Pathological narcissism is a reaction to prolonged abuse and trauma in early childhood or early adolescence. The source of the abuse or trauma is immaterial - the perpetrators could be parents,, teachers, other adults, or peers. Pampering, smothering, spoiling, and "engulfing" the parents child are also forms of abuse. There may be a genetic component in the make-up of the narcissist which predispose him to his pathology. Can aging narcissists hope for returning to a normal life with some kind of therapy, counseling, or just social support? (tell briefly about what works for making narcissists get to normal thinking and behavior)
How can a narcissist return to a “normal” when w hen – – by by the very definition of his disorder – disorder – he he has never had a normal life and is utterly incapable of one? Narcissists are mentally-ill. Pathological narcissism cannot be ”healed", or "cured". Onl y certain certain attendant mental health problems - such as depression or obsessive-compulsive or obsessive-compulsive disorder - can be ameliorated or controlled with medication medication.. Additionally, particularly abrasive, grating, or antisocial or antisocial behaviours can be modified using talk therapy (cognitive-behavioral being the most successful). What are the major signs obvious to the family or loved ones of an aging narcissist that help them identify his/her emotional crisis so as to seek therapeutic therapeutic help?
Narcissists rarely seek therapeutic seek therapeutic help and they definitely do not listen to advice of any kind. The narcissist constantly consumes (really, preys upon) adoration, admiration, approval, applause, attention and other forms of Narcissistic Narcissistic Supply. Supply. When lacking or deficient, deficient, a Narcissistic Deficiency Dysphoria sets in. The narcissist then appears to be depressed, his movements slow down, his sleep patterns are disordered (he either sleeps too much or becomes insomniac), his eating patterns change (he gorges on food or is avoids it altogether). He is constantly dysphoric (sad) and anhedonic (finds no pleasure in anything, including his former pursuits, hobbies, and interests). He is subjected to violent mood swings (mainly rage attacks) and all his (visible and painful) efforts at self-control fail. He may compulsively and ritually resort to an alternative addiction addiction – – alcohol, alcohol, drugs, reckless driving, shopaholism. How do you think an aging narcissist need to be treated at home and in workplace to ensure his emotional wellbeing?
Avoid all contact with the narcissist in your life. All other advice is spurious and erroneous. Narcissists cannot be “fixed” and, if you do not keep absolute distance, will ruin your life thoroughly. To believe that one can affect the narcissist’s wellbeing is malignant optimism, optimism, a manifestation of the rescue fantasies that are so common among co-dependents co-dependents.. Finally Sam, what are some of the healthy things or activities that an average narcissist should engage in for living positively?
Narcissists, Inverted Narcissists Narcissists and Schizoids
Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Disorder and Schizoid Personality Disorder share Disorder share the same aetiology aetiology,, psychodynamics, traits (such as grandiosity grandiosity)) and behavior patterns. Question:
Some narcissists are not gregarious. They avoid social events and are stay-at-home recluses. Doesn't this behaviour go against the grain of narcissism? Answer: I . Th e Common Common Psychological Psychological Constr Constr ucts of of Nar cissistic cissistic and Schizoid Schizoid Di sorder order s
Click here Click here to read the definition of the Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) in the DSM-IVTR [2000]. Click here to read a description of the Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) and some treatment notes. notes. Or, as the Howard H. Goldman (Ed.) in the "Review of General Ps ychiatry" [4th Edition. London, Prentice Hall International, 1995] puts it: " Th e per per son with Schizoid chizoid Per Per sonali ty Di sorder order sustain sustain s a fr agile emotional emotional equi equi l ibr i um by avo avoii ding i nti mate personal personal contact contact and ther ther eby mini mi sin g conf conf li ct that is poorl poorl y tolerated."
Schizoids are often described, even by their nearest and dearest, in terms of automata ("robots"). They are uninterested in social relationships rela tionships or interactions and have a very limited emotional repertoire. It is not that t hat they do not have emotions, but they express them poorly and intermittently. They appear appear cold and stunted, flat, and "zombie"-like. Consequently, these people are loners. They confide only in first-degree relatives, but maintain no close bonds or associations, not even with their immediate family. Naturally, they gravitate into solitary activities and find solace and safety in being constantly alone. Their sexual experiences are sporadic and limited and, finally, they cease altogether. Schizoids are anhedonic - find nothing pleasurable and attractive - but not necessarily dysphoric (sad or depressed). Some schizoid are asexual and resemble the cerebral narcissist. narcissist. They pretend to be indifferent to praise, criticis m, disagreement, and corrective advice (though, deep inside, they are not). They are creatures of habit, frequently succumbing to rigid, predictable, and narrowly restricted routines. Intuitively, a connection between SPD and the Narcissistic the Narcissistic Personality Personalit y Disorder (NPD) seems plausible. After all, narcissists are people who self-sufficientl y withdraw from others. They love themselves in lieu of loving others. Lacking empathy empathy,, they regard others as mere instruments, objectified "Sources" of Narcissistic Narcissistic Supply. Supply.
