As Narcissists age, their behaviours often intensify or shift in rather unsettling ways, and it is because, in their youth, Narcissists are constantly on the hunt for more power or control. Whereas the ageing Narcissist is fighting not to lose their existing power or control.
So, today I want to delve into some strange behaviours of the Ageing Narcissist because, although the same core traits of their narcissism, such as entitlement, lack of empathy, and selfishness are still there, the way they are expressed changes over time.
We have 8 strange habits that many Narcissists will be guilty of.
1. Talking Endlessly About the Past
The first odd habit an ageing narcissist is likely to develop is to talk endlessly about the past. As their physical beauty, control, or health declines, they become fixated on their past glory days, whether real or exaggerated. Narcissists are always either living in the future or the past, and the ageing Narcissist is more likely to be constantly reminiscing about the past. They constantly remind people of their past successes, even if no one asked. They would even rewrite their history to make themselves look better or more successful than they actually were.
Many Narcissists love to talk, and as they age, sometimes that is all there is left for them to do. So, they talk about who owes them, who hurt them, who betrayed them, how they were so fantastic but never appreciated, etc., ensuring that the narrative of who they really are remains hidden.
A Book: Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men.
2. Trying to Cling to Their Youth
The second strange habit of ageing Narcissists is how they try to cling to their youth. This can be manifested in a few ways, such as dressing inappropriately young for their age and seeking validation from much younger people; this can be through relationships or online interactions. It is hard for Narcissists to accept a decline in attention or control, so they are willing to do things to rekindle that spark and put themselves center stage, giving no thought about how foolish it may make them look.
I am all about aging well and looking good. It is one thing to strive to maintain your health and looks for as long as possible, but to think that you can compete with the younger generation or be actively seeking validation from them is a whole other ball game.
3. Health Denial and Obsession
Another strange and also scary behaviour has to do with their health. Some Narcissists refuse to acknowledge that they are aging and that they might need to start doing things a bit differently, like being more mindful about how they care for their bodies. Because, on one hand, they complain about their ailments to gain sympathy, but then they are not willing to take the necessary actions to deal with these issues. Some will reject medical advice or ignore real health concerns while fixating on minor issues.
4. Increased Paranoia
The fourth strange behaviour of an ageing Narcissist is their paranoia. Don’t get me wrong. Narcissists are paranoid from the start, but this paranoid behaviour only increases. More than ever, they will believe people are out to get them; they will assume and complain about people not respecting them enough, or they have an endless list of conspiracy theories as to why they are not successful anymore.
5. Desperate Attempts to Stay Relevant
Their fifth strange behaviour is their attempts to stay relevant. Thanks to social media, Narcissists can post cringeworthy content, desperately seeking attention and validation. They can create fantastic stories about a life they never lived. If you are not familiar with Narcissistic Storytelling, I did this article, which provides insight as to how they go about it because Narcissists love to tell a good story that usually exaggerates their role or importance.
Another thing they do to remain relevant is to name-drop people they barely knew to sound important. The unfortunate truth is that, as the Narcissist ages, social media provides a much-needed outlet for their famished egos. They can say and do whatever it takes to stay relevant on these platforms to an unassuming audience.
6. Weaponising Fragility
The sixth strange behaviour of Narcissists is weaponising fragility, where they use their age as an excuse to be mean or avoid accountability. They seem to think that they should be able to get away with anything while, at the same time, make family and friends feel obligated in catering to them by guilt-tripping. They would also claim to be abandoned, even though they were the ones who pushed people away.
7. Hoarding
The seventh strange behaviour, which sometimes starts even earlier in their life, is hoarding. This is where they hold onto things they claim are valuable, even if they’re junk, or refuse to let go of outdated possessions that once symbolised status. As I said, the ageing Narcissist is trying to hold on to a past where they were once relevant, so they will form an attachment to anything that reflects their past glory days and become irrationally angry if anyone suggests getting rid of it or for them to declutter their space.
Suggested Book: Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself- By Shahida Arabi.
8. Overplaying Their “Wisdom”
The final strange behaviour of the Narcissist is overplaying their so-called wisdom. This is where they give unwanted and even outdated advice, act like they know everything, even about topics they never studied. But, as I say time and time again, Narcissists do not get wiser as they get older. But they will want to act as if they are wise, expecting younger people to treat them as such despite their toxicity and immaturity.
To conclude, ageing Narcissists keep playing games with people to get what they want, which is usually attention and control. They often become a mix of bitter, desperate, and manipulative, doubling down on behaviours that worked for them in the past while struggling to cope with their fading influence.
They don’t seem to give any thought to the fact that their antics to remain relevant are not only strange but foolish.
Have you encountered any of these traits before from an ageing Narcissist? If so, drop me a comment below. Many thanks for reading.
Read More: 5 Weird Addictions All Narcissists Have.
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