IT’S ALL ABOUT ME – Narcissistic Personality Disorder

 

Are you in a frustrating relationship with someone who has a constant need for your admiration but refuses to consider your needs?

Does your significant other seem to continually put you and others down in order to maintain a sense of superiority?

    If so, you are not alone!

    With the right tools and support, you can learn how to establish healthy boundaries, protect yourself from power plays and find personal fulfillment.

      I developed my Healthy Life Coaching Program to teach family members how to do the following:

      • Identify narcissistic behaviors  
      • Build healthy boundaries
      • Find empowerment and freedom despite narcissistic behaviors
      • Practice healthy relationship habits

      Ready for change?

      Contact Dr. Stanger today.

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      Tired of dealing with narcissist? I understand. It’s exhausting.

      Here are some resources to help.

      Dr. Stanger was instrumental in helping members of our family transition through an extremely difficult time in our lives. We moved from an extremely fractious situation to one of health and vibrancy. She is a remarkable professional with great skills and personal insight.

      Ilene S

      Pittsburg

      What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

      Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition in which a person has an inflated sense of their own importance. He or she has a strong desire for excessive attention and admiration from others. He or she often has troubled relationships and a lack of empathy for others.  A narcissistic personality disorder creates many problems in different areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs.

      But behind the mask of confidence is a fragile ego, highly vulnerable to even the slightest criticism. Those with narcissistic personality disorder are most often unhappy and disappointed if they don’t receive the special favors or flattering attention they feel they deserve. Their relationships become unfulfilling and other people may not enjoy being around them.

      What Is a Narcissistic Person?

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      Families often call me tearful and angry as their loved who is experiencing a substance abuse or mental health disorder is acting extremely entitled, grandiose and unable to think of anyone but themselves and is not capable of engaging in meaningful relationships. With that in mind, lets talk narcissism.

      So, what is a narcissistic personality disorder? It’s often defined as a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

      Narcissistic Behavior

      This type of personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. Individuals who experience narcissistic personality disorder may feel generally unhappy and disappointed when they are not given the special favors or admiration they believe they deserve. Others may not enjoy being around people with this type of personality disorder.

      Oftentimes, family and friends feel like they are walking on eggshells as one does with borderline personality disorder. They may feel disregarded and unheard as the narcissist only has eyes for themselves.

      To further understand narcissistic personality disorder, the following (according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual) are characteristics that may strike a chord with you or a loved one you know:

      • Demonstrate an exaggerated sense of self importance – “It’s all about me” or “I am the best”
      • Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations – “You must do this NOW”
      • Take advantage of others to get what you want – “Do what I say or else”
      • Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others (i.e. lack of empathy)
      • Feel envious of others and believe others envy you
      • Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner
      • Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it – “I deserve this”
      • Exaggerate your achievements and talents – “ I am a super power”
      • Dwell on fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate

       

      Test For Narcissistic Behavior

      Learn to spot the narcissists in your life. Not sure if you or someone you love has narcissistic personality disorder?  Here are two tests that can help.

       

      There are two main tests you can take to see if you have a personality disorder.

      1. The first has been the gold standard in the industry and was developed in 1998 by Raskin, R.; Terry, H. (1988). “A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity”. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 54(5), 890-902.

      Take the test now: http://personality-testing.info/tests/NPI/

      1. The second test is developed by Dr., Craig Maikin, Harvard Professor and author of Rethinking Narissim personality inventory. What Dr Milkin, from Harvard Medical School found, after testing adults from all over the world and using various other measures of health and pathology, were three distinct pattern of behavior, all related to narcissism (or the lack of it):
      1. Echoism, in which people never or rarely feel special, focus on others too much, at the expense of their own needs, and might even feel depressed or anxious.
      2. Healthy Narcissism, in which people are empathic, ambitious, confident, and capable of giving and receiving help.
      3. Extreme Narcissism, in which people are manipulative, argumentative, approval- seeking, and suffer from fluctuating self-esteem.

      He also agued that people live in a continuum and he developed what is called Narcissism Spectrum Scale.

