Highly sensitive people and narcissism 

“Thieves don’t steal from empty houses.” The highly sensitive person’s good intentions are the treasure these narcissists want to steal for themselves. Good intentions are what they lack. Thank you for giving us our voice back, Dr. Ramani!❤️

My Mom called me "too sensitive" my whole life. Finally, one day I replied, "you know, I would much rather be sensitive than be INSENSITIVE like you, Mom." Being sensitive is absolutely a good thing because it makes us connect to others. Narcissistic people PREY on us, though. We ARE victims of these awful people. We are kind to a fault, BETTER to a fault, and lovely.

Narcissism:Arrogance, rudeness, selfishness, lies, materialism, hypocrisy. They always regard highly sensitive, naive, kind and sincere people as fools but actually they're fools. Very informative topic, thank you Dr. Ramani❤

I'm an HSP and I grew up with a narcissistic father and an emotionally immature and highly insecure mother. I can't put into words the pain I had to go through to get out of this and start living my own life. So much physical and emotional pain, brainfog, depression, anxiety. I don't wish this to anyone... I really have a hard time trusting people and I have been scared of true love and people being nice to me. I just never know if they really mean it. I have been denied my needs and my reality all my life. No more :-) Now I am free! Sending big hugs to all who are also suffering (often in silence)...

I am a HSP and I find the lack of empathy in narcs or anyone for that matter repulsive . It doesn't take long before the lack of empathy and self serving behavior rears its ugly head . I think once you are educated on narcissism and know their playbook , it is no longer a bewildering ride . Being a HSP can make one a highly sophisticated narc detector .

I have many of the traits of a “HSP”. I could tell from our first meeting that my narcissistic partner lacked self-love, and I foolishly thought I could teach him how to love himself. I saw the red flags as opportunities 😵‍💫 as it turns out, I needed to learn self-love too, but independently.

“Exploited, mocked, shamed, invalidated”… Welcome to the world of empathic/sensitive people… Thank you so much for this video 🙏🏼

I spent so long asking myself, “What is wrong with me? Why do I notice and feel things that everyone else seems to miss? Why am I so emotional? Why can’t I just go about my life like everyone else?” Until my counsellor looked at me and brought the term of HSP to my attention. And it was like a whole new world opened up for me!! I started to understand myself better and be a little kinder to myself. A total game changer. That being said, thanks for mentioning HSP’s! And to my fellow HSP’s that have been in the company of a narcissist and devastatingly affected by them, I’m sending you a big hug and a lot of strength.

I’m a HSP married to a narcissist. He gaslit me so badly one day that I went mad and he threatened to have me sectioned. All throughout this time he remained completely cool and detached. I can’t afford therapy and have no friends or family who I can talk to. However, your videos are immensely helpful and so are the comments. Thank you Dr. Ramani and everyone here.

I'm an HSP with CPTSD. I feel I was more easily traumatized, but my emotional depth of processing has also helped me heal.

My mother was a highly sensitive people. A very wonderful lady with great character who cared for others because her mother never cared for her and was always putting her down. I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful mother. God blessed me.

So very very true. As an Empath, as someone who has always been told “you’re to sensitive, your to emotional” I didn’t see any red flags of my narcissistic ex. I was completely unaware of what a narcissist was, and now looking back I see every single red flag and I am so thankful for your video’s!!! Oh my gosh!!! The countless times he called me “crazy”!! You hit the nail on the head!!!

Please note, everyone, that these risk factors do not mean it’s the highly sensitive person’s fault or that there is something wrong with them/us for getting caught up with an abusive person. Abusive people should be reprimanded for taking advantage of someone’s kind and empathetic and humanistic traits.

100% agree. I’m an HSP and to me, growing up in a narcissistic family was so draining and challenging.

