Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a complex mental health issue that can cause great distress, and impact relationships and wellbeing. It is a long-term condition that usually develops fairly early in life. It can impact people throughout their lives.
What many people don't know is that narcissism, or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is actually a serious condition. If you have a NPD diagnosis, others may see you as only concerned about your wants and needs or having a never-ending need for compliments. But inside, you may feel insecure, less-than and empty.
Malignant narcissism is a personality type that causes extreme narcissism, aggression, and, sometimes, abuse of others.
Narcissism can often involve a persistent pattern of self-centeredness and a firm belief in your superiority, which may resemble a delusion in some cases. Delusions are unwavering beliefs that defy evidence to the contrary. They're a formal symptom of psychosis and other mental health conditions.
While an outward show of superiority is a definite part of the narcissistic personality, a sense of superiority (or pursuit of it) is not the central factor of the disorder. The root of the disorder is actually a strict resistance to feeling vulnerable with anyone at any time.
Narcissism tends to emerge as a psychological defence in response to excessive levels of parental criticism, abuse or neglect in early life. Narcissistic personalities tend to be formed by emotional injury as a result of overwhelming shame, loss or deprivation during childhood.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a life-long pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, a diminished ability or unwillingness to empathize with others' feelings, and interpersonally exploitative behavior.
To diagnose NPD, a clinician needs to find at least five of the following criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition: a grandiose sense of self-importance. a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
A clinician may diagnose narcissistic personality disorder if someone has five or more of these signs and symptoms: feelings of self-importance or superiority. frequent thoughts about being good looking, powerful, or successful. beliefs that they're separate, special, or above other people.
Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder is talk therapy, also called psychotherapy. Medicines may be included in your treatment if you have other mental health conditions, such as depression.
Sociopaths are more dangerous than narcissists. People with antisocial personality disorder are more likely to be engaged in an abusive or controlling relationship. They're also more likely to be involved in illegal activities or financial fraud schemes. If dating someone like this, you're in trouble.
Malignant narcissists are often regarded as having the most extreme form of NPD, and while they will have the regular qualities of someone with narcissistic personality disorder, their self-absorption and self-obsession is accompanied by some darker behaviors as well.
The bottom line is that narcissists can be successful and happy, but it takes a lot of work on their part and the support from those around them who want this success for them too! Narcissists' happiness depends greatly on how much effort they put into maintaining healthy relationships at home or work.
Toxic People, for the Most Part, Are Narcissists
In fact, that's why there's a psychological diagnosis of narcissism. People with narcissistic tendencies are more than simply selfish every once in a while. Narcissists have absolutely no concerns outside of their own needs and desires.
Is narcissism a chemical imbalance? The answer isn't so simple. Due to the complex interplay between brain development, neurotransmitters, mental health and narcissism, young people who are more narcissistic may also be at higher risk for certain psychological disorders.
The cause is likely complex. Narcissistic personality disorder may be linked to: Environment — parent-child relationships with either too much adoration or too much criticism that don't match the child's actual experiences and achievements. Genetics — inherited characteristics, such as certain personality traits.
Not every narcissist has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), as narcissism is a spectrum. People who are at the highest end of the spectrum are those that are classified as NPD, but others, still with narcissistic traits, may fall on the lower end of the narcissistic spectrum.
For example, according to a study by Livesley et al, as well as several other studies, narcissism is an inheritable trait, with a continuum existing with a normal and pathological personality at either end of the scale.
The psychopathic narcissist creates and maintains his or her own version of reality, seen and interpreted through the warped and distorted lens of pathological self-centeredness and self-deception.
So when they encounter a piece of information about narcissism they immediately might feel exposed, ashamed, betrayed, or attacked. Moreover, they often take things very personally and think that everything is about them. So they might feel that the author is talking about them personally or calling them out.
Complications of Narcissism
In public, someone with narcissism displays confidence and a strong sense of self. However, people with NPD may suffer from depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts or behavior, drug or alcohol misuse, and physical health problems.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment
There is no cure, but therapy can help. The goal is to build up the person's poor self-esteem and have more realistic expectations of others. Treatment usually centers on talk therapy. Sometimes people call this psychotherapy.
What Causes It? Narcissistic personality disorder is actually a brain disorder. Brain imaging completely changes the way we think about personality. It is easy to label people as arrogant, demanding, manipulative, or uncaring.