Narcissistic personality disorder is a type of personality disorder that creates many problems for both the person with narcissism and other people on the receiving end of narcissistic behavior. In a nutshell, narcissism is a mental condition where a person believes they are better than everyone else and can’t handle criticism in the least.
Narcissists may appear very confident of themselves and act superior, but their self-esteem is vulnerable to anything that indicates they’re not as important as they believe. Once their mask of confidence slips off, they might get demanding, manipulative, and angry.
As mentioned, this type of behavior can ruin many facets of life. In most instances, the narcissist will feel unhappy and disappointed because they’re not getting the special treatment that matches their inflated sense of self. That means the narcissist will have strained relationships wherever they go, be it at home, work, or school.
The trouble with narcissism is that it can also be harmful to the people who have to deal with narcissism. For instance, a narcissistic person has no qualms about hurting, manipulating, or disrespecting anyone who threatens their grandiose but fantastical self-image. So, you end up with the narcissist feeling unhappy and also spreading unhappiness to those around them.
Fortunately, if you are seeking any type of treatment related to narcissism, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA can help.
Identifying and Understanding Narcissism
If you want to better understand narcissism, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA says to look for the following traits:
Grandiose Sense of Self
The most telling sign of a person with narcissistic personality disorder is their exaggerated sense of importance. The person thinks highly of themselves and their abilities, even if there’s no evidence to support this belief. We all need a healthy dose of self-esteem to feel good about ourselves, but although narcissism might seem like self-confidence, it’s a sign of low self-esteem.
Obsession With Visions of Grandeur
Because they think of themselves so highly and believe they are gifted, narcissists often entertain fantasies that don’t match reality. For instance, they might see themselves scaling greater heights of success with their achievements.
In these fantasies, the person might also see themselves as possessing great beauty, power, brilliance, and receiving love. However, their relationships and experiences will not reflect this on the ground.
Craving Excessive Admiration
When a person has a grandiose sense of self and believes their fantasies of grandeur, they require others to play along. This may not always make sense to onlookers who have no idea how narcissism works, but they’re expected to shower the narcissist with excessive admiration and praise. Idolizing a person with narcissism is the best way to get along with them.
Sense of Entitlement
Narcissism often manifests when a person acts like they are entitled, which can upset their relationships with many people. That’s because when a person feels entitled to something, they are often not willing to observe boundaries. They will break the rules, be disrespectful and unappreciative because they honestly believe they have a right to do so.
Feelings of Disappointment and Emptiness
Not everyone is willing to bend backward to please a narcissist or humor their inflated sense of self. Sometimes, a narcissist will feel as if they are not getting the respect, admiration, and attention they deserve. This results in feelings of disappointment, unhappiness, emptiness, resentment, and boredom.
No empathy
It’s normal for narcissists to fail to empathize with others. This is probably because they’re so focused on themselves, they find it hard to relate to the struggles and pain of others. Therefore, a narcissist is bound to act insensitively and behave as if only their problems matter, alienating others.
Manipulative and Exploitive Behavior
Narcissism makes it very difficult to develop meaningful relationships with others because one will always put themselves and their needs first. Since they have no empathy and feel like they deserve special treatment, a narcissist will regularly take advantage of people. They will exploit and manipulate others to achieve their own ends.
Arrogance and a Superiority Complex
A narcissist can behave nicely to others who they believe are on the same level as them. However, their arrogance shows through when they interact with inferior people. In such instances, the narcissists will act snobbish, condescending, and rude.
Envy or Belief that Others Are Envious
Narcissists are obsessed with achieving unlimited success, so they’re always envious of successful people. If they have attained some success, they believe that those who are inferior to them envy them for their achievements.
When Narcissism Goes Untreated
The trouble with narcissism always stems from the absence of treatment. If this serious condition creates so many problems in life, there’s no reason why you should let narcissism control your life. You need a qualified mental health therapist like Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley, CA, to diagnose and treat the problem. Narcissism is a serious condition that’s associated with the following risk factors and complications:
● Relationship problems. From the narcissist’s perspective, they will experience many disappointments and damaged relationships. The people exposed to the narcissist will also struggle with their self-esteem since they are always criticized, blamed, and made to feel as if they’re not enough.
● Problems at work, school, and home. Relationships are a pervasive part of life and how we relate with others is important for developing a healthy sense of self. The relationship problems associated with narcissism will follow you in your personal, work, and even financial life.
● Depression. Narcissism can make one prone to depression . That’s because most of the personality traits of narcissism mentioned above make it very to get along with others. In addition, failure to handle criticism well indicates an inability to process emotions in a healthy manner.
● Suicide. Sometimes a narcissist will threaten suicide to manipulate others and get their way. However, research has shown that narcissism has the highest risk of suicide death than other personality disorders.
● Substance abuse. Narcissism also makes one vulnerable to substance abuse, especially if they’re in denial about their condition. A narcissist may use drugs or alcohol to replace their emptiness when they don’t get the admiration or special treatment they crave.
● Health problems. Maintaining grandiosity takes a lot of hard work, and every time a narcissist gets criticized, the negative response is acute. This places narcissists in constantly stressful situations that puts them at higher risk of high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.
Even though the cause of narcissism is not well known, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA, can still help you treat the condition. You might not have been able to prevent the problem in the first place, and perhaps the underlying causes stem from childhood trauma, early relationships, genetics, or something else. No matter. Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA encourages you to get treatment as soon as possible. This will help you avoid and reduce the problems caused by narcissism in your life and others’ lives.
If You’re Dealing With Narcissism, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA, Is Here to Help
Narcissism can make it very difficult to get along with others. But, regardless of how serious this condition is, it’s important to know that treatment is available. You might not know how to handle the feelings of unhappiness caused by narcissism, which stops you from living your life to the fullest. Trying to keep going can cause more problems and unhappiness. You might end up doing irreparable damage to your relationships. It’s never too late to seek the help you need!
There is hope at the end of the tunnel and a better life and happier relationships with the guidance of a professional and experienced therapist. That means you don’t have to deal with this problem alone or hide from others. Running away from the problem will only increase the risk of you hurting yourself or others. If you need a therapist that understands narcissism, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA is open and willing to work with you on your diagnosis and treatment.
If you have suffered at the hands of narcissism, Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA, also invites you to get in touch today. I’m a local, experienced professional therapist that can help you turn your life around if narcissism has caused trouble in your life.
When you come to my practice, I understand that your situation is unique, which is why I always take the time to develop a customized treatment plan that suits your needs. This treatment plan will incorporate effective and practical counseling strategies that will help you attain greater insight into the problem. Only once you understand the problem you’re facing will you be able to take the necessary steps to heal and transform your life.
With Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA as your partner and professional therapist, you can find healing from past trauma, build better relationships, and develop a healthier lifestyle. If you have ever wondered, is there treatment for narcissism, and can my life get better, then I can tell you right off the bat the answer is yes, and you’re in the right place. Take the first step to freedom from narcissism by contacting Dr. Lynn Winsten, Berkeley CA, today.