I hate cruelty. My birth family always laughed at me when I would upset at seeing a living creature hurt. I remember seeing lobsters at the grocery store - they were alive on a big pile of ice with pegs in their claws. I started to cry about the lobsters and their pain. My mom made fun of me for being upset. I was 8. I eventually learned to hide my feelings because I did not want to be ridiculed. Now at 66 my life philosophy has evolved to be kind whenever possible, fight back when you have to and never celebrate pain. Even if the other person is a total douchbag I don’t have to be one.

I love that you delve into these very specific topics concerning narcissism. Your insight is priceless! HSP's tend to be very self reflective while narcissists react with anger and denial to shift any negative evaluations away from themselves.

I'm HSP but am extremly annoyed by narcissists. Their lack of authenticity just strikes me and don't fall for their tricks. Empathy is not necessarily being naive and nice.

Seeing the comments from so many who've been in abusive narcissistic relationships so often saddens me....😔 my heart and prayers go out to all of you amazing survivors....❤️🙏❤️ thank you dr Ramani and everybody for all your heartfelt comments and inspiration...💞

I'm HSP and my last relationship was with a narcissist and it nearly killed me. It was the worst thing I ever went through and it took me a long time to forgive myself for not realizing sooner/leaving sooner/standing up for myself sooner.. I just kept repeating that cycle and blaming myself, im too sensitive/bad anxiety/depression/whatever.. I finally left simply to save what was left of myself before it was too late. These relationships can be so insidious, you don't even know its happening until you're too far gone. It's truly awful.

My mother always said in a belittling/disrespective voice that I’m just “too sensitive“ and my whenever I had an issue as a child I went to my father and his answer was usually “it’s all in your head“. I never went to them for anything emotional. You could imagine what this would have done to an HSP over time.

When someone says 'you're being too sensitive,' typically they are trying to deflect their own abusive behavior, or comment, shame you for having what is a valid reaction. The tendency of the sensitive person is to disconnect for their own peace of mind, and this will piss the narcissist off more.

Sensitivity is, hands down, the most underrated character trait in the world. And sensitive people underrate themselves. It's so easy to be HSP and victimize yourself, seeing yourself as weak and fragile. Narcissists, on their hand, love to consume sensitive people with low self esteem. It's like an animal seeing a free meal. It's a perfect match ☠

I feel like I am being seen for the first time in my life. My mother was my first narcissist 😍

I am a self-professed HSP. I was completely traumatized by my 15 y/o daughter’s relationship with a narcissist. Being highly attuned to non-verbal communication I KNEW something was off about him. And as my outgoing, self-confident, fun-loving daughter began to spiral downward... I absorbed all the emotions she was feeling even though she refused to talk about them. HSP are like emotional sponges... we don’t just sense other people’s emotions... we experience them. My daughter became very anxious, depressed, and withdrawn. I was so distressed by her change in behavior that my hair started falling out (had all the tests done... diagnosed with “stress.”). Anyways, after a year he finally discarded her. It’s been months but she has finally bounced back. Praise God! Never have I prayed so hard to have someone removed from our lives.

I'm an HSP and I was in a relationship with a narcissistic lawyer for 2 years. I'm so sensitive that I believe I sensed him coming into my life as he was. I began developing ridiculously high blood pressure (stroke levels) just before we met and I had always been SUPER healthy (vegetarian, active, no health issues, looked like I was in my early twenties at 39 years old as everyone emphatically would tell me) and had just had my cardiac profile checked not long before this for a free gym membership provided by my employer, and the cardiologist told me it was "beautiful!". All my numbers were within normal limits. It may be of note that I'm a nurse, so I understand my health. Early in this relationship, I developed gut issues, regular migraines, and later severe anxiety issues. It was an EXHAUSTING and extremely painful relationship. I don't wish what I went thru on anyone, especially an HSP.

