Psychopaths aren’t all serial killers.
They can harm others with absolutely no sense of remorse or guilt.
To any onlooker, a psychopath will slip through life unnoticed.
They’re likable, friendly, and charming (and not at all over-the-top).
What starts as a fairy tale slowly transforms into an incomprehensible mess of mind games and chaos.
They reel you in with idealization, love-bombing, and flattery.
One way to know if your partner is a psychopath is how the relationship starts.
When you first meet a psychopath, things move extremely fast.
They tell you how much they have in common with youhow perfect you are for them.
They constantly initiate communication and seem to be fascinated with you on every level.
They prey on your emotions with pity plays and sympathy stories.
An abundance of sob stories can sometimes be a sign you’re dating a psychopath.
The thing is, you’ll quickly find a soft spot in your heart for them.
They’ll probably mention their abusive ex who’s still in love with them.
They say that all they’ve ever wanted is some peace and quiet.
They involve you in their own versions of “love triangles.”
Once you’re hooked, the triangulation sets in.
Theysurround themselves with former lovers, potential mates, and anyone else who provides them with added attention.
This includes people that the psychopath may have previously denounced and declared you superior to.
This makes you feel confused and creates the perception that the psychopath is in high demand at all times.
When you’re dating a psychopath, confusion and power games are the norm.
They constantly rewrite reality.
Dating a psychopath often involves being subjected to a lot of manipulation.
They blatantly deny their own manipulative behavior and ignore evidence when confronted with it.
They become dismissive and critical if you attempt to disprove their fabrications with facts.
(For more on this, here are a fewthings psychopaths saythat will distort your perception of reality.)
They accuse you of feeling emotions that they are intentionally provoking.
They call you needy after intentionally ignoring you for days on end.
You’ve noticed them pathologically lying and making excuses.
Another clear clue that your partner might be a psychopath is constant lying.
There is always an excuse for everything, even things that don’t require excusing.
They make up lies faster than you’ve got the option to question them.
They constantly blame othersit is never their fault.
They spend more time rationalizing their behavior than improving it.
Even when caught in a lie, they express no remorse or embarrassment.
Oftentimes, it almost seems as if they wanted you to catch them.
They provoke jealousy and rivalries while maintaining their cover of innocence.
They do things that constantly make you doubt your place in their heart.
They attend to the “competition’s” activity and ignore yours.
They withhold attention and undermine your self-esteem.
After once showering you with nonstop attention and admiration, psychopathic partners suddenly seem completely bored by you.
You begin to feel like a chore to them.
They exhibit selfishness and a crippling thirst for attention.
Their demand for adoration is insatiable.
However, the truth is, no one can fill the void of a psychopath’s soul.
You don’t recognize your own feelings.
You apologize and cry more than you ever have in your life.
You barely sleep, and you wake up every morning feeling anxious and unhinged.
You have no idea what happened to your old relaxed, fun, easygoing self.
What to do if you realize you’re dating a psychopath.
These relationships leave long-lasting damage, with feelings and doubts that you’ll never be good enough.
They ignore your best qualities and provoke your insecurities until your entire personality becomes unrecognizable.
Fortunately, there is always hope for healing.
It’ll feel impossible at first but easier with time.
You’ll slowly find your sanity returns, and the chaos dissipates.
