Narcissistic Personality Disorder & Homeopathic treatment
extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.
self-centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of mental disorder.
Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one's own attributes. The term originated from Greek mythology, where the young Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water. Narcissism is a concept in Psychoanalytic, which was popularly introduced in Sigmund Freud's essay On Narcissism (1914). The American Psychiatric Association has listed the classification of narcissistic personality disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) since 1968, drawing on the historical concept of megalomania.
Narcissism is also considered a social or cultural problem. It is a factor in trait theory used in the various self-report inventory of personality such as the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. It is one of the three dark triadic personality traits (the others being psychopathy and Machiavellianism ). Except in the sense of primary narcissism or healthy self-love, narcissism is usually considered a problem in a person's or group's relationships with self and others. Narcissism is not the same as egocentrism.
The term "narcissism" comes from the Greek myth about Narcissus( Greek: Narkissos), a handsome Greek youth who, according to Ovid, rejected the desperate advances of the nymph Echo. This caused Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his love, Narcissus "lay gazing enraptured into the pool, hour after hour," and finally changed into a flower that bears his name, the narcissus.
signs:
· An obvious self-focus in interpersonal exchanges
· Problems in sustaining satisfying relationships
· A lack of psychological awareness (see insight in psychology and psychiatry, egosyntonic)
· Difficulty with empathy.
· Problems distinguishing the self from others (see personal boundaries)
· Hypersensitivity to any insults or imagined insults(see criticism and narcissists, narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury.)
· Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt.
· Haughty body language.
· Flattery towards people who admire and affirm them ( narcissistic supply )
· Detesting those who do not admire them narcissistic abuse)fa
· Using other people without considering the cost of doing so
· Pretending to be more important than they actually are
· Bragging (subtly but persistently) and exaggerating their achievements.
· Claiming to be an "expert" at many things
· Inability to view the world from the perspective of other people
· Denial of remorse and gratitude.
Seven deadly sins of narcissism:
1. Shamelessness: Shame is the feeling that lurks beneath all unhealthy narcissism, and the inability to process shame in healthy ways.
2. Magical thinking: Narcissists see themselves as perfect, using distortion and illusion known as magical thinking. They also use projection to "dump" shame onto others.
3. Arrogance: A narcissist who is feeling deflated may "reinflate" their sense of self-importance by diminishing, debasing, or degrading somebody else.
4. Envy: A narcissist may secure a sense of superiority in the face of another person's ability by using contempt to minimize the other person or their achievements.
5. Entitlement: Narcissists hold unreasonable expectations of particularly favorable treatment and automatic compliance because they consider themselves special. Failure to comply is considered an attack on their superiority, and the perpetrator is considered an "awkward" or "difficult" person. Defiance of their will is a narcissistic injury that can trigger narcissistic rage.
6. Exploitation: Can take many forms but always involves the exploitation of others without regard for their feelings or interests. Often the other person is in a subservient position where resistance would be difficult or even impossible. Sometimes the subservience is not so much real as assumed.
7. Bad boundaries: Narcissists do not recognize that they have boundaries and that others are separate and are not extensions of themselves. Others either exist to meet their needs or may as well not exist at all. Those who provide narcissistic supply to the narcissist are treated as if they are part of the narcissist and are expected to live up to those expectations. In the mind of a narcissist, there is no boundary between self and other.
Types:
A big part of owning this personal power of yours is learning how to identify different types of narcissists. The more conscious you are of them, the more consciously you’ll be able to behave and make decisions in their presence.
Main Types
Interestingly there are actually two main types of narcissists:
Vulnerable Narcissists (VN’s):
These people are generally very sensitive and tend to be quiet or shy by nature. Yet to disguise their chronic feelings of self-hatred and unworthiness, VN’s overcompensate by putting on a grandiose mask, seeking to merge their identities with other idealized people. VN’s have an unshakeable need to feel special about themselves and have little genuine regard for the feelings of others. VN’s are primarily motivated by fear of rejection and abandonment, thus don’t have the capacity to authentically love and care for others. Additionally, VN’s use of emotional manipulation (such as shaming, guilt-tripping and gaslighting) to secure sympathy and attention from others. Their lives are fuelled by inferiority complexes which often stem from childhood mistreatment.
Invulnerable Narcissists (IN’s):
These people reflect the traditional image of the narcissist: that of a highly self-confident person, cold and unempathetic person. IN’s, unlike VN’s, are thick-skinned and shamelessly seek for power, glory, recognition, and pleasure. IN’s often suffer from god complexes, believing themselves to be far superior to everyone else – and they have a pathological need to make that known.
Both types share similar traits such as using others to fuel their narcissistic delusions, blaming and criticizing, lack of empathy, unfaithfulness and the need for power.
Subtypes:
Both Vulnerable and Invulnerable Narcissistic personality types can be split down into the following (unofficial) subtypes. Be aware that many of these subtypes can overlap with each other:
The Amorous Narcissist
Amorous Narcissists measure their self-worth and grandiosity by how many sexual conquests they have under their belt. This type of person is known for using his/her charm to ensnare others with flattery and gifts, but then quickly disposing of them once they become “boring” and when they have met the narcissist's needs (often sexual or image/status orientated). Amorous Narcissists are the ultimate relationship con artists, “gold diggers” and heart-breakers. At first glance, they appear highly attractive, alluring and amiable, but underneath they are only out to please and satiate their own needs and desires.
