Narcissistic personality disorder
Description
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which a person has an unrealistic sense of self-importance and a strong need for admiration.
Narcissists believe they are better than others and have a disregard for other people’s feelings. But behind this mask of overconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that can be wounded by the slightest criticism.
Narcissistic personality disorder belongs to a group of several types of dramatic personality disorders, which are conditions in which people have character traits that provoke them to behave in socially disruptive ways.
In this way, they only achieve a limitation of their opportunities for interaction, both in their personal life with their partner, as well as in work or school.
Treatment for this condition centers around psychotherapy.
What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?
The personality disorder is characterized by dramatic and emotional behavior, which is the main reason why it is classified as antisocial and borderline personality disorders.
The most characteristic symptoms are:
• You believe you are better than other people;
• You fantasize about power, success and attractiveness;
• You exaggerate your achievements and talents;
• You expect constant praise and admiration;
• You imagine that you are special and act according to this belief;
• You refrain from sharing your emotions and feelings with other people;
• You take advantage of others;
• You show contempt for those who feel weaker;
• You expect others to follow you in realizing your ideas and plans;
• You envy others;
• You believe that others also envy you;
• You create unrealistic goals;
• You can easily feel hurt and rejected;
• Your self-esteem is fragile;
• You appear to others as unsentimental or unemotional.
• Difficulty creating and maintain strong and stable relationships in your personal life.
Although some signs of the personality disorder may seem like a person has enough confidence in their own abilities or higher self-esteem, this is not the same.
Narcissists cross the line of healthy confidence and self-esteem and reach a point where they have such a high opinion of themselves that they can even put themselves on a pedestal. In contrast, people who possess healthy confidence and self-esteem do not rate themselves higher than others.
A narcissist usually comes across as puffy and pretentious and also a big braggart. He often monopolizes conversations. A narcissist may belittle or look down on people and perceive them as inferior.
He always feels that he is in the right. And when he gets special attention that makes him feel like the best, he changes his behavior and can become very impatient and angry. He may insist that he is the best at anything, or has the nicest or most expensive thing, or paid the highest price for a service.
For example, he has the fastest and most expensive car, attends the best athletics club, uses the best health services or moves in the richest social circles.
But behind all these behavioral manifestations, often hides a fragile self-esteem. The narcissist is afraid or uncomfortable doing anything that might give rise to criticism against him.
With this, he most often feels shame and humiliation. And to make themselves feel better, the narcissist may react with anger or contempt and make an effort to humiliate another person so that they can look better in public.
When should we seek medical help?
When a person is affected by this type of personality disorder, they may not want to think that there is anything wrong with them – this it would not fit into his image of power and perfection.
But by definition, personality disorder can cause problems in many areas of life such as personal relationships, work, school or financial affairs. In such cases, affected people feel unhappy and confused by the mixture of conflicting emotions.
