How to treat a Narcissistic personality disorder? - Doctor Explains

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)?
As the name suggests it is a personality disorder. As a mental illness it is characterized by exaggerated feelings of self-importance, craving for admiration and a lack of empathy. Where patients often spend much time daydreaming about themselves achieving power or success.
Other symptoms may be a fragile ego, a tendency to belittle other people and intolerance of criticism.

Narcissism is quite rare, as it affects between 0,5-1% of the general population and about 50-75% of patients are men.

It is still unclear how a NPD is caused, however it is believed to be caused by a combinations of factors: biological ones (like a genetic predisposition), psychological factors (like growing up in an unstable household or experiencing trauma) and social factors (like being born in the western world, where narcissism is more common).

Lastly NPD often occurs in conjunction with the following disorders: a depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and other personality disorders.

The effectiveness of treatments:
The effectiveness of psychotherapy and the usage of drugs in the treatment of NPD has yet to be intensively investigated. Current treatment recommendations are largely based on theoretical models and the experiences of psychiatrists and other clinicians.
Furthermore patients with NPD rarely seek mental health treatment primarily for their personality disorder. They usually seek relieve from other mental health disorders like a major depression or substance abuse. Only when treatment for these other conditions is started the NPD comes to light as an underlying problem.

Next up, psychiatric drugs usually are not indicated for treating NPD itself. However, they can be used to treat symptoms of other mental health disorders. As an example, a co-occurring depression could be treated with antidepressants. The main treatment option is psychotherapy.

Possible treatment options:
The most used psychological treatments are CBT, Dialectic BT ,SCHEMA-therapy and EMDR.
- It will be no surprise that the behavioral therapies focus on the behavior of a patient. In which difficult events out of normal daily life are practiced, so a patient can learn how to cope with these events. This can lead to new, positive experiences. And several studies have shown positive results of BT in Narcissistic patients.
- SCHEMA-therapy is aimed at helping patients identify and understand patterns and coping mechanism which they established from their early childhood. To then modify these to change their behavior towards others.
- Lastly EMDR therapy is a step-by-step treatment. It addresses negative memories, traumatic events and emotional triggers.
- It is best to discuss these treatment options with your physician to identify which one is most suitable for you.

- Disclaimer: this video and the comments are meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

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Literature:
1: Legg T.J. (2020). How to Treat Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Healthline.
2: Mayo clinic. (2017). Narcissistic personality disorder.
3: Caligor E.L. Kenneth Y.N. Frank E. (2015). Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Diagnostic and Clinical Challenges. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Washington, D.C.volume=172: American Psychiatric Association. 172 (5): 415–22.

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3. Patrick Patrikos, Grut
4: Patrick Patrikios. Rockville

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[liamobrien]

For those of you that are narcs like me it's truly HUGE you're making this step to healing yourself, I'm doing hugely better after about a year of self awareness and study keep at it guys life can get better ❤️

[karthikvijay]

I see that a lot of my narcissistic tendencies came from needing to feel wanted and appreciated so whenever I do get that I think of myself highly in an egotistic way. This came from not having an emotionally healthy upbringing in my teen years. When I don’t get something my way is when I feel the need to be heard because it makes me feel invisible which is a narcissistic trait that needs to be changed. Thankfully I’m going to therapy and am learning self-awareness. This self-awareness has been challenging due to facing some hard truths. I have a lot of work to do but am optimistic to overcome these obstacles and lead a better more meaningful life. My family has a lot of these same issues so growing as a person would feel like going into unknown territory that wasn’t part of my upbringing. Please wish me luck in this recovery journey 🙏

[wndywoo]

Narcissisism is not rare, its a HUGE problem. The reason you say narcissisism is "so rare" is because narcissist do not seek treatment - they believe they are healthy so it is unknown how many people truely suffer from narcissistic personality disorder.

[oluwaseeniolabode-odebunmi]

I was absolutely shattered to find that I was very narcissistic, it was a hopeless situation and the content online was really discouraging. About 1 year later and I’m starting to get the hang of this life thing, I’ve learned to be a lot more humble, and still improving on my self-awareness and bettering myself.
I just feel like this might help someone that’s currently feeling these things, it feels hopeless but it’ll work out. You’ve taken an important first step and it’ll pay off.
Goodluck

[Liksterr]

I know I’m narcissistic, and I don’t hide it and I’m not afraid to admit because I NEED help and I need this shed off of me.

[vladimirtodorov]

Perfect. One decent video on the topic. Everywhere they patronize the people and present then like monsters and all that. Like some one decided themselves to become narcis.

[brendaf]

This personality disorder is a tragedy for the people who have it. The rest of us only see the stress, irritation and trouble the person with it disrupts our lives with. Hidden to us, behind all the drama the person who has it creates, is the intense suffering they experience. Dealing effectively with anyone who has this disorder required maturity, a healthy concept of self-worth and discipline. Parenting skills are a plus.

[aesketches]

I want to get better. Back when I was a teenager, it wasn't that destructive but now I'm 25, I've been impulsive and it's affecting my career and the time I have is wasted daydreaming.

[mrbard]

I had a rude awakening that i maybe narcissistic. I feel like i have a overwhelming position in my self esteem or lack of self esteem, and that i am cursed from my upbringing. I started to see that my parents are hardcore narcs and that they may have been more or less "checked out" whrn they raised me, so i basically was givin this narc character trait and i am just noticing it at the age of 30.
I feel so bad. I want to go to therapy but i cant afford it rn.
Thanks for the videos doc. Im trying to help myself.

