What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Posted on May 17, 2021 | 0 comments

What-is-Narcissistic-Personality-Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental condition giving one an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep seemingly unsatisfiable need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships throughout life, and a complete lack of empathy for others on the outside. On the inside lies a person protecting themselves with an extremely fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to even the slightest of criticisms. This often stems from untreated child-hood trauma and is connected to PTSD.

Society has dumbed down the term and uses it in relation to anyone who is perceived as self-centered or selfish. But the truth is, narcissists have pain so deep that they have to wrap it up in a cloud of ‘They Are Better Than Everyone Else’ because they can’t face the pain for various reasons. That is the anger you see seeping out when they feel threatened. And instead of being helped or guided through healing, they suffer in silence covering it with arrogance for years – often emotionally abusing almost everyone around them.

A narcissistic personality disorder can cause many problems within relationships, work, school and even financial affairs. People with NPD may be generally unhappy when they are not given special favors or attention that they believe they deserve and often times can not find fulfillment within relationships like others around them can.

The signs and symptoms of NPD vary with each individual. There are 9 main points used to determine a diagnosis (which should only be made by a professional) you can find them here.

Signs & Symptoms Of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

According to the Mayo Clinic people with this disorder can:

Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerate achievements and talents
Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
Take advantage of others to get what they want
Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Be envious of others and believe others envy them
Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office

At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

Become impatient or angry when they don’t receive special treatment
Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability, and humiliation

NPD is really hard to diagnose and almost never is treatable. Treatments are available to those who are open to it, but because someone with NPD truly believes they are perfect, they rarely will grow. Because of how badly they truly feel inside, they often wreak havoc on those who love them. Narcissistic abuse is subtle, long term and very damaging.

It is really important to educate and protect yourself if you are involved with someone you suspect has NPD. Join a community, reach out, contact me – we would love to have you participate in our next masterclass, click here to sign up and start YOUR healing journey today.

Malibu Mama Loves Xx

Here on Conscious Straight Talk With Katie & Lindsey we dive right into it: