‘She’s so bossy, always attracting attention- such a narcissist’
‘If the conversation is not about her, her narcissism takes over’.
If you have heard such sentences about someone, or know someone who fits the bill- there might be a slight chance that they may be on the verge of developing narcissistic personality disorder– or simply the pathological urge to attract attention towards oneself.
Symptoms to spot a Narcissistic personality
Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition where a person has the pathological urge to attract all the attention, energy and situations towards oneself. They show a pattern of inner experience that includes-
- A need of attention and admiration from their surroundings
- A grandiose sense of self
- Extremely concerned and focused on oneself
- Entitled approach toward life
- Lacking empathy for others
- Preoccupied with their thoughts
Quite common in males, it is often seen as a high disruptor in one’s life, affecting every aspect. People suffering from NPD are also at a higher risk of self harm.
Symptoms to spot a Narcissistic personality
According to DSM-5, NPD is recognized as a personality disorder that holds the power to affect major aspects of life and disrupt normal functioning. Some symptoms that define the presence of NPD include-
- Feeling that everything should be about them
- A need for being excessively admired
- Going to extreme ends to turn things into one’s favor
- Lack of empathy and unwilling to explore things from another’s perspective
- Grandiose attitude about life and feeling they are better than others
- Explosive urges to attract the topic of discussion towards oneself
- Unwilling to address the needs and wants of others in a conversation
- Believe that they are really special and can only be understood by some people
- Arrogant, an ‘out of the box’ philosophy and attitude
In how many ways can narcissism manifest?
There are many types in which narcissism can manifest in an individual, and show in some particular formats. These manifestations can be interpreted as follows-
Grandiose- This individual is attention seeking, exploitative and entitled in every manner. They lack any sort of empathy and charm others around them. They seek preference in any situation they may find themselves in
Vulnerable- Described as ‘thin-skinned’ individuals, such people are not very appreciative of criticism and are very insecure. They harbor envy very easily, but carry a sense of grandiosity in their minds.
High functioning- they are very competitive in nature, while harboring attention seeking and sexually provocative tendencies. Such people may sometimes even not be categorized with NPD, and it takes a lot of understanding and effort to recognize this subtype.
Why does Narcissistic Personality Disorder develop?
There are many reasons why a personality disorder may originate, but it usually depends upon 3 major factors- genetics, environment and situations. Some of the main causes that a person may develop NPD include-
- History of trauma or abuse
- Excessive praise and attention by parents and caregivers
- Imposed judgements by the surroundings and close family members
- Being rejected or neglected as a child / looking for ways to gain attention
- Observation/ imitation of such traits from close family members
- Genetic vulnerability with parents suffering from NPD
- Cultural differences play an important role. A culture where individualism and independence is encouraged may have more cases of NPD.
Management and Treatment Options for Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Treatment and Management of NPD is a complex process, since there are no dedicated medicated treatments approved by the FDA. Usually, psychotherapy is the main intervention, which involves-
– Collaborating with therapists to gain insights about one’s actions
– Building a sense of empathy and healthy relationships
– Developing an understanding of the effects of one’s actions over others
There are different therapeutic methods that are easily applicable and highly efficient in deriving transformative results. Let us take a look at them.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy- This explores the different past experiences of the individual that have influenced the present behavior and tries to understand the root cause of developing such narcissistic behavior. It focuses on identifying the different defense mechanisms employed by the person over the years and how the factors have accumulated to result in this condition.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- CBT is a very powerful therapeutic method to deal with the issue of NPD. As the client is not aware of their emotions, behaviors and thought patterns, it helps them identify them and work on them in a variety of ways. Identifying inaccurate thinking patterns and understanding the spectrum of right emotions is essential.
Medications- Since there are no specific medications that directly target NPD as an issue, its underlying problems and issues can be treated to provide relief. Medications under these can be-
– Antidepressants
– Antipsychotics
– Anxiety medications
Family Therapy- When the issue of narcissism is genetic, it is advisable to take family therapy as well since in such cases family dynamics are also disturbed. This can help the client understand the issue they have been facing for long and concentrate on rectifying it.
Group Therapy- Group therapy sessions can be beneficial for clients with NPD to brush up their interpersonal skills and focus on building healthier communication patterns with people around them. This can also foster better reasoning, empathetic mindset and self awareness among them.
Self help- Self-help seldom seems like an optional method, but it is often the most effective method of all. Insight development is crucial in exploring any kind of treatment, and that is why self help methods like journaling, meditating and self-reflection play an important role in understanding the intricacies of your issues.
Your search for transformation ends here
A narcissistic personality is not a fatal flaw in your life. It is a mental health condition that can be recognized, managed and treated with proper diagnosis and effort. If you find yourself unable to deal with it, it is advisable to approach a good psychiatrist near you to understand your condition and seek expert advice for it. Such problems can seriously damage and disrupt the balance of your lives, and with the expert guidance of Dr Gorav Gupta, a leading psychiatrist in Delhi, you can move past this phase and transform your life for the best.