So true, I can relate to that being a highly sensitive person. Yes, we go out of our way, we care deeply, are highly emphatic, gaslight ourselves, justify red flags, ruminate...A relationship with a narcissist is very damaging for us, and exhausting as you explain. As you say it is hard for everyone💔 Thank you so much for this video, I really needed this, and it is great to know better our vulnerabilities and what to do in these situations💖

Your videos have helped me put the narcissists in my life into perspective, from my father and his mother who lived next door, both narcissists, to an abusive teacher narcissist when I was 13, to a string of narcissists throughout my life. At 67, I finally understand why I was vulnerable to them, and how they've shaped my life. I'm finally able to step back and begin understanding why I've chosen the relationships I have, and I don't feel bad about myself anymore. You've made my life explainable. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Higly Sensitive/Empath person here with a very narcissistic father. Not fun. Even today Im dealing with my self-gaslighting. Even when I can see myself doing it, its so "normal" for me now that I need to constatnly remind me "yeah Im sensitive and that is OK"

HSP is me. Married to covert narcissist for 46 years. Feeling devastated. Learning how to stop pleasing and slowly turning attention to my needs. Thank you, Dr. Ramani.

Me and my dad are highly sensitive people. Unfortunately my dad fell prey to my narcissist mom. I've recently started to stand up for him and myself, I'm so done with her treating us like slaves. Thank you Doctor Ramani.

I was always called "oversensitive", and that I like to "bathe in my emotional mud". When I was afraid to go to a doctor as a child, I was always mocked. Later, I was called "an artist" - in a pejorative meaning. I must admit that I hated my sensitivity in the past. Narcissistic people (whom I didn't realise back then they were narcissistic) I always sort of admired for being so confident and telling me what I should do because I always felt somehow lost. Therefore I tended to stick to the narcissists because they always had and idea of how my life shoud look like because I didn't know what to do (never really had a chance to lear what I really wanted). After years have passed, I started to like my sensitivity. I can see it is something unique. I lived alone for many years and only then I really learned what I wanted and I needed without anybody telling me what my life should look like.

One thing I have observed,narcs enjoy looking at and making of fun of sensitive people. they laugh at their emotions,crush those and invalidate

When I was a child,I'd check in the mirror to see if I actually existed....If it wasn't for Dr. Ramini and this awesome community, I think I would have disappeared all together! I sincerely thankyou all! 🌻💜🌈

I recently found out last year that I am an HSP. And I cannot tell you the relief I felt knowing that there’s a term for it and nothing is wrong with me. My family have weaponized my sensitivity and emotions against me my entire life. So many unhealthy things I internalized, and I was subject to a lot of trauma. I’m at a space in my life where I’m trying to choose myself, and I’m trying to embrace all aspects of myself, lead with softness and seeing my sensitivity as a strength but it’s very hard to do when my family see it as a weakness and try to shame me or make fun of me. I feel very isolated in my family, and reading this comment section has made me feel less alone.

As an Empath and HSP with 2 Narc parents it was hell on earth growing up ..20 years healing ...finally retired being scapegoat... life is finally unfolding for me ❤

My last girlfriend was a monster narcissist and never in my life have I had someone manipulate me and abuse me the way she did. Please RUN don't walk away because it will never work. The only thing to come of this is pure misery and pain. Thank goodness I found someone completely on the other end of the spectrum but I was very lucky to get out of that relationship which was destroying me. Please people when that little voice in your head tells you to get the hell out of there, make sure you listen or you will suffer the consequences.

This is exactly why narcissists prey on HSP individuals. I developed a HSP personality as a child growing up in a narcissistic family system. I do observe/am aware of some narcissistic behaviors, or desires I'd rather describe it as, in myself. It's likely a result of as well as a compensation for not being noticed as a child, and never validated or having your perspective confirmed or empathized with by anyone. Fortunately, I didn't fall into the trap and have never accepted narcissistic behavior in myself. Just never knew it was 'narcissistic' behavior until quite recently, when discovering your videos. So, now I'm also learning not to accept narcissistic behaviors in others. It's a trail I've followed and kinda come to understand on my own, but it's so much easier to learn from Dr. Ramani. She makes all the pieces fall into place and it's impossible to describe how it feels to finally get validation from a hardcore professional. It never was me who was crazy or too sensitive. Well... perhaps too sensitive in a way, but... not in a bad way I'd argue. We need more sensibly sensitive people in this world, not less!

