Episode 137 - NARCISSISTS, EMPATHS AND CAREGIVERS

The Survivor's Guide to Life

A recent series of articles highlighting the destructive nature of relationships between narcissists and empaths has a direct bearing on caregivers and caregiver burnout. Attention-seeking narcissists, who use manipulation and exploitation to get their endless needs met, see selfless, giving empaths as the perfect people to meet those needs. Empaths seek people whose needs they can fill, often at their own expense and without appropriate boundaries or perspective about whether the other person's needs are legitimate. Caregiving is a calling for empaths. When a caregiver has a relationship with a narcissist, they can be quickly drained to the point of burnout. Awareness of these possible relationship dynamics, support and self-care are vitally important for caregivers to preserve their health and well-being.