Well Alex- This is really tricky stuff and really may not be worth expending too much energy on because, barring some kind of clinical diagnosis (which is also tricky because even psychs are tricked and manipulated by narcissists), can't be answered (far be it from me as to see that as a reason to resist postulating).
My H went through a similar "crisis" 6 years ago, woke up, came home, pledged his desire to change etc. seemed to have perspective. Looked back on the crisis time and "didn't know who that was."
Now, here he is again. The narcissistic characteristics were there all along but managed. So, is he becoming his "true" self or is he going through a phase in which he finally succumbs and then has a true awakening or, or, or...and how much of our lives do we want to spend on this?
If you read about clinical narcissists, you'll sh*t your pants because they are like emotional vampires that thrive on having emotional dependents...
I got so freaked out about it and now I am trying to be in the space of, "time will tell."
Every sign points to loving attachment with boundaries regardless of the mental state of S.
Plus, we are all narcissists, we all tend to respond to someone pulling away by moving toward them. For the WAS to do this is an exhibition of narcissistic mind-f*ckery (clinical term)...
By the way, the whole notion of extrinsic narcissism is flawed to me. We grown ups are drawn to and choose our influences...our peers mirror us and our behaviors reflect our own intrinsic realities. The question to me is, is this a finite exploration by WAS or is this the new and permanent S?
