Yes, when a narcissist discards someone for another source of narcissistic supply (someone who provides them with admiration, attention, and validation), the discarded individual is often considered essentially nonexistent to the narcissist.
Narcissists tend to view people as objects to fulfill their needs rather than as individuals with their own feelings and worth. Once they find a new and more appealing source of supply, the narcissist may completely disregard and devalue the person they discarded. The discarded individual is no longer useful in satisfying the narcissist's ego and desires, and as a result, they may be treated with indifference, coldness, or even hostility.
This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "devaluation and discard" in the context of narcissistic relationships. During the idealization phase, the narcissist showers their target with love, affection, and admiration to hook them emotionally. However, as the relationship progresses and the narcissist secures alternative sources of supply or becomes bored with the current one, they begin to devalue their partner, highlighting perceived flaws and shortcomings.
The narcissist then proceeds to discard the person, often without remorse or consideration for their feelings. The discarded individual is likely to experience confusion, pain, and a sense of being discarded like an object. This cycle can repeat with different partners as the narcissist continually seeks new sources of validation.
It's important for individuals who have experienced such treatment from a narcissist to understand that the issue lies with the narcissist's personality disorder and not with their own worth or value as a person. Recovery from such a relationship may require emotional support, self-compassion, and, in some cases, professional counseling to heal from the emotional trauma inflicted by the narcissistic dynamic.