How Does a Narcissist React to Being Blocked? Their True Response

In a digital age where blocking someone has become as easy as a few clicks or taps, the consequences of severing this virtual connection can vary significantly. But what happens when you block a narcissist, a personality type known for its complex emotional makeup and fragile egos? 

However, if you wish to enhance your general happiness and mental health, blocking a narcissist might be a terrific idea, albeit their response might be a little erratic. 

Let’s check some common responses: 

• They feel insulted and angry.
• They might try to regain control through manipulation.
• Expect attempts to hoover you back.
• They could make false promises to lure you.
• Some may resort to threats.
• They might try to block you to regain power.
• Blame-shifting is common.
• They could launch a smear campaign to destroy your reputation.

Whether you’re keen to protect yourself, grow personally, or just curious, it helps us understand this aspect of psychology in a relatable way. Lets started!

What Is the Narcissist?

A narcissist is a person with an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.

Understanding the Narcissist: Key Characteristics

Grandiosity: They possess an unshakable belief in their own exceptional qualities and a relentless sense of superiority.

Constant Need for Admiration: They crave unwavering attention and admiration, always seeking to be the center of attention.

Lack of Empathy: Empathy is foreign to them; they struggle to comprehend and relate to the feelings and experiences of others.

Entitlement: Also believe the world owes them special treatment, showing a disregard for the rights and boundaries of others.

Exploitative Behavior: Narcissists exploit people for their own gain, taking advantage of vulnerabilities and manipulating to meet their desires.

Envy and Competitiveness: Envy fuels their competitiveness, and they aim to overshadow and outperform those around them.

Arrogance and Grandiose Fantasies: They harbor an exaggerated perception of their abilities and indulge in fantasies of unlimited success, beauty, or power.

Fragile Self-Esteem: Despite their seeming confidence, they possess a delicate self-esteem and react strongly to criticism or perceived rejection.

Intimacy Struggles: Forming and maintaining meaningful relationships is challenging due to their self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and difficulty prioritizing others.

How Narcissists React When Blocked:  Key Responses

1. Insulted and Injured Ego: Blocking is a direct assault on their grandiose self-image. They view it as a personal rejection and a severe blow to their belief in their own perfection and superiority. Their ego is deeply wounded, and they take it as an affront to their perceived greatness.

2. Explosive Rage: They thrive on control and manipulation. Blocking them takes away their ability to influence and manipulate you, which they cannot tolerate. Their reaction often involves white-hot rage. This rage is fueled by a sense of entitlement and the loss of control they feel. They see it as a challenge to their authority.

3. Attempts to Hoover You Back: Love bombing is one strategy narcissists can employ to take back control. They could send you gifts, unexpectedly show up at your house, or pretend to be sorry by using friends and family. Their intention is to entice you back into their grasp of power and manipulation.

4. False Promises and Future Faking: Self-absorbed individuals could make commitments and change-related promises in an attempt to win you back. They may say they’ve changed for the better, that they’re prepared to commit, or that they’re going to counseling. Usually hollow, these promises are meant to entice you back into the relationship.

5. Expecting You to Chase Them: Self-absorbed individuals frequently think they are the universe’s center and that you should pursue them. They’ll look on in self-righteousness, waiting for you to come clean and ask for their pardon. Because of the trauma link, which causes victims to grow dependent on the narcissist’s sporadic rewards and punishments, this strategy often succeeds.

6. Seeking Narcissistic Supply: Being blocked is interpreted as an endorsement of their importance. Those who are may believe they have had an important effect on you and experience a sense of success. much your obsessive thoughts about them might feed their vanity and make them feel much more significant.

7. Creating Threats: If control is slipping away, further resort to threats to regain dominance. They might threaten to take away children, use legal means against you, or create scenarios to make you fear for your safety. It’s all about maintaining power.

8. Attempting to Block You: Some will try to manipulate you into unblocking them, only to block you themselves. This is about regaining the upper hand and appearing superior. For them, life is a constant competition they need to win.

9. Blame-shifting: Narcissists may publicly accuse you of behaviors they themselves are guilty of. They’ll shift all blame onto you to avoid being exposed for their abusive actions, setting the narrative in their favor.

10. Replacing You: When they realize they can’t control you anymore, they often replace you with a new source of supply as quickly as possible. They treat your existence as insignificant, reinforcing their belief in their own superiority.

11. Denying Your Significance: As a defense mechanism, they may downplay the importance of your role in their life. They’ll pretend that your relationship was never significant, devaluing the connection you shared.

12. Destroying Your Reputation: To punish you for blocking them, also launch a smear campaign to tarnish your image. They’ll portray themselves as victims, ensuring their own image remains untarnished.

