The Inner Compass

The Inner Compass

What’s the Difference Between an Avoidant and a Narcissist?

Not much, but here's how there are fewer narcissists than you might have first thought

Lucien Cross's avatar
Lucien Cross
Mar 27, 2025
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Photo by Pat Krupa on Unsplash

You might have asked yourself:

Was I dealing with a narcissist? Or were they just emotionally unavailable?

(After getting out of a toxic relationship)

The truth is avoidants and narcissists can look eerily similar because they both leave you feeling like you’re the problem.

But the key difference comes down to why.

The answer isn’t obvious at first, but recognizing the difference could save you months (or even years) of emotional turmoil.

(This is Part 1 of 2 — A mini-examination of avoidant and narcissistic behavior. And in part 2, we’ll discuss how to deal with narcissists on a deeper level, so stay tuned for that)

📌Here’s what you can expect out of this story:

✅ What the five biggest traits are that avoidants and narcissists share
✅ The one thing that truly separates them
✅ Included are 2 Free downloads: 14 Red Flags in Dating & Attachment Pattern Assessment | 2025 Updated Boundaries Cheat Sheet

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