Are you concerned that you or someone you love is showing signs of having narcissistic personality disorder? Maybe you have seen personality changes in a family member or friend. Or you have struggled to maintain healthy relationships or have had negative experiences at work or at school recently. Before seeking treatment for a personality disorder, Westwind Recovery® can help you learn more about the signs of this mental health issue and what they mean.
What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
If someone has a narcissistic personality disorder, they struggle with an over-inflated sense of importance or opinion of themselves. This might commonly be referred to as having a big ego and may need help from mental health treatment programs. Someone with this personality disorder finds fault in their surroundings, but not in themselves. They need admiration and attention at all times, which can cause problems at work, at school, or at home.
It can be difficult to spend time around someone with a narcissistic personality disorder. They are often unhappy and seem to only care about themselves. While some people with low self-esteem can appear overconfident in order to make up for how they truly feel about themselves, someone with a narcissistic personality disorder has genuinely high self-esteem. They believe that they deserve special treatment and might be preoccupied with power and success.
6 Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
How can you tell if someone in your life has a narcissistic personality disorder? Often, the symptoms begin to appear in early adulthood. They will likely have trouble in relationships, as those who have narcissistic personality disorder tend to focus only on their needs rather than the needs of their loved ones. They can even take advantage of others in order to make themselves look good.
A person with a narcissistic personality disorder is likely to do the following:
- Require constant admiration and attention from others
- Exaggerate their achievements and talents
- Exclude people from their life who they don’t perceive as being equally special or successful
- Come across as conceited or arrogant
- React with anger if they don’t receive special treatment
- Have a difficult time accepting criticism or watching someone else receive attention
Narcissistic personality disorder can be difficult to live with, whether you or a loved one is struggling. However, a targeted mental health treatment program can help.
Treatment for Personality Disorders
While no medication can treat narcissistic personality disorder, for most people, some form of talk therapy can help. It’s important for those who struggle with personality disorders to find a therapist with experience in treating this specific condition. Environmental factors such as childhood trauma might have contributed to this mental health issue, and in therapy, patients and their counselors will work through these experiences.
During treatment, the patient will work to understand their feelings, how their behavior affects others, and how to deal with criticism and negative emotions in a healthy way. For those who also struggle with depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, therapy can help them learn to manage multiple issues at the same time. A mental health and substance abuse treatment center can be a good place to start when looking for treatment for a personality disorder.
Contact Westwind Recovery® Today
Westwind Recovery® offers treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues in treatment centers throughout Los Angeles. Through evidence-based therapies and alternative treatment methods, we help individuals heal from the inside out. If you or someone you love is struggling with a narcissistic personality disorder, reach out to our team today. In addition to offering therapy for personality disorders, the following treatment programs can assit:
- Drug and alcohol detox
- Inpatient rehab
- Outpatient rehab
- Sober living program
- Family therapy program
- Medication-assisted treatment program
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
Contact us at 855.340.8832 to learn more about how we can help you and your family heal from the effects of personality disorders.
Dr. Deena is the Chief Clinical Officer of Westwind Recovery®, an award-winning outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles where she oversees the clinical and administrative program and treatment methods. Dr. Deena is a doctor of psychology and licensed clinical social worker since 1993. LCSW #20628. Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area. Dr. Deena has appeared regularly on the Dr. Phil Show as an expert since 2003. She has also been featured on many other TV shows, podcasts and has contributed to written publications as well as podcasts.