The Compensatory Narcissist
Driven to compensate for past traumas, Compensatory Narcissists love creating larger-than-life illusions of themselves and their achievements. In order to regain power and control over their lives, this type of narcissist usually hunts out emotionally vulnerable people who will serve as the audience for their fabricated stage acts. In reality, this type of narcissist is extremely sensitive to criticism and will frequently look out for negative self-directed cues from others. Emotional abuse and manipulation is a common method of control used by this type.
The Elitist Narcissist
This breed of person does anything to climb to the “top,” win and completely dominate others. Elitist narcissists are convinced that they are better than everyone else often due to their achievements or backgrounds (or simply the fact that they were born that way) and thus deserve special treatment. Their sense of entitlement bleeds into every area of life, from work to the family environment. Harboring a severely inflated self-image, Elitist narcissists are skilled self-promoters, braggers, and one-uppers. They have a cut-throat need to be the “best” and prove themselves to be intellectually superior all the time and at all costs.
The Malignant Narcissist
The behavior of malignant narcissists often overlaps with that of psychopaths and those with an antisocial personality disorder. Malignant narcissists often have no regard or interest in moral vs. immoral behavior and don’t feel remorse for their actions. This subgroup is characterized by an arrogant and inflated sense of self-worth that delights in “outsmarting” others. This type of narcissist can often be found in prisons, gangs, and drug rehabilitation centers, although many manage to run afoul of the law.
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder affects an estimated 1% of the general population. Although most individuals have some narcissistic traits, high levels of narcissism can manifest themselves in a pathological form as a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), whereby the individual overestimates his or her abilities and has an excessive need for admiration and affirmation. NPD was revised in the DSM-5. The general move towards a dimensional (personality trait-based) view of the Personality Disorders has been maintained. Some narcissists may have a limited or minimal capability to experience emotions
In relation to the pathological condition
Healthy narcissism has to do with a strong feeling of "own love" protecting the human being against illness. Eventually, however, the individual must love the other, "the object love to not become ill". The individual becomes ill as a result of the frustration created when he is unable to love the object. In pathological narcissism such as the narcissistic personality disorder, the person's libido has been withdrawn from objects in the world and produces megalomania. The clinical theorists Kernberg, Kohut and Theodore Millon all saw pathological narcissism as a possible outcome in response to un-empathic and inconsistent early childhood interactions. They suggested that narcissists try to compensate in adult relationships. The pathological condition of narcissism is, as Freud suggested, a magnified, extreme manifestation of healthy narcissism.
extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type. Self- centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of mental disorder.
extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type. Self- centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of mental disorder.
The narcissistic personality disorder is found more commonly in men. The cause is unknown but likely involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism and a sense of entitlement.
The disorder needs to be diagnosed by a professional. Treatment involves talk therapy.
Supportive care
Regular follow-up to evaluate for improvement.
Therapies
A forum for counseling and sharing experiences among people with a similar condition or goal, such as depression or weight loss.
A branch of psychology that treats personal problems related to school, work, family and social life.
Psychological counseling that helps families resolve conflicts and communicate more effectively.
Talk therapy where the therapist works with clients in a group instead of one-on-one.
Specialists
Treats mental disorders primarily with talk therapy.
Uses psychotherapy to treat mental disorders.
Homeopathic remedies for Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
Arum Metallicum:
This is an excellent remedy for Narcissism. These patients are melodramatic, oversensitive, feel hopeless with a great desire to commit suicide. They are highly enterprising and feel that they are more efficient than others, they work hard to secure a high position in society. Their ailments are from grief, humiliation or self-blame. They feel abandoned and worthless, get grumpy and emotional at slightest dispute. Their appetite and thirst are increased with nausea. Young girls complain of having foul breath at puberty. They are sleepless with frightful dreams.
Lycopodium:
This remedy is recommended for patients who have a strong love for power. They are dictatorial towards those who can be controlled and timid towards those who are superior. They lack confidence and feel incompetent. They fear responsibility and present themselves as contradictory to their true self by hiding their feelings of incapability. They brag, are egotistic, impolite and dictatorial. Their relationships are superficial, they fear marriage but women can be wild and promiscuous. They dislike cold drinks and desire sweets.
Palladium Metallicum:
This is another significant remedy for patients affected by wounded pride and fancied neglect. These patients love admiration, are pompous and treat people with contempt. They get easily offended. They are delusional of being criticized, mistreated and not appreciated. They stay vibrant when in the company but otherwise are exhausted.
Platina:
This is a brilliant remedy for snobbish and highly intelligent people. They fantasize about belonging to a high status or royal family and disapprove of their friends and relatives of low status. They look down upon everyone, even their own children. In fact, they bear thoughts of killing their children or spouse. They perceive themselves as superior, smarter, and more spiritual than others. Any disturbance in their pride will induce symptoms. These patients feel numb and cold with a violent cramping pain in the sexual organs. They have a ravenous appetite for food and sex.
Stramonium:
This remedy is indicated for persons who are unusually self-interested, love and think of themselves only. They have trouble engaging in and maintaining an emotional relationship. They have the power and influence of a baby, who can fascinate the people around them. Their ailments are from suppressed anger and low self-image. They are jealous and threaten to kill.
Self - care measures for Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
• Learn relaxation and stress management.
• Stay motivated and focused on your goal.
• Avoid conflict with others.
Nice post Dr
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