Meeting the Narcissist

DSM criteria of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special" and unique
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement
6. is interpersonally exploitative
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

The narcissist can only survive by deriving his/her narcissistic supply from ignorant admirers.  Without that, they are an empy shell.  How awful would life be if your only validation for being worthwhile is when you are receiving the reassurance from someone else?  The narcissist is not unlike a vampire, constantly chasing his life source...by draining the blood from others.  And this is the same thing an abuser does...