOU or the others around the person- not sure if that's the case with your SKID but suprisingly the convo is always revolving around my SKID, I am not even sure he has any idea what I do for a living, what my favorite color is, whether or not I still live in the same state. I am not kidding.