Do you know someone who always uploads pictures of themselves on their social networks and expects compliments from others or someone who thinks they are better than others and constantly talks about themselves during the first date but gets angry at the slightest criticism? You may not enjoy being around such a person and call them a narcissist or a smug person, but a true narcissist has a narcissistic personality disorder.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a type of personality disorder defined by long-term behavioral patterns such as excessive self-importance, excessive desire for admiration, and an inability to consider and understand the feelings of others. People with narcissistic personality disorder usually spend a lot of time fantasizing about achieving power and success, and they attribute their lack of success to injustice towards the well-wishers.
In a person with narcissistic personality disorder, the feeling of excessive self-importance can hide a person’s low self-esteem. Join us to explore the different dimensions of narcissistic personality disorder together.
What is narcissistic personality disorder?
Narcissistic personality disorder takes its name from a Greek myth in which a mythological figure named Narcissus sees his image reflected in a pond and falls in love with it.
Narcissistic personality disorder is a group B personality disorder. People with these disorders can hardly manage their emotions. These people usually have an ideal image of themselves in their minds and feel an unreasonable sense of superiority over others. These traits can indicate a lack of self-confidence and extreme insecurity that a person may not be aware of.
The following are the main characteristics of people with narcissistic personality disorder:
- Need to admire
- Self-conceit
- Lack of empathy for others
Research shows that 6.2% of humans have narcissistic personality disorder, including 7.7% of men and 4.7% of women.
A personality disorder affects how people feel, think, and act. People with narcissistic personality disorder generally experience intense and fluctuating emotions and worry excessively about issues such as credibility, power, and personal capabilities.
To others, they may:
- Act selfishly
- Appear controlling and demanding
- Have difficulty empathizing or considering the needs or feelings of others
These behaviors often stem from the need to cover up and hide the deep sense of insecurity they experience.
Signs.
People with narcissistic personality disorder’s perception of themselves can be very different from others’ perception of them.
Features of this disorder that may be noticeable to others include:
- Strong need for attention and admiration
- Fragile self-esteem and feelings of disappointment when not receiving praise
- Feeling too superior to others
- Exaggeration of intimacy with others, especially those of high wealth or social status.
- They evaluate their achievements and talents higher than their actual level.
- Underestimating the accomplishments of others
- An intense desire for success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
- Believing that they are unique and that only certain people can understand this.
- Obliging others to treat them favorably
- Using Others to achieve your goals
- Inability or unwillingness to identify the feelings or understand the needs of others
- Feeling extremely jealous of others and believing that others are also jealous of them.
- They act like they are proud.
- They show a lot of charm, but they get angry quickly.
- They always talk about their concerns but are not interested in other people’s concerns.
- They behave aggressively when an issue or conversation questions their character or performance.
Other features of this disorder may be less associated with narcissism, such as:
- Experiencing feelings of shame, humiliation, and emptiness when frustrated
- Reluctance to try new situations for fear of failure
- Having trouble maintaining relationships
- Feeling emotionally alienated from others
- High achievement due to overconfidence but poor performance in the face of failure or criticism
- constant suspicion
- Social withdrawal
- Inability to manage emotions
Other disorders, such as depression and anorexia, can also appear along with narcissistic personality disorder.
Diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
A psychiatric evaluation can help diagnose this condition, but a definite and accurate diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder can be challenging.
First, there are different types of personality disorders whose characteristics usually overlap to some extent. Also, a person may have narcissistic personality disorder along with another disorder.
In addition, the person suffering from this disorder may not recognize that their behavior causes the problems in their life and instead blames others.
A person who struggles with this disorder is highly sensitive to others’ criticisms and their weaknesses and problems, making it difficult for others to talk to them about their behavioral issues and how this can affect their life and relationships. do
To diagnose narcissistic personality disorder, the therapist or psychiatrist must identify at least five of the following criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
- Increased self-esteem
- Endless fantasizing about success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
- Believing that people are unique and not everyone can understand them; only special people or people with high social status should communicate with them.
- Need too much praise.
- They expect others to treat them well and fulfill their wishes.
- Willingness to use others to achieve one’s goals
- Lack of empathy and willingness to understand the feelings and needs of others
- Jealousy of others and believing that others are also jealous of them
- Arrogant behaviors or attitudes
Narcissistic personality disorder is a spectrum disorder whose symptoms range from mild to severe.
Experts have also suggested two subgroups for this disorder:
Self-conceited subtype: symptoms of this group include feelings of self-conceit, aggressiveness, and excessive boldness.
