Narcissistic or Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is one of several types of personality disorders that makes a person have a need for excessive attention and admiration for himself. Someone with this personality is usually less empathetic towards others. Behind the mask of extreme self-confidence, there is a fragile self-esteem against criticism. Check out the full explanation below.
What Is Narcissism?
Narcissism is a personality disorder in which a person considers himself more than anyone else. Narcissistic personality disorder craves admiration and attention from others. Someone with this personality is unhappy and disappointed when not given special praise or assistance that they believe is worth getting.
Others usually see a narcissist as an arrogant person and do not usually enjoy being around him. This condition can cause problems in many areas of life such as work, school, and relationships with others. However, this disorder can be managed with speech therapy and certain lifestyle improvements.
Narcissistic Symptoms
Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder , according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) show the following points, including:
- Excessive self-centeredness
- Fun with fantasy of unlimited success, strength, brilliance, or love
- Believe that he is special and can only be understood by certain people
- The need for excessive admiration
- Lack of empathy
- Envy others or believe that others are the object of jealousy
- Arrogant
- Arrogant
In addition, researchers have reported that there is a relationship between narcissism and high rates of substance abuse and anxiety disorders. This condition may be caused by its impulsive characteristics
Other Narcissistic Characteristics
Narcissists have difficulty responding to whatever they perceive as criticism. When getting criticized it makes him:
- Being impatient or angry when not receiving special treatment
- Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel underestimated
- Trying to look down on others to make himself look superior.
- Difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
- Having big problems when stressed and adapting to change
- Feeling depressed and depressed because it failed perfectly
- Having feelings of insecurity and shame
When is the Right Time to See a Doctor?
Someone who has a narcissistic personality might not think that something is wrong with him, a condition that makes him not need treatment. New treatment is needed when experiencing symptoms of depression, drug use, alcohol, or other mental health problems.
If you recognize aspects of personality that are common in narcissistic personality disorders or you feel overwhelmed by sadness, consider contacting a trusted doctor or mental health professional. Getting the right treatment can make life more useful and enjoyable.
Narcissistic Causes
Until now not yet known what causes a person to have a narcissistic personality. Like personality development and other mental health disorders, the causes of personality disorders tend to be complex. However, this condition can be attributed to:
- Environment. Discrepancies in parent-child relationships or excessive criticism that is not in accordance with the child’s experience.
- Genetics. Derived characteristics.
- Neurobiology. The relationship between the brain and behavior and thought.
Risk Factors
Narcissistic personality affects more men than women and it often starts in adolescence or early adulthood. Keep in mind, the presence of narcissism in adolescence does not always imply that he will have this personality as an adult.
Although the cause of narcissistic personality disorder is unknown, several researchers have revealed that this condition can occur in children who are biologically vulnerable, parenting styles that are too protective or neglected.
Narcissistic diagnosis
Narcissistic personality disorder is usually diagnosed by a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. No laboratory, blood or genetic tests are used to diagnose personality disorders.
The diagnosis of narcissistic personality is usually based on:
- Signs and symptoms that appear
- Physical examination to ensure you do not have physical problems that cause symptoms
- A thorough psychological evaluation that might include filling out a questionnaire
- Included in the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Narcissistic Medicine
Basically, the treatment for narcissistic personality is speech therapy (psychotherapy). While medicines can be included in treatment if you have other mental health conditions. The following are some treatments that can be done, including:
Lifestyle
You might feel defensive about treatment or think it isn’t necessary. The nature of this narcissistic personality disorder can make you feel that therapy is not worth the time and attention given. Therefore, you must:
- Keep an open mind and focus on care.
- Attend scheduled therapy sessions and take any medication as directed.
- Get treatment for alcohol abuse, drugs, or other mental health problems.
- Addiction, depression, anxiety, and stress can feed each other, which can lead to unhealthy behavior.
- Stay motivated by remembering goals and reminding yourself that you can work to repair broken relationships and become more satisfied with your life.
Psychotherapy
Treatment of narcissistic personality is centered around speech therapy or psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help you to:
- Establish good relations with others so that relationships are more intimate, fun, and useful.
- Understand the causes of emotions and what drives you to compete, to distrust others, and maybe hate yourself and others.
- Receive your true potential so you can accept criticism or failure.
- Helps you to let go of desires for goals that cannot be achieved and create ideal conditions according to what can be achieved.
Drugs
There is no specific drug used to treat narcissistic personality. However, if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other conditions, medications such as antidepressants or medications to treat anxiety might help.
Narcissistic Complications
Complications of narcissistic personality disorder and other conditions can occur together. Some complications that can occur include:
- It’s hard to build relationships with other people
- Problems at work or school
- Depression and anxiety
- Physical health problems
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Narcissistic Prevention
The cause of narcissistic personality disorder is unknown, so there is no known way to prevent this condition. However, the following steps might help, including:
- Get treatment as soon as possible for childhood mental health problems
- Participate in family therapy to learn healthy ways to communicate or to overcome conflict and emotional distress
- Attend a childcare class and seek guidance from a therapist if needed