[sweetlymorbidbear]

I’ve been dealing with family and loved ones with NPD all my life. I pray for everyone. It can’t be easy being on the other end, despite what people think, it’s gotta be hurtful within and a very uncomfortable way to live 🙏🦋💕

[riblit]

As someone that's going through a Narcissistic collapse. Its been a horrible thing to go through but only self-awareness can fully help you get better.

[persiepasaka]

I never knew I was a narcissist till my break up with my girlfriend . My ego top notch . obsessed with success and not minding how other people feel . If only people knew being a narcist is a disorder. Luckily I will be able to heal and utleast love a person better Stephanie mwanzia

[esther]

I don't think I have a narcissistic disorder but I do have many narcissistic traits which lead me here. Thank you, for the info!

[Aldedandra]

This was a great overview of where narcissism can come from and possible ways to treat it. I fit a majority of the traits of NPD and it wasn’t until I almost lost everything that I fully accepted it. I have been through 10+ years of therapy and possible misdiagnoses. It was all just “sympathetic” therapy and didn’t focus on the real problem or even the trauma I experienced. 3 years ago, I started at a new clinic and did neurofeedback therapy, then 2 years of psycho therapy. It was helping but it started to feel like a waste of time. Something was missing. I started to realize my NPD came from my childhood trauma. But the narcissist in me just wanted to blame it on my family and the world. It wasn’t until I tried EMDR to revisit those traumatic memories that I started to understand why I ended up the way I did and it helped me to fully process them in a healthy way. You have to be vulnerable, you have to feel all the feelings, and own up to your behavior before you can start to heal. I am still going through therapy and EMDR and on the verge of divorce. Whether it happens or not, I am still working to fight NPD. I have good intentions.. but because of my trauma and NPD, I take it out in other people when I don’t get what I want. I hate it. I want a happy family and a happy life.
Lastly, for anyone of faith. Turn you focus on something bigger than yourself. Let go of your own will and focus on a higher being and others. It’s not all about you. Good luck to anyone suffering from NPD. I hope I can be of help to anyone as I make it through this journey to a better life.

[nikolayordanov]

I'm not an expert and i think that i have the disorder, but I'm fighting it.
My understanding so far is that a person with a NPD must realise that he\she is something closer to nobody than someone great. Success in life, talents, desires are not important or at least should not be viewed as qualities making you more important than others.
As it's said in a movie, i think it's called the detective or something
"We all live with the idea that we are someone special, when in fact we are everybody's nobody" .

[darrellmoore]

This video may have changed my life. I'm now 38 and will be 39 at the end of the year. I've known for several years now that I have some kind of mental illness or chemical imbalance. The term by bipolar has been suggested to me so I started to find reasons and ways to support that thought because I wanted help and a way to cure it if possible or maybe live a productive life. My mom would often say that my father is a narcissus and I would hear people mention NPD for some famous people, such as a reality star or a person that seemed obsessed with themselves or ones appearance not ever researching NPD or what it actually was. I've even suggested that my mother was a narcissus based on what I thought it was. I never thought of myself that way and no one has ever said it to me but after watching several of your videos I will have to admit that I have displayed nearly all of the symptoms suggested if not all by your videos definition. I feel like it may be some what of a breakthrough and I plan to bring it up with a therapist that I am scheduled to meet with early next week. I feel somewhat relieved that I may know what it is and maybe I can treat it. I never thought NPD was something that could me because I've always cared so much for others, often putting my needs behind others. Some time in my early 30's I started feeling like I needed to put all of me into myself and it became extreme. I felt like years of me not going and cheering for myself was over and I was determine to make up for lost time. Just from the video that is posted here alone I feel like a walking poster child of what would create this condition. From the reasons of my childhood to the description of symptoms that were given. I hope that recognizing that NPD could be a condition that I may be dealing with is part of me and has become part of my personality I can somehow make changes and seek help. It would have normally been something I would have totally rejected if someone would have ever suggested that I have NPD not actually knowing what it was but what I thought it was. I honestly thought it was just a arrogant person who thought they were better than everyone else. However, after watching your videos I see that I may have the characteristics of the disorder. I want to know and hope that there is help? Do people get better? Do they learn how to operate and function at a better level. I know that NPD is not good to live a productive life. My life has not been what I would have ever wanted it to be and it may be because of the personality disorder. I know now more than ever that this condition may be what has caused some major difficulties in my life. I only pray that help is available and I am not forever burdened by the condition

[SamridhiSharmaAOSXS]

I m really thankful to you for helping me to identify that I m also a narcissist(covert narcissist) . I have already hurt many people and my loved ones. I do not want to continue this . I want to create a peaceful environment. I want to love and care. Dear dr in many of your videos you have taught what is narcissm. How to stay away from them. How dangerous they are. I want you to please help me to become less toxic and less dangerous for my loved ones. Please upload some videos on how can a narcissist improve themselves . I know I m one and do not want to continue hurting everyone including me. Please help.

[coreyanderson]

That's what I've been thinking, is that probably only about 1% of people actually have that personality disorder. But, some peiple have met a dozen people with it. And people who were not treated right in childhood and adolescence and weren't treated like they would be safe setting boundaries, they often end up with narcissists. It must be hard to lack empathy.

[givemechoco]

Thanks for this rare information. I'm a narcissist and I'm looking for ways to change. I know I'm a horrible person and I just wanted to improve and be a normal person but there doesn't seem many information on the internet that can help me.

[sauravsarkar]

I realized that I'm a narcissist and have borderline traits. I had done something terrible that shook me from inside. I'm dying from inside. I don't want to live this life anymore. I need to change myself.