13. Stalking: In some cases, they try to resort to stalking, either through social media, mutual acquaintances, or even physical surveillance. This behavior is driven by their possessive mentality and belief that they own you.

14. Seeking Revenge: Especially vindictive they might attempt to get back at you through actions like filing claims with HR or causing trouble in your school or workplace. The key is not to engage and let their actions speak for themselves.

15. Unlikely to Apologize or Change: it is not a strategy for them to improve. It’s unlikely to lead to genuine self-reflection or personal growth in the narcissist. Encouraging them to seek support and addressing their behavior empathetically may be more effective if that’s the goal.

Why Blocking Is Particularly Challenging for Narcissists

Being blocked poses a considerable challenge for narcissists due to several key factors. First, it means they lose control over the person who blocked them, which is a source of distress as they thrive on having power and influence. 

Second, their ego takes a significant hit because they view being blocked as a personal rejection, contradicting their belief in superiority. 

Additionally, they rely on attention from others to validate their self-worth and being blocked denies them this “narcissistic supply,” leaving them feeling empty. The fear of abandonment, which many narcissists harbor, intensifies when they are blocked. 

Lastly, blocking limits their ability to manipulate, leaving them feeling powerless and frustrated. Despite these challenges, it’s essential to remember that they don’t justify the behavior, and blocking may still be necessary for one’s well-being.

Effective Survival Strategies for Dealing with a Narcissist’s Reaction to Being Blocked

1. Maintain No or Limited Contact: Depending on the circumstances, implementing a “No Contact” rule, which involves cutting off all communication, may be the best approach. If complete separation isn’t possible, limit interactions to essential matters.

2. Set Clear Boundaries: Establishing boundaries is crucial when dealing with a narcissist. Define your boundaries, communicate them assertively using “I” statements, be prepared for resistance, and set consequences for boundary violations.

3. Practice Assertive Communication: When interaction is necessary, employ assertive communication techniques. Understand your triggers and emotional reactions, consider role-playing, set realistic expectations, and focus on your growth rather than expecting the narcissist to change.

4. Challenge Cognitive Distortions: Narcissists often use gaslighting to manipulate and distort reality. Identify the distortions, seek objective evidence, practice critical thinking, and reframe negative comments to maintain a balanced perspective.

5. Seek Support: Reach out to trusted friends, family, or a therapist for emotional validation and guidance. Support groups for those who have dealt with narcissists can also be helpful.

6. Prioritize Self-Care: Engage in activities that promote your well-being, such as exercise, mindfulness, hobbies, spending time with loved ones, and activities that bring joy.

7. Manage Emotions: Acknowledge and validate your emotions, and find healthy ways to manage them through journaling, therapy, or relaxation techniques.

8. Educate Yourself: Learning about it can provide valuable insights into the disorder and its impact on relationships.

9. Avoid the Blame Game: Remember that the behavior is a reflection of their issues and is not your fault. Avoid internalizing their criticisms or taking responsibility for their actions.

10. Practice Self-Empowerment: Reclaim your personal power by focusing on your strengths, building self-esteem, and engaging in activities that promote personal growth and reinforce your worth.

Distinguishing Narcissism from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

Aspect	Narcissism	Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Definition	A personality trait that exists on a spectrum, characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for admiration and attention, and a lack of empathy.	A specific diagnostic category in the DSM-5, is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
Intensity and Persistence	Exist on a spectrum; not necessarily extreme or persistent.	Displays persistent and extreme patterns of narcissistic traits, significantly impacting life and relationships.
Impairment and Distress	May lead to some challenges, but overall functioning is not significantly impaired.	Causes significant impairment in maintaining healthy relationships, work-related issues, and effective functioning in society.
Diagnosis	Informal term reflecting certain personality characteristics.	Requires a formal diagnosis from a mental health professional based on specific criteria outlined in the DSM-5.
Treatment	Individuals may benefit from therapy to address certain traits.	Often requires specialized treatment approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy.

Final Words

To sum up, understanding how a narcissist reacts to being blocked provides valuable insights into the complexities of their behavior. When faced with rejection through blocking, they may exhibit a range of reactions driven by their intense need for control, admiration, and power. 

Moreover, these reactions can include anger, manipulation, attempts to hoover you back into their lives, and even threats. It’s crucial to remember that the challenging responses from narcissists do not justify their behavior or suggest that blocking should be avoided. 

Instead, they highlight the importance of setting and maintaining clear boundaries, practicing assertive communication, and seeking support when dealing with individuals. As well as people can also navigate the challenging terrain of communicating with narcissists while safeguarding their own well-being and emotional resilience by utilizing these techniques for coping.