While we may call someone a narcissist
to describe someone who acts self-absorbed,
narcissistic personality disorder
is actually a serious condition
that can affect how you see yourself
and how you relate to others.
If you know where to look,
there are some telling traits of NPD that stand out.
One.
An overinflated sense of self importance.
People with NPD often see themselves
as the most important person in the room.
They prioritize their ideas above others,
insert themselves into the center of every conversation
and tend to exhibit issues with control
when things get tough.
This desire for perfectionism
can damage relationships with others,
but it can also cause undue stress
on their own emotional and mental wellbeing
when situations don't work out the way they envisioned.
Number two.
A need for excessive admiration.
People with NPD evaluate their self-worth and self-esteem
based on how other people perceive them.
They want to be adored and admired for their efforts
and they wanna be highly appreciated
by everyone around them.
Occasionally, they may be excessively envious
of other people
or believe others are envious of them.
People with NPD may experience imposter syndrome
more frequently and respond unkindly to criticism.
Three.
A sense of entitlement.
Since they see themselves
as the most important person in their lives,
they often expect others to see them the same way.
This sense of entitlement
may cause them to have unreasonable expectations
to be treated better than other people.
They may also expect others to bend to their will
and comply to their wishes,
even if their wishes cross an interpersonal line
and ignore healthy boundaries.
Number four.
Superficial relationships.
A person with NPD typically surrounds themselves
with members of high society.
The people they quote may have high social status,
belong to important organizations or be upper class.
They often find those people beneficial
for their own personal or professional gain.
When times get tough,
these relationships may sometimes become strain
because they're often disingenuous.
Number five.
Takes advantage of others to achieve their goals.
Disingenuous relationships lead to unfortunate outcomes.
Someone with NPD may be more willing
to take advantage of other people
for their own personal benefit,
including people they know and love.
They may also have a hard time discerning
what makes their behaviors unacceptable
and harmful to others and themselves.
Number six.
A lack of empathy.
In interpersonal and romantic relationships,
especially someone with NPD
may have a hard time recognizing someone else's needs,
even unintentionally
because their natural instinct
is to prioritize their needs above others.
Number seven.
Resistant to change.
Processing big changes can be difficult
for someone with NPD,
especially when they're asked to compromise their beliefs
or actions for the betterment of others.
Rather than come to an agreement
or hold themselves accountable,
someone with NPD may be avoidant
or blame others for what's happening instead.
Eight.
Hyper-focused on fantasies.
It's lonely at the top,
especially for someone with NPD
who's hyper-focused on themselves.
They may be fixated on their career,
their social status, their financial wellbeing,
or their physical looks.
And while these are all good things to work towards,
fantasies of one's greatness could become detrimental
to their physical and emotional health.
The causes of NPD are complex
and can even include genetics and environmental factors,
like a parent giving their child excessive adoration
or criticism, or not tending to their child's needs.
At the end of the day,
the mask of self importance hides loneliness,
lack of confidence, and lack of worth.
Because of all of these traits,
NPD is associated with a greater risk for depression,
suicide, and suicidal ideation.
If you are exhibiting signs or symptoms of NPD
or if you're feeling a little lost,
talk to your healthcare provider.