Spot on. As an empath, that wonderful trait or ability is like nectar to a narc. But I also truly believe that the more empowered an empath becomes, the bigger the threat the empath becomes to the narc, though it may not always be evident right off the bat.

“Quit wearing your emotions on your sleeve!” is what I heard throughout my childhood from my narcissist father.

I'm HSP and my mom is a narcissist. I've had to withdraw communication with her for my own sanity. thank you so much for uploading this content to help me realize I've been gaslit for years and not just confused and uncomfortable with self doubt.

Im autistic, and your description of a HSP is 100% me. I feel empathy to an insane degree, Im a chronic people pleaser, I shy away from confrontation, I can't cope with crowds or too much sensory input, I have to leave the room if there is bickering or any kind of tension, I can't tolerate seeing anyone or anything suffering, I feel sorry for people at the drop of a hat, even if they have treated me like crap, I trust too readily and have no self confidence so I dismiss my gut feelings as invalid and 'it must be me'. And yep, ended up in a 10 year long marriage to a narcissist, who recognise and preyed on all of that. Im 18 months out now, and still healing, but I see so many autistic people, particularly women, who fit your description and end up in these predatory relationships. But its not something we're really told about when autism is discussed. We are told we are more at risk of 'relationship predators', but no-one tells us what that looks like. I had no idea what a narcissist was. I just met a guy who *seemed* to be lovely, because he was........in the beginning. He loved everything I loved, he was supportive and easy going and so 'into me'. No one told me about love bombing. No-one told me a predator can look like a nice guy for so long. At the end of the relationship, I was sleeping with a butcher knife under my pillow because I was terrified he was going to kill my dog (he'd never have the balls to attack me, he knew he'd get in the shit for it, but he could attack the next best thing, my dog) Autistic people, please research narcissism and learn as much as you can. I really wish I had known about it before wasting 10 years of my life.

"the narcisist's tendency to weaponise what they see as the weaknesses of other people" - how true! Wasted years hoping they'd see the value of the kind heart, willing to forgive, love, be honest, serve others, admit one's mistakes/failures, etc. But they despise it even as they make use of you.

I have always been called too sensitive by my family and others when I stood up for myself and others, which I know now it was an appropriate response to emotional and physical abuse. Staying focused on my health, therapy, growth and appropriate safe boundaries. Learning to not pathologize or gaslight myself for sure, and that I’m not responsible for them. Thank you for this. 💖

I couldn't figure out for a long time why I was getting hives/migraine after I interacted with those I suspect they are narcissists. After I've been trying grey rock method, my health is finally improving. I still get sick sometimes, but it's becoming manageable. Dr. Ramani, If I hadn't come across your channel, I wouldn't even imagined there were such thing as covert narcissists. Your generosity and your remarkable work has been helping countless people.

As a self-aware HSP, all I can say is that dealing with those disturbed creatures is a hellish experience. Even when they are out of your life for a long time, the pain still lingers on. Thank you, Dr. Ramani. Your understanding and guidance are a true blessing ❤

An HSP child being born to narcissistic parents is hell on Earth incarnated.

The distinction between high sensitivity and high reactivity was exactly what I needed! thank you very much, this clarifies my situation a lot!

I love how you stop the blame game and offer us thoughts on our own behaviors. The game has become the norm, with everyone a victim, everyone entitled, and it disturbs me as much as seeing violence.

I'm a hsp and I hada narcissist boss in my first job. She would gaslight and belittle me, and absolutely ruined my mental health. Now, 10 years later, I still feel the consequences of her abuse.

