Why Narcissists Rush … and You Should Slow Down!

A Dating Story of Control and Manipulation

I recently worked with a client who has graciously given me permission to share his story. For the sake of his privacy, we’ll call him Trevor.

At 28 years old, Trevor was at a pivotal stage in his life — young, driven, and searching for meaningful connections. But as with many of us, his past had a profound impact on how he navigated the present.

Trevor’s childhood was marked by a deep sense of abandonment. His mother, once a vibrant and caring woman, suffered a severe back injury when Trevor was still a child. His mother became addicted to pain pills, and over time, her addiction consumed her. While she was physically present, emotionally, she was absent. This left Trevor with abandonment and neglect wounds that he didn’t fully understand.

Trevor was left with a desperate need for love, approval, and stability — things that were sorely lacking during his formative years.

When Trevor met Sophie, a young woman who seemed to offer all the warmth and affection he had longed for, he thought he had finally found what he had been missing. But Sophie, as it turned out, was a covert narcissist. She rushed their relationship at a breakneck pace, sweeping Trevor off his feet with a whirlwind romance that felt like a dream come…