Struggling with Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
Women and men usually exhibit different symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder
Symptoms of a narcissistic female personality include deep insecurity, martyrdom, competitiveness, and jealousy. These emotions frequently manifest in behavior that looks like extreme arrogance and an inflated self-image. This display to the world is a mask to avoid facing a deep lack of self-confidence.
Males who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder are more likely to show aggressiveness, superiority, and self-absorption.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms
A narcissistic personality disorder is a condition that results in an inflated sense of self, unfulfilled desires, and troubled relationships.
The person with this condition will often be intolerant of others and will exploit their position and abilities to achieve their own ends.
In addition to their excessive need for praise and attention, these people also tend to exaggerate their accomplishments. They may even act entitled to special treatment and benefits from others.
Although there is no definitive cause of narcissistic personality disorder, certain factors have been found to be associated with the disorder. For instance, certain parenting styles can affect biologically vulnerable children. Neurobiology and genetics may also play a role. However, there are some warning signs that may indicate a narcissistic personality disorder.
As with all personality disorders, negative behavior is learned as a coping mechanism. It is important for people close to the narcissist to understand the condition and protect themselves from becoming a victim of the narcissistic behavior.
Diagnosis
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is often missed at the primary care level, as it can be difficult to diagnose. People with NPD may present with many symptoms, including elevated expectations, excessive standards, and feelings of victimhood. Their faults and deficiencies are often the focus of their criticism. As such, identifying the symptoms of NPD early can help avoid misdiagnosis and treatment failure.
A person with NPD often lacks empathy or compassion. They may act cruelly to get their way, even though the behavior is often harmful. It’s also common to notice that a person with NPD has a grandiose sense of self and has fantasies about infinite success, power, or brilliance. They may believe that others are envious of them and view other people as competition.
Treatment
The symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder vary according to the type of narcissist. Patients who suffer from this condition tend to exhibit arrogant behavior and heightened moods, as well as an unrealistic sense of self-importance. Patients with a narcissistic personality disorder may also exhibit signs of hypomania or depression. In either case, they often display an attitude of superiority in their interactions with others.
While the clinical utility of MBT (mentalization-based treatment) to help narcissistic patients is not proven, this treatment has shown some advantages.
MBT involves a non-authoritative approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes compassionate validation, clear goals, and active questioning. It also allows therapists to dynamically engage patients in therapy by actively addressing their core problem areas and continuously guiding the relationship toward change.
Many sufferers of narcissistic personality disorder seek therapy to help them deal with the psychological and emotional effects of the disorder. They may seek treatment for a variety of reasons, including family pressure, depression, or relationship issues. While there is no known cause of narcissistic personality disorder, genetic, and environmental factors are believed to play a role.
Neuroimaging studies have found that patients with this disorder have less gray matter in the left insula, a brain region that engages in emotional regulation, empathy, and cognitive functioning.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is categorized as a Cluster B type personality disorder. Other cluster B diagnoses include antisocial, histrionic, and BPD, borderline personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorders are defined by emotion and behavior issues.
