Mental health tips: what is narcissistic personality disorder?

A personality disorder is the reoccurrence of certain conduct by individuals having such disorder. The conduct is usually very atypical for the culture the individual lives in, is ongoing, unchanging, begins either in teenage years or early adulthood and affects relationships and almost every aspect of the individuals life. Personality disorders are not induced by illness nor are they caused by trauma to the head or the use of alcohol or drugs. There are approximately twelve personality disorder diagnoses. The following is a discussion of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Individuals having Narcissistic Personality Disorder are very seeking of the admiration of those around them and spend a great amount of time attempting to earn such admiration. If the individual with this disorder feels a lack of admiration from key people they are seeking it from, it causes a great deal of strife for the individual. Individuals with this disorder tend to think that they are more important than others in their environment and that the things they contribute to their environment are far superior to that of all others.

The person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder is generally of the opinion that he/she should only be closely associated with high profile or special individuals or institutions as he/she often feels that these are the only ones whom he/she can be understood by, because of how unique he/she (the individual with NFD) perceives themselves to be. Pervasive thoughts of unending success, superior intelligence, unfading beauty, supreme authority (being “above the law) and perfect love tend to be symptomatic of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Persons with this disorder tend to believe that others owe it to them to meet their demands in a timely fashion, even if the demand is an inappropriate expectation or is made of an inappropriate individual. Another symptom of Narcissistic Personality Disorder conduct is the tendency to see and use other people as mere tools for the meeting of the individual with the disorders’ needs. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder normally are viewed as very insensitive to the needs of anyone but themselves. They also tend to be jealous of others or think that others are jealous of them.

The effect on the person life’s that has Narcissistic Personality Disorder can be merely a mild impairment. This person would have egotistical actions that cause some trivial problems on occasion but are still able to function without major imposition on his/her life. People with moderate impairments from Narcissistic Personality Disorder have egotistical behaviors to the extent that there are deviations from what one might consider as appropriate functioning for a person of the same age, sex, culture and etc., who does not have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Such things include but are not limited to intermittent absences from work, school and/or other daily activities and considerable difficulties with performing things that are expected of the individual, such as academic, vocational or domestic responsibilities. The individual might also isolate themselves from friends and could even become of a danger to themselves or others. An individual with a severe impairment from this disorder is subject to total isolation from others and neglect of all responsibility. He/she also is at a prominent risk of suicide and crimes against other persons.

The treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves hospitalization when needed to treat specific symptoms. It can also be treated with psychotherapy in a group or on an individual basis.