      Take Dr. Craig Mailins Narcissim test and find out where you fall. You will receive research backed tips and feedback afterword’s.

      http://www.drcraigmalkin.com/the-narcissism-test

      Here’s what families and clients have to say about working with Dr. Stanger:

      Dr. Stanger is an extraordinarily passionate advocate for her clients. Her determination, commitment, and expertise are what power her ability to motivate hope and positivity in moments of immense challenge. A true force for good in a complicated world.

      Jack R.

      With her compassionate and empathetic nature, Louise helped us get through one of the most difficult times our family has ever experienced. 

      L. Shields

      Louise Stanger has an innate ability to encourage and empower the women she works with. With kindness and integrity she guides you along the process of life changes. 

      Sandra F.

       

      Married To or Living With a Narcissist

      divorcing narcissist

      Think you’re living with a narcissist?

      Narcissistic relationships tend to be very challenging. Narcissistic partners usually have difficulty really loving someone else, because they don’t truly love themselves.  They are so focused on themselves that they cannot really “see” their partner as a separate person. They tend to only see the partner in terms of how they fill their needs (or fail to fill their needs). Their mates and children are only valued in terms of their ability to meet these needs.

      If you find yourself in a narcissistic relationship, you can learn find tools and resources that enable you to:

      • Identify narcissistic behaviors  – Narcissists have “BIG” personalities, but lack empathy. They are often controlling and lash out when attacked.
      • Build healthy boundaries – When unable to detach completely, you can learn to disengage. You can then start to challenge yourself to change your half of the dynamic.
      • Find empowerment and freedom despite narcissistic behaviors –  You can also develop your own self-confidence and self-worth by learning to practice self-compassion. 
      • Practice healthy relationship habits – You can learn to act equal in all encounters, and treat your partner as an equal as well.

       

      Understanding your role in the narcissistic relationship is important. You can then start to challenge yourself to change your half of the dynamic. This will, in turn, challenge your partner to change their style of relating. You can recognize the fragility of your partner’s self-esteem and have compassion for the fact that his or her inflated sense of self, superiority and grandiosity is a cover up for the flip side of self-hate and feelings of inadequacy.  You can also develop your own self-confidence and self-worth by learning to practice self-compassion. Don’t be a victim. In all encounters, act equal, and treat your partner as an equal.

      Cultural Influences on Narcissism

      San Diego State Professor, Jean M Twenge argues that we are creating a culture which promotes Narcissism and that are creating a society which undulates before our eyes creating little children that walk around in princess t shirts and celebrities that project an all about Kardiasim me and social media which promotes self aggrandizement.

      When you are in a narcissistic relationship, you may feel very lonely. You might feel like you are just an accessory and your needs and wants are unimportant.  Narcissistic partners act as if they are always right, that they know better and that their partner is wrong or incompetent. This often leaves the other person in the relationship either angry and trying to defend themselves or identifying with this negative self-image and feeling badly about themselves.

      Articles About Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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      Additional Resources

      For additional resources on the topic, be sure to check out these books:

      Rokelle Lerner- The Object of My Affection Is In My Reflection, 2009 Health Communications Inc (available on Amazon)

      Wendy Terry Behary LCSW, Disarming The Narcissist (second Edition ) New Harbinger Publications , Inc 2013

      Sandy Hotchkiss LCSW Why Is It Always About You ? The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissisn 2002

      Elizabeth R Berown, Living Successfully With Screwed Up People ,2010 Revel a divison of the Baker Group . Michigan

      Jean Twenge and Keith W Campell – The Narcissim Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement 2009 Free Press a Division of Simon and Schuster

      Paul Mason and Randi Kruger-Stop Walking On Eggshells , 2010 New Harbinger Press

      Dr. Craig Malkin, Rethinking Narcissism , 2015 Harper Wave

      Kim Saeed How To do No Contact Like A Boss!2015 Smashwords

      Drew Keys Narcissists Exposed –75 Things Narcissists Don’t Want You To Know 2012 Lighthouse

      Elizabeth Brown, Living Successfully with Screwed –Up People,1999 Revell Publishing

      Kerry Patterson, Crucial Conversation Tools for Talking When Stakes are High ,2012 MCGRAW HILL