DR SUMAIYA KHALED

Love is often described as healing, yet not all relationships offer comfort. Emerging research suggests that being involved with individuals who display strong narcissistic traits can have measurable biological consequences, extending beyond emotional strain.

At the centre of this response is cortisol, commonly known as the body’s primary stress hormone. In healthy relationships, emotional support helps regulate stress, keeping cortisol levels stable. However, relationships marked by manipulation, unpredictability, or emotional neglect can trigger chronic activation of the stress response system. Over time, this leads to persistently elevated cortisol levels.

This prolonged stress can disrupt sleep, weaken immunity, and increase the risk of conditions such as anxiety and Depression. Individuals often report fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, even when they are unaware of the underlying cause. The body, in effect, begins to internalise relational stress.

What makes this dynamic particularly complex is its subtlety. Narcissistic relationships may not always appear overtly harmful. Moments of validation can be interspersed with criticism or withdrawal, creating a cycle that keeps individuals emotionally engaged while physiologically strained.

Understanding these effects reframes relationship health as a public health concern. Emotional environments are not just psychological spaces but biological ones, shaping how the body responds, adapts, and ultimately copes with stress over time.

E-mail: sumaiya.khaled@thedailystar.net