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.
