Narcissists live with emotional unavailability, limited emotional empathy, grandiosity, hypersensitivity, and a superficial and flashy lifestyle where things are typically for show. These red flags are no surprise to someone who has experienced a narcissist in their life. Yet, many of these signs are recognized only in hindsight and after a person has experienced emotional trauma caused by a narcissist.

Aside from outward displays of confidence, internally, most narcissists have a fragile ego, can be hypersensitive to rejection, and are highly insecure. Many also commonly experience significant jealousy of others and can place themselves in competition with others, which may be a contributing factor to their damaging behavior in relationships. For example, some may know a narcissistic “friend” who always wants what the other person has—clothes, car, job, type of partner, etc.

However, there are other behaviors that are equally common and cause significant damage to their relationships or their ability to retain a relationship. Here are three common behaviors narcissists engage in that can damage a relationship:

A narcissist will usually “ghost” or discard a relationship during the most inopportune times, such as when their partner is most vulnerable or when a friend is most in need of reassurance, compassion, and emotional support. They may arbitrarily leave if their partner........

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