Crave For Attention and Admiration
A person with NPD would constantly need support and encouragement from the people around him/her. They are very choosy in maintaining relationships and move with people who cater to their needs of constant admiration. A husband with Narcissistic personality seeks attention and appreciation from his spouse repeatedly and never would try to understand her talents. Their ego demands constant admiration and they don’t care for anybody’s feelings. In case the spouse confronts/tries to point out his inability he would suspect that she is betraying him.
Outrage and Aggression
Narcissist person expect special kind of treatment and wants everyone dear and near to adhere to their wish. You will be ridiculed as useless if you ever try to refuse their wishes. And if you are expecting some favor or appreciation from them, you should be ready to face outrageous behavior from them. For this reason even the close relation faces challenge living with them.
Lack Of Empathy
NPD people do not care for other’s feelings since they live in their own world filled with fantasies and power. They will do anything to take advantage of others for fulfilling their needs. A narcissistic person would never think about his family and how is he affecting their lives. At any cost they want to satisfy their needs without bothering what impact it would have on others.
A person is said to have NPD if he/she has some of the above mentioned characters at least for a year or more. Often narcissistic personality begins during early adolescence and becomes full-fledged when the person becomes an adult. For reasons unknown, men are more in number than women affected with NPD. The symptoms of NPD reduce in intensity with age and only very few symptoms are present when the person is of 50 years.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Tests
Any psychiatrist or psychologist can detect NPD based on the symptoms and behavior of the affected person. There are no concrete tests to assess the intensity of narcissism. People with NPD generally do not admit that they have some problem and seldom seek any treatment.
It is for the family and friends to detect that something is wrong with their personality and bring them to a trained psychologist. In many cases, even close relations would suspect some issue only when their relationship at workplace gets significantly damaged. Several sessions of psychotherapy is needed to treat a person with NPD.
What Factors Cause NPD?
- Exact cause of NPD is not clearly known. Since it deals with personality in the developmental stage, it is more complex and difficult to understand it in the initial stages.
- Genetics play a role in determining the shape of a person’s personality and you are likely to develop NPD if your parents have had such trait.
- Environmental factors can also cause NPD if a person grows in disturbed childhood atmosphere either with over criticism or excess of appreciation.
- Many professionals believe that a combination of factors like psychological, genetic, and biological factors can cause NPD.
- A neglected child or abused child can develop narcissistic personality later and similarly improper parenting style can trigger such behavior in children.
Consequence of NPD
- To begin with a person with narcissistic personality have significant problem in sustaining relationship both at home and workplace.
- The person can face serious problems in adjusting to school environment or at office.
- People with NPD are constantly complaining and never compromise.
- They may develop depression, anxiety and other psychological problems.
- It is easy for them to get addicted to alcohol and other substance.
Treatment
Psychotherapy is the only available method of treating narcissistic personality disorder. It might take long time for the affected person to accept his/her behavioral problem. Psychiatrists can prescribe some medications to manage anxiety and uncontrolled anger.
Stage 1: Acceptance
First stage is the most vulnerable one in the method of treating NPD. It is very difficult for the NPD person to accept that something is wrong. Since they live in a fantasy world and think superior of themselves it is hard to convince them even for the psychotherapist.
A person with NPD may feel insecure if someone disturbs his “self” importance. It may create a feeling of panic and quickly he may feel that his world is being shattered. For this reason the affected person may find fault about the psychotherapist and may develop disregard for him/her. The frightened person would try to dominate the doctor/therapist by his arrogance and mock at him and may even comment his/her inability to treat him.
An expert psychotherapist would first convey her feelings of respect and admit the person’s importance. Only then would the patient be able to connect with the therapist/doctor. Initial support should be given by the health care professional to the patient so that he feels comfortable and confident. This would help in easing out the pressure in the mind of the patient.