I read Dr Elaine Aron's books when I was 55 years old, and finally understood myself. I also realize, after listening to Dr. Ramani's videos, that I was raised by a narcissistic mother. Scapegoating was part of daily life in our family. Perhaps now I have the understanding to be able to forgive myself. It's been a rough road!

Genuine HSP here! Thank you, Dr. Ramani!

Well damn, this makes sense now. My mother is a narcissist and I am a highly sensitive person. Whenever she or anyone else called me sensitive I thought of it as an insult

Im an HSP and you definitely nailed it. Thank you.

I was already saying when I saw the title, “Oh my sensitivity means I’m the narcissist.” Then I realized my narcissistic brother gave me this label and I’m already internalizing the gaslighting. Wow 😳.

Two minutes into this segment and the tears just started to fall, because validation of my feelings is what I've been deprived of for so long. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction to understand myself and to not make excuses for the way I am anymore. God bless you Dr. Ramani. 🤗

As a highly sensitive person who survived a narcissistic relationship I want to let others know it can be done It was hard to see as explained by Dr. Ramani here, difficult to do but it is so worth it for your own life Be true to yourself and move on as soon as you can

That’s why I fell into my ex, plus lack of experience. Either or. What helps is these videos or those that have been through it before. It’s like bqq on a fire 🔥 you can smell it a mile away if you’ve been there

Thank you, Dr. Ramani. There´s a lot of therapists that don't have knowledge about HSP, so its important to go to a psychologist that is familiarized with the trait, otherwise, they can misdiagnose and misunderstand the highly sensitive person and unfortunately make everything worse

HSP daughter to a narcissist. This made my heart run fast because this was the entirety of my childhood. It was extremely stressful

Thank you very much for this video. I myself am HSP, I am 53 now, and a couple of years ago I said to myself "Okay I've had enough." When I actually stood up for myself it felt so wrong and uncomfortable at first, but then it was like a weight had been lifted off me. It totally shocks everybody around you that is used to seeing you as an easy mark. So now I speak my mind as much as possible. It still feels alien at first, but then I sit back and I think, you know I am so glad I did that. . I still have instances where people's behavior just kind of throws me and I don't even know how to react in the moment because it was so bizarre, rude and obnoxious. I will usually discuss it with them later on after I have thought about what the hell just happened and how it affected me. And of course you will always get the people that say "Oh you're too sensitive." " I didn't mean it that way." But if it makes you uncomfortable then you have to express it. It sets a well needed boundary that others should respect. To me if they can't respect my boundaries then they can just move along, I am not going to be basically tortured by somebody else's insensitive behaviors. It's amazing and totally repulsive how people will treat you and try to get away with things if they know you are very sensitive. If you really want to enjoy your life you're going to have to keep an eye out for yourself. I started late but at least I'm doing it now and I feel much better for it.

After ending the relationship with my ex, I realized that he had a lot of traits of a covert narcissist. First I thought that he maybe had Aspergers, and was drawn to his intelligence and awkwardness. A part of me also felt like he was misunderstood. I felt off from the beginning about him being demeaning to everyone for no reason, arrogant, not capable of any self-reflection and very insecure about himself and his looks, but I still continued dating him because I naively thought I could teach him to understand people and himself. As highly sensitive people we can only take so much and I finally ended things after a horrible comment he made, that made me feel like it all was just a transactional relationship. I didn't know covert narcissists exist, which made me ignore the bad signs. The overt ones can be spotted from a mile away and I think many HSP's naturally feel like avoiding them.

narcissism = selfishness. We were taught that selfishness was confined / limited to material things. Contrarily it goes beyond that. Who knew selfishness was so destructive

The amount of things that I have learned from watching your videos about myself and my relationship with my parents is astounding. The sad thing is I am highly sensitive and both my parents are narcissist so imagine the conundrum I deal with.

