All about Narcissistic Personality Disorder

It is common to meet people with low self esteem and low self confidence. However, there are people with traits completely opposite to these but are just as worse. Such people suffer from a disorder called Narcisstic personality disorder. Imagine you’re colleague is a person who doesn’t admit that they are wrong in any situation. They remain adamant and do not compromise at any aspect. Such people may suffer from NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). Such people are unable to see their behaviour as problematic and struggle with identifying their wrongdoings.

Certain characteristics of people with NPD include grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, sense of entitlement, exploitative Behavior, difficulty dealing with criticism and rejection and interpersonal difficulties.

Grandiosity refers to an exaggerated superiority complex and unhealthy belief of extreme self importance. This trait makes them believe that they are exceptional and unique beings and thus expect to be treated in the same way.

The need for admiration also is a primary characteristic of people with NPD. They need a constant boost of appraisal, approval and attention. This makes them engage in unhealthy social behaviours like peacocking, bragging and boasting among peers or at other social gatherings.

People suffering from NPD not only struggle with empathising with people as they are unable to recognise upsetting perspectives of other but they also refuse or avoid understanding others’ perspectives. This may lead to interpersonal difficulties.

People suffering from NPD possess a profound sense of entitlement which not only is unhealthy for their personal growth but also hinder in making meaningful social connections as such behaviour could come off as off-putting. People with NPD become frustrated when they do not receive special treatment or priveleges which defies their expectations.

One of the primary characteristic of people suffering from NPD is being selfish. People with NPD tend to take advantage of other people and situations in order to gain benefits for themselves. They tend to manipulate people in order to attain benefits and are inconsiderate of other people’s feelings.

Such people also have difficulty dealing with rejection and criticism. As mentioned before, they cannot admit their wrongdoings and thus similarly they become angry or defensive when facing rejection and criticsm as they believe their own superiority.

NPD and its characteristics diversely appear in different people and the characteristics are expressed through a varying range of behaviours. Psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy are treatments for this disorder. Those people suffering from it must seek help in order to lead better social life and have a positively growing personality.

-Urvi Patel