The narcissist knows they are addicted to supply and this is why they use “hot-cold” or “push pull” tactics throughout the relationship. The intermittent reinforcement system of rewards and punishments wreaks havoc on the target/survivor’s brain.
In essence survivors become addicted to “hope”. Hope that things will get better, hope that the narcissists will appreciate you again, hope that you still matter to them. The trauma-bond is so strong that some in the psychological community liken it to coming off of heroin.
The trauma-bond is so hard to break that survivors need a period of “no contact” to remember who they were before the narcissist. Keep healing survivors.