This extra gift is challenging to say the least. I get drained around humans. All activities r limited because of it but I believe it also keeps me safe. Sometimes I really hate it… TY Dr. Ramani 💖

It took me so long to accept that I was sensitive and to love that about myself. It will probably take me the rest of my life to get over the damage caused by my dad and the 7-year-long abusive relationship with a narcissist I was in. That said, I encourage everyone to begin from a place of self-love, self-acceptance, forgiveness of self, and setting boundaries for yourself. So many people in the world do not deal with their issues and project them onto everyone else, and sensitive people are severely impacted if they are not aware and make decisions to keep themselves safe from those people.

And there are narcissists who sincerely believe they are sensitive, while behaving like bulldozers. Figure that one out 🙄

I kept trying to resolve things with someone but then I realized the big picture. Thank you Dr Ramani.

Most of the narcissists I know are "sensitive" and so they complain more. More about pain, more about loud noises, more about them and it's also their lack of empathy with their constant complaints that are annoying to say the least. I think I'm sensitive to horrible people who care only about themselves.

My mom & i are highly sensitive & we have faced no end of the antoganizing & gaslighting from my narcissistic father, her husband. We fall for his traps frequently & i’m finally focusing on studying narcissism, healing my trauma, & informing others of this insidious behavior to hopefully help them cope with or escape dire situations such as mine. The trail of destruction for a narcissist never ends & has no limit. My mother had 3 children with this person & all of us are highly sensitive. The narcissist has brainwashed us all & broken down our self esteems in order to love bomb us and gain power back. My mother feels that she cannot live without the financial support of her abuser. THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A NARCISSIST PREYS ON A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON!! A tale as old as time unfortunately.

I just found your channel and I feel like I've found answers to my situation for the first time. I am highly sensitive and I lasted 12 years with a narcissist. It was like riding a rollercoaster of emotions at all times, and I was walking on eggshells trying my best to not make her upset. Almost all of my energy was spent accommodating her needs and wants, and that gave me a sense of purpose. Covid and working at home pushed me over the edge and I stopped accommodating her, and focused more on myself and my career, and thats when she snapped and threatened to "cheat on me" and ultimately left (gaslighting me on the way out). That was three months ago and I've never been happier.

Outstanding video on highly sensitive people and narcissism! Brilliant insight into how things actually feel between HSPs and narcissists. Thank you so much for bringing this to light, Dr Ramani.

I'm an HSP and suffer from PTSD. My 1/2 sister is narcissistic. I had to go no contact over a year ago after trying to understand her and be a part of her life. The mental pain was just too much to have her in my life.

I am a highly sensitive person raised in a narcissistic family system. I was constantly made fun of, demeaned and gaslighted by my toxic family. I finally realized that this vicious cycle of abuse will never end so I went no contact with my entire toxic family. My only regret is that I didn't leave sooner. My mental health is more important that having a dysfunction relationship with my family.

Thank you for this. I’m an HSP and I cannot put into words how a relationship with a narc affected me. Within only six months I had developed horrible anxiety, heart arrhythmia and a flare in an underlying autoimmune condition that used to be stable. From being well and quite functioning before I met him, I felt like I was literally LOSING MY MIND. Giving more and more, trying harder to love, to interpret him with kindness, to sort things out, to show grace and forgiveness. My nervous system was raging. I could barely function at work even though I happen to love my job. It’s sounds dramatic. But I think you know what I mean. When he was angry, the level of distress I felt, I can’t put words into it. It was torturous. When he changed his story all the time or gaslit me, the level of confusion I felt was indescribable, it felt like there was toxins flowing through my body instead of my own blood. I felt physically sick by trying to figure things out and I felt like my soul was outside of my body. It almost killed me. Luckily, it ended.

Since I came to this page..my life has changed.. Completely...

