Codependency & Narcissistic Relationships
Understanding the dynamic, breaking the cycle
Why you stay, even when you know it’s breaking you
Not every toxic relationship starts with shouting or violence.
Often it begins in silence. In confusion. In gaslighting, pushing and pulling.
You feel drained, guilty, responsible. Still, you stay.
Why?
Because it’s not a conscious choice.
It’s a deeply ingrained survival pattern, wired into your body, your attachment system and your nervous system.
These relationships are not ordinary.
They grow from trauma, unmet attachment needs, emotional hunger and lifelong conditioning.
They touch something older than this partner, something rooted in your childhood.
This page offers a clear overview of the dynamic, with links that break down its key aspects for deeper clarity and understanding.
- Why codependents are drawn to narcissists
The magnetic pull between codependency and narcissism. Why opposites cling to each other
- How fear of abandonment, trauma bonding and emotional addiction work together
Why you keep going back. The addictive cycle of toxic love
- Why letting go feels unbearable and how it’s wired into your biology
Letting go of a narcissist isn’t just emotional, it’s physiological
- Why narcissists always test your boundaries
They sense exactly where you’re unsure. They push, they cross the line, they wait for you to give in.
Without solid boundaries, you’re pulled into guilt, confusion and depletion.
Read more: Boundaries & Codependency – How to feel, set and hold them
- What the first step towards real healing looks like
True healing begins with you – Coming home is not a technique, but a choice
This dynamic doesn’t need more explanation. It needs recognition, deep self-compassion, somatic healing, and a rewriting of the story you once believed about yourself.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. But the first step starts with you.
Stand up for yourself. Break the cycle.
Come home to who you truly are.
Ready to break the pattern?
→ Book your free Clarity Talk here
→ Learn how the 16-week recovery programme helps you fully break free