Vulnerable subtype: The main symptoms of this group include hypersensitivity and defensiveness.
Treatment.
To date, there is no definitive cure for narcissistic personality disorder, but existing treatments can help a person overcome the underlying problems associated with this disorder and change some of their behaviors.
If narcissistic personality disorder occurs along with other conditions, such as depression or anxiety, drug therapy can be beneficial.
However, the primary treatment for this disorder is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help a person:
- Understand the basis of his behavior.
- Manage your emotions more effectively.
- Learn to take responsibility for your actions.
- Learn to create and maintain healthier relationships.
- Strengthen his self-esteem.
- Adjust his expectations from himself and others.
- Understand the impact of your behavior on others.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, or group therapy are types of psychotherapy that can help people with this disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to identify unhealthy and harmful beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy and positive behaviors.
Causes of narcissistic personality disorder.
While the causes of personality disorders are not generally known, researchers believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is effective in the occurrence of this disorder.
For example, the occurrence of the following in childhood can increase the risk of developing narcissistic personality disorder:
- Paying too much attention to the child and making them look big
- Too many expectations from the child
- Excessive care or neglect of the child
- Psychological injury or trauma
- Being abused
- Rejection
Stress can also worsen personality disorder symptoms.
Complications of narcissistic personality disorder.
Many people with narcissistic personality disorder usually also struggle with other mental disorders. These typically include the following:
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- depression
- panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Other personality disorders
- anorexia nervosa
A person with narcissistic personality disorder may also be at high risk for:
- Communication and relationship management problems
- Problems at work or school
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
There is also a risk of cardiovascular complications for these people. Some research has shown that men with narcissistic personality disorder have a higher level of the stress hormone (cortisol) in their blood, and this is an issue that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems in a person.
Final point.
Narcissistic personality disorder can be challenging and problematic for the individual and their loved ones, but treatment and support from others can improve the quality of life for everyone with this disorder.
A psychotherapist can examine people who suspect they have a narcissistic personality disorder and be sure about their condition. There are many ways to find the right therapist online, including this comprehensive guide that can help you out.
For someone who is in a relationship with someone with narcissistic personality disorder, the following tips can be helpful:
- Build a support network, including family members and friends.
- Pursue independent interests through work, volunteering, or hobbies.
- Use healthy conflict resolution strategies.
- Stay calm when discussing how the person’s behavior affects you.
- Join online support groups and interact with other people in similar situations.
Counseling services are also helpful for people traumatized by a relationship with someone with narcissistic personality disorder.
What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a type of personality disorder characterized by long-term behavioral patterns such as excessive self-importance, excessive desire for admiration, and an inability to consider and understand the feelings of others. People with NPD often spend a lot of time fantasizing about achieving power and success, and they attribute their lack of success to injustice towards the well-wishers.
What are the main characteristics of people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
The main characteristics of people with NPD include a need to admire, self-conceit, and a lack of empathy for others. They may act selfishly, appear controlling and demanding, and have difficulty empathizing or considering the needs or feelings of others.
How is Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosed?
A psychiatric evaluation can help diagnose NPD, but a definite and accurate diagnosis can be challenging due to overlapping characteristics with other personality disorders. To diagnose NPD, the therapist or psychiatrist must identify at least five of the following criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: increased self-esteem, endless fantasizing about success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love, believing that they are unique, needing too much praise, expecting others to treat them well and fulfill their wishes, willingness to use others to achieve one’s goals, lack of empathy, jealousy of others, and arrogant behaviors or attitudes.
What are the treatments for Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
While there is no definitive cure for NPD, existing treatments can help a person overcome the underlying problems associated with this disorder and change some of their behaviors. If NPD occurs along with other conditions, such as depression or anxiety, drug therapy can be beneficial. However, the primary treatment for this disorder is psychotherapy, which can help a person understand the basis of his behavior, manage emotions more effectively, learn to take responsibility for actions, create and maintain healthier relationships, strengthen self-esteem, adjust expectations, and understand the impact of behavior on others.
What are the causes of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
While the exact causes of personality disorders are not generally known, researchers believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is effective in the occurrence of this disorder. For example, the occurrence of the following in childhood can increase the risk of developing NPD: paying too much attention to the child and making them look big, too many expectations from the child, excessive care or neglect of the child, psychological injury or trauma, being abused, and rejection.
What are the complications of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
Many people with NPD usually also struggle with other mental disorders, including drug or alcohol abuse, depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, other personality disorders, and anorexia nervosa. They may also be at high risk for communication and relationship management problems, problems at work or school, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and cardiovascular complications.