Went through this exact relationship dynamic in my twenties. I was/am the “highly sensitive person.” It is no exaggeration to say that it almost killed me. I was suicidal before it was over and blamed everything on myself. Dr. Ramani, I shudder as well. The memory of that time feels like a pit in my stomach. Thankfully its almost 20 years behind me and I have had so much to learn! I’ve come very far in my personal growth. I’m long out of the woods : )

All my life people have said I was highly sensitive. I am. It's a good thing. thank you for your work.

Repeated information properly dished out is a sign of a good teacher..

I was diagnosed as BPD and my occupational therapist says I am hypersensitive. The part about being observant about others' mood shifts is definately true of BPD as many of us had to be alert to our surroundings and not to upset our caregivers especially if they suffer from mood disorders.

Hsp.. I grieved every day of my teenage years into young adult until I moved away. It took years to stop grieving. I was flying, feeling free and happy with life-loving it, up till a couple months ago. Then I went to visit family and it was like being crushed under a rock. I have been silently grieving again. It is so sad to me to see this come back, but now it’s clear. Undeniably clear, and thanks to your videos now I know to cut loose because it’s not going to change. Never, unless the people change. I deserve to live in happiness, not as someone’s punching bag.

Dr. Elaine Aron is wonderful! Her work has helped me tremendously to sort out my inner workings. HSP is not a style of being it’s more a matter of how we are wired differently. Not better, just different. I fall in to more of the extrovert side of this spectrum yet must have alone down time to process experiences. And, yes, I have found myself in intimate relationships with narcissists- disaster every time. However those experiences (later) gave me insight in to myself which has proven invaluable for me now. Thank you Dr. Ramani for sharing your knowledge to help those seeking to undo damages and heal.

I'm a highly sensitive person with a narcissistic father, I stopped counting how many times I've been called "you're being too sensitive" everytime I broke down from the chaos, stress, verbal abuse & gaslighting.

OMG, I am a highly sensitive type and I have always felt that way, since I was a little girl. I've been in several relationships that I can now identify as possibly/probably narcissistic narcissistic...including my current verbally, emotionally and financially abusive husband. Last week I told him I was moving out and filing for divorce and now I'm in hell until I am able to move. Please pray for me!

I am definitely a highly sensitive person. I was so described in my youth by my teachers and by my spiritual director. Narcissists really attack me constantly throughout my mature life. But really the ability to explore this information on the internet about narcissism is a life saver. Thanks so much Dr Ramani.

Love that point about not pathologizing or gaslighting ourselves. I identify as an HSP and I really found freedom and self-love in beginning to finally honor that about myself and be unapologetic about it, but to appreciate the insights it gives me and the ways I can show up in the world and show up for myself. I think that’s as protective as it gets against these folks who would come in and abuse those good qualities we have. 💜

I'm an HSP, I describe it as living in high definition 24/7. Another great video Dr. Thank you for educating the world.

You just described me, an empath, and my last relationship, I agree it is the worst personality type to get in this relationship with, stuck like chuck for 7 years, finally free. Thank you again Dr. R love and light 💕✨

I sobbed through this whole video. I found Dr Ramani on Thursday & now by Tuesday I’m sure that 10 years ago I spent a decade with a narcissist. ALL the signs were there. Between being an HSP, growing up in a verbally abusive home, etc- I was a prime target & it was excruciating. Thank you for opening my eyes to this & for all the helpful insights. Sigh…. So much time has passed & it can still cut me to the core.

Yes it's so much worse for those of us who are HSP's who grow up with narcissistic parents. Both of my parents were narcissists, and my mother in particular was always exploiting my emotional vulnerabilities to her advantage while ridiculing me whenever I expressed my emotional needs. Therapy has helped me to recognize the impact of my abuse in childhood, particularly my issues with trusting other people and being drawn to narcissists in both friendships and romantic partners. I've come a long way but I'm still a work in progress. Videos like this are helpful just to remind ourselves of the warning signs of narcissistic relationships and how they can rob us of our joy and vitality.

