I can never get a word in edgewise with my friend. I like her but she is super narcissistic. What are the best ways to deal with a friend who wants to always talk about herself?
If you can’t find a subtle way to change the topic when she’s speaking, directly ask her to slow down or stop for a minute. You’ll probably startle her because she’s so used to talking uninterrupted. Tell her how frustrated you feel about not being able to say something. Whatever you do, don’t call her narcissistic; that will only make her defensive.
Instead, focus on talking about your own feelings and see if she responds appropriately. If your get-togethers continue to make you feel like you’re having conversations with a re-run of a bad TV show, you either have to accept her as she is—or downgrade your relationship. She may be more tolerable in small doses. With the time you recoup, you can nurture other friendships with people with whom you can have more meaningful and balanced conversations.