Narcissism or narcissist personality is a catchphrase used to describe a person who appears to be self-absorbed or in need of compliments. It is still uncommon to understand that Narcissistic HopeQure is a serious concern and requires professional help to maintain mental health wellness. According to an article by Cleveland Clinic, although such people appear to be concerned about themselves, they in fact feel insecure most of the time. People experiencing NPD generally find it difficult to relate to others and thus display low self-worth. Around 5% of individuals experience NPD(Cleveland Clinic).
A narcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition in which people exhibit an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others(Mayo Clinic, 2017). People with NPD have low self-esteem and the slightest criticism or disagreement can make them react badly as they perceive all of this to be a personal attack. Such people generally remain unhappy and disappointed if not given the special attention they need. NPD causes problems in many aspects of their lives including work, relationships, etc. People with narcissistic personality disorder showcase extreme resistance to changing their behavior. They usually tend to blame others as they may find it difficult to reflect on their weaknesses.
It has been found that NPD affects males more than it affects females. What exactly causes NPD is unknown but a combination of the following factors is believed to result in the disorder:
NPD usually appears during early adulthood starting around 18 years(Psycom, 2020). Healthcare providers diagnose NPD if at least five of the following symptoms are present:
Personality DisorderTreatment
People with NPD are very unlikely to go and seek treatment as they may not want to think that there might be something wrong with them. If at all they do go and seek treatment it might be for other problems like alcohol use or depression or something else. But to continue with the treatment is a task for them as anything that they might perceive as an insult can harm their “self-esteem” and make them want to quit. Moreover, personality traits cannot be changed overnight. It might just take several years of therapy before one sees the improvement. But one must stick to the treatment.
Some tips that might help go through your therapy can be:
Recovery from NPD takes time so try and stay motivated to achieve this goal of yours. Keep reminding yourself that you need to do this for yourself and your loved ones. You are in charge of your behavior and you can change it at any time.