I was born as a highly sensitive person, I was raised by narcissists, I also have narcissistic siblings ( that's just the origin of the family). I ended up in so many narcissistic situations (because I knew no different). Now for the last 5 years, I got rid of the last narcissist I think back in March. I've never looked back I don't need that drama I don't want that drama and frankly it's bull crap and drama

As an empath who got married to a narcissist, if any empath or any other person who gets in a relationship to a narc, RUN for your life, cz if you didnt for any reason you are going to lose yourself and become another person

I might be highly sensitive. I admit that it has held me back quite a bit. I am introverted, I love spending time alone and watching how things work, and find people to be stressful to interact with unless it's one-on-one, and even then I can get overstimulated if they are too bossy or judgmental. These videos are helping me in the way that I like "watching how things work"... so I can now reflect on my most challenging human relationships and how they intersect with narcissism. Realizing that the most judgmental and narcissistic people are actually afraid of my freedoms is comforting. It still doesn't feel great when people seem desperate to overstep my boundaries, but at least knowing that it comes from a place of their own fear and weakness is clarifying, and that it isn't personal towards me... it's their own personal journey as they sort through their unhappiness.

As an hsp with cptsd, coming out of 11 years of lies, neglect, betrayal, the isolation after breaking up with this narcissist is incredibly challenging. Thank you for addressing it. It has been debilitating

Bingo! I’m an HSP who grew up in a less than ideal home and married an abusive narcissist. None of the current psychological information was publicly available at the time. I finally had to divorce him for my sanity. It was only when I read the book,”The Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them” that I finally got a glimmer of understanding. Keep up your important work.

Thank goodness for bringing Dr.Ramani and Dr.Elaine Aaron into my life. The book "The Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine Aaron was of great help to me. And ofcourse, it goes without saying Dr.Ramani's videos are life savor. Thank you both❤

They definitely " over- cater!" They stay way longer in relationships that are detrimental to their being than they should, always trying to be the peace maker, and the glue to hold the relationship together. They stay even when they're being mocked and ridiculed for being meek, and non- confrontational. They suffer in silence, and when it's all said and done they often leave with a broken spirit, and a severely wounded heart.

HSP daughter of a narc mother. I can even begin to say how many times I was told to “get over it”. She always called me a nervous twit as well. In the past year she called me a nervous twat (sorry for the language) but how sick is that to call your own daughter??!!! Yes I was nervous & full of anxiety from the dysfunction. I’m 54 & she’s 85 & I’m slowly moving toward no contact once again because I can’t take this anymore

'You're too sensitive!' I was told this from a very young age. For a long, long time I believed it. I was hyper sensitive and highly emotional. I cried easily, but laughed easily too. I was hyper aware of the dis/comfort of others. I struggled socially. I became so overwhelmed that I froze and my voice didnt work. l believed that I was weak because I 'couldnt handle' too much stress. I believed that being sensitive meant I was a weak person. I've changed my mind. Sensitivity is a super power!!! It takes immense strength to survive in this world when you are a highly sensitive person! Whenever I start to feel down about how I am, I remember the inspiring lyrics from Jewel - 'I'm sensitive and I'd like to stay that way!' I wish there were more sensitive people in the world! Imagine how loving and kind a place it could be!

Dr. Ramani, I read Aaron’s book years ago, it was very helpful. When the book first came out there was an article about it in The NY Times. I took the questionnaire to determine whether you are a highly sensitive person, and I scored 100. I survived a 40-year marriage to a narcissist. He died 7 years ago. I am continuing to heal. I want to thank you for your work. You are a caring soul.

I needed this so much!!!! Thank you again Dr R ❤️🌈 I was a kid with HSP qualities and a high IQ as well. Because of therapy like this I've survived my narcissistic family and all of their abuse has made me "forged in fire." I hope someone else reads this and feels a little better today 😘