For anyone wondering if someone in their life might have npd, diagnosis requires 5 of the 9 criteria outlined in the DSM-V. Many of the symptoms are common traits, but this is disordered levels we’re talking about. You can’t diagnose someone with it, but you can accept that that person in your life sure seems to meet the diagnostic criteria of it.
They aren’t some mystical threat or uniquely evil group. They’re people with a mental disorder that is likely learned behavior, and they may very well be capable of changing and healing with help, but most, much like the president here, wouldn’t ever consider it. Sorry about all the caveats, it’s valuable information that many misuse.
Thinking they’re special or unique.
Believing they should associate only with those they see as worthy.
Need for admiration.
Fragile self-esteem.
Frequent self-doubt, self-criticism or emptiness.
Preoccupation with knowing what others think of them.
Fishing for compliments.
Entitlement.
Inflated sense of self-worth.
Expecting favorable treatment (to an unreasonable degree).
Anger when people don’t cater to or appease them.
Willingness to exploit others.
Consciously or unconsciously using others.
Forming friendships or relationships with people who boost their self-esteem or status.
Deliberately taking advantage of others for selfish reasons.
Lack of empathy.
Saying things that might hurt others.
Seeing the feelings, needs or desires of others as a sign of weakness.
Not returning kindness or interest that others show.
Frequent envy.
Feeling envious of others, especially when others are successful.
Expecting envy from others.
Belittling or diminishing the achievements of others.
Arrogance.
Patronizing behavior.
Behaving in a way that’s snobby or disdainful.
Talking down or acting condescendingly.
People with NPD may also show other behaviors related to the nine criteria, but still different, such as:
Fear of or avoiding vulnerability.
Withdrawing from others to hide feeling vulnerable.
Perfectionism (with or without a fear of failure).
Hypersensitivity to criticism, rejection or failure.
Experiencing severe depression related to rejection or failure.
Reacting with anger (or even rage) when they feel criticized or rejected.
Faking humility to hide their feelings or protect their sense of self-importance.
Avoiding situations where failure is possible or likely, which can limit achievements.
Last I heard the main barrier to recovery was believed to be that people with NPD very rarely seek and stick with treatments. Quick search isn’t really showing me evidence in either direction, but a lot of reputable sources such as Harvard, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Mayo Clinic all saying therapy can help. Also the similarities with BPD leave me suspicious that DBT may help. But this may just be me wishing the narcissist in my life were to have sought help.
Yeah NPD and BPD are linked and BPD are notoriously hard to treat. One day they will just proclaim they are completely mentally well and stop taking all their meds. Once that happens, the only way I have seen to get them back onto meds and into therapy is some complete breakdown of their life… Which almost always inevitably happens, although it can take years for things to spiral.
Yeah, unfortunately I’ve been on the receiving end of that one too. But I’ve also known people who seemed to have dealt with it long term. What I notice in them is an eternal vigilance of a similar sort to addicts who stay permanently clean. They understand that the easiest and safest place to stop their destructive patterns is when it’s about to start.
That said, I wasn’t aware of medication being used for any personality disorder, I was under the impression that the only effective treatment was dbt.
In fact that’s one thing that he’s good for. If someone asks “what’s narcissism” you just go “like Trump”. And then they’ll totally know what it means 😆
Calling it Trump syndrome might be the one thing that deserves his name on it.
For anyone wondering if someone in their life might have npd, diagnosis requires 5 of the 9 criteria outlined in the DSM-V. Many of the symptoms are common traits, but this is disordered levels we’re talking about. You can’t diagnose someone with it, but you can accept that that person in your life sure seems to meet the diagnostic criteria of it.
They aren’t some mystical threat or uniquely evil group. They’re people with a mental disorder that is likely learned behavior, and they may very well be capable of changing and healing with help, but most, much like the president here, wouldn’t ever consider it. Sorry about all the caveats, it’s valuable information that many misuse.
From the Cleveland Clinic’s page on narcissistic personality disorder:
Overestimating their capabilities or holding themselves to unreasonably high standards. Bragging or exaggerating their achievements.
Success. Power. Intelligence. Beauty. Love. Self-fulfillment.
Thinking they’re special or unique. Believing they should associate only with those they see as worthy.
Fragile self-esteem. Frequent self-doubt, self-criticism or emptiness. Preoccupation with knowing what others think of them. Fishing for compliments.
Inflated sense of self-worth. Expecting favorable treatment (to an unreasonable degree). Anger when people don’t cater to or appease them.
Consciously or unconsciously using others. Forming friendships or relationships with people who boost their self-esteem or status. Deliberately taking advantage of others for selfish reasons.
Saying things that might hurt others. Seeing the feelings, needs or desires of others as a sign of weakness. Not returning kindness or interest that others show.
Feeling envious of others, especially when others are successful. Expecting envy from others. Belittling or diminishing the achievements of others.
Patronizing behavior. Behaving in a way that’s snobby or disdainful. Talking down or acting condescendingly. People with NPD may also show other behaviors related to the nine criteria, but still different, such as:
Fear of or avoiding vulnerability. Withdrawing from others to hide feeling vulnerable. Perfectionism (with or without a fear of failure). Hypersensitivity to criticism, rejection or failure. Experiencing severe depression related to rejection or failure. Reacting with anger (or even rage) when they feel criticized or rejected. Faking humility to hide their feelings or protect their sense of self-importance. Avoiding situations where failure is possible or likely, which can limit achievements.
What is the evidence that it’s possible to recover from NPD? I’m genuinely curious.
Last I heard the main barrier to recovery was believed to be that people with NPD very rarely seek and stick with treatments. Quick search isn’t really showing me evidence in either direction, but a lot of reputable sources such as Harvard, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Mayo Clinic all saying therapy can help. Also the similarities with BPD leave me suspicious that DBT may help. But this may just be me wishing the narcissist in my life were to have sought help.
Yeah NPD and BPD are linked and BPD are notoriously hard to treat. One day they will just proclaim they are completely mentally well and stop taking all their meds. Once that happens, the only way I have seen to get them back onto meds and into therapy is some complete breakdown of their life… Which almost always inevitably happens, although it can take years for things to spiral.
Yeah, unfortunately I’ve been on the receiving end of that one too. But I’ve also known people who seemed to have dealt with it long term. What I notice in them is an eternal vigilance of a similar sort to addicts who stay permanently clean. They understand that the easiest and safest place to stop their destructive patterns is when it’s about to start.
That said, I wasn’t aware of medication being used for any personality disorder, I was under the impression that the only effective treatment was dbt.
Trump meets all 9 easily demonstrable.
In fact that’s one thing that he’s good for. If someone asks “what’s narcissism” you just go “like Trump”. And then they’ll totally know what it means 😆
Calling it Trump syndrome might be the one thing that deserves his name on it.