Narcissists are often seen as confident, charming, and in control. But behind this mask, many of them are deeply insecure. They hide their pain and fear by pretending to be stronger, smarter, and more powerful than they really are. To keep up this act, they often turn to different types of addictions. These addictions help them feel better in the moment, but they also hurt others and create a lot of damage over time.
In this article, we will explore five weird common addictions narcissists often have.
1. S£x Addiction: Craving Attention and Power.
Narcissists often use s£x as a way to feel powerful, loved, and important. For them, s£x is not always about closeness or love. Instead, it becomes a tool to get attention or to feel in control. They may have many partners or cheat on their spouse. They might lie, manipulate, or flatter someone just to get them into bed.
This behavior is not really about pleasure. It is more about filling a deep emptiness inside. Narcissists want to feel desired, needed, and admired. The moment someone gives them attention, they feel a rush. But this feeling doesn’t last long, so they look for the next person to give them that same high.
This kind of addiction hurts both the narcissist and the people involved. It destroys trust, damages relationships, and can lead to a life of lies, guilt, and loneliness. Narcissists may act like they don’t care, but deep down, they are often scared of being alone or unwanted.
For More: 5 Weird Things Narcissists Do When No One is Watching.
2. Stealing: Feeling Entitled to Take.
Narcissists often believe they deserve special treatment. They think they are more important than others and should get whatever they want. Because of this, they might steal—not just money or things, but also ideas, credit for others’ work, or even someone else’s partner.
Sometimes, stealing gives the narcissist a feeling of power. They enjoy taking from others because it makes them feel smart, sneaky, or in control. Other times, they steal because they are jealous or want to punish someone they feel has more than them.
They rarely feel guilty about stealing. In their minds, they are just taking what they believe they deserve. If they do get caught, they may lie or blame someone else. This makes it hard for others to trust them.
Over time, this addiction can destroy jobs, friendships, and family ties. It shows how little the narcissist respects others and how far they will go to feed their own needs.
Suggested Book: It’s Not You _ Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People.
3. Chaos Addiction: Creating Drama and Confusion.
Many narcissists are addicted to chaos. They can’t stand peace or quiet because it forces them to face their own emptiness. So instead, they create drama, start fights, or stir up trouble. This keeps everyone’s attention on them and distracts them from their own inner pain.
They may do things like:
- Start arguments over small things
- Play people against each other
- Change stories or lie to confuse others
- Blow problems out of proportion
Chaos gives them a sense of control. If everyone is stressed or confused, the narcissist feels like the one in charge. They feed off the emotional energy of others, especially when those emotions are fear, anger, or sadness.
But living in constant chaos is exhausting—for both the narcissist and those around them. It damages mental health, ruins relationships, and often leads to broken homes and work environments. Still, the narcissist may not stop unless they lose something big or someone finally walks away.
For More: 5 S£xµal Secrets a Narcissist Doesn’t Want You to Know.
4. Gossip Addiction: Tearing Others Down to Lift Themselves Up.
Narcissists often use gossip as a weapon. They talk badly about others to make themselves look better. If someone else is doing well or getting attention, the narcissist may spread lies or secrets to bring them down. They enjoy watching others fall, especially if it makes them feel more powerful or important.
This kind of behavior is very harmful. Gossip can destroy reputations, friendships, and families. But to the narcissist, it feels like a win. They get to control how others see the person they gossip about, and they often enjoy the reaction it causes.
Narcissists may say things like:
- “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but…”
- “Did you hear what she did?”
- “I just want to help, but I’m worried about them.”
They pretend to care while actually trying to damage someone else’s image. This addiction to gossip keeps them feeling powerful and in control of social situations.
People around them often end up walking on eggshells, afraid of becoming the next target. This creates a toxic and fearful environment.
Suggested Book: Prepare to Be Tortured: The Price You Will Pay for Dating a Narcissist.
5. Control Addiction: Needing to Be in Charge of Everything.
At the heart of all these behaviors is a deep need for control. Narcissists fear being powerless, ignored, or exposed. To avoid these feelings, they try to control everything and everyone around them. This need becomes an addiction.
They may control through:
- Emotional manipulation
- Gaslighting (making others question their reality)
- Giving silent treatments
- Setting rules no one else agreed to
- Withholding love, support, or resources
In relationships, this kind of control can be especially damaging. It leaves others feeling confused, small, and dependent. The narcissist may act kind one moment and cruel the next, keeping others off-balance so they never feel safe or sure of themselves.
The more control the narcissist has, the more powerful they feel. But it’s never enough. They always want more, and they panic when they feel it slipping away. This addiction can lead to abuse, isolation, and long-term emotional damage to those around them.
Read More: 10 Lies All Narcissists Tell.
Why Narcissists Get Addicted?
All these addictions have one thing in common: they help the narcissist avoid facing their true self. Underneath their confidence and charm, many narcissists feel empty, unworthy, or ashamed. These feelings are too painful for them to deal with, so they create a false version of themselves—a version that looks strong, successful, and in control.
But keeping up this false image takes a lot of energy. The narcissist becomes desperate for ways to keep the mask from slipping. That’s where their addictions come in. Each addiction gives them a quick fix:
- S£x makes them feel desired
- Stealing makes them feel clever and powerful
- Chaos keeps attention on them
- Gossip boosts their ego
- Control keeps their fear of weakness away
Unfortunately, these fixes never last. The emptiness always returns, and the cycle begins again. The more they feed their addictions, the more damage they cause—to themselves and to others.
The Cost of Narcissistic Addictions.
The people closest to narcissists often suffer the most. They may feel confused, hurt, and trapped. It’s hard to understand why someone would lie, cheat, steal, or create chaos on purpose. Victims of narcissists may blame themselves, thinking they caused the bad behavior. But the truth is, the narcissist’s addictions have nothing to do with love or care. They are about control, power, and covering up inner wounds.
Over time, these behaviors can lead to:
- Divorce or broken relationships
- Lost jobs or career problems
- Financial troubles
- Legal issues
- Health problems (mental and physical)
- Loneliness and isolation
And even though narcissists may seem like they’re winning—getting what they want, staying in control—they often end up alone, angry, and still empty inside.
Read More: 10 Weird Behaviors of People Abused By Narcissists.
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