Re: How to get thru to professional?

December 30, 2004

He's 18. He generally tries to avoid me because I know his issues and I

bring them up. By simply existing, I also remind him of all the horrible

things he's ever done. He's also got an addictive personality, so that

complicates matters. Here's info on NPD and dual diagnosis:

http://www.toad.net/~arcturus/dd/narc.htm

Narcissists are devoid of conscience. They can put on a good show if they

want to, but there's nothing there. They don't care about what happens to

anyone else but themselves. In general, they tend toward private rather

than public crimes because they don't want to ruin their image and go to

jail, etc. They also tend to conform with societal expectations, at least

on the surface. That's easiest way to explain why they aren't diagnosed

with Anti-Social Personality Disorder, which most people think is all about

sociopathy rather than about criminal behaviors.

Here's a description of NPD without the DSM gobbledy-gook:

Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy which

begins by early adulthood and is present in differing contexts within a

person's life.

1.. A narcissistic individual is grandiose in their sense of

self-importance and exaggerates their achievements and talents. He expects

to be recognized as superior without achieving any great accomplishments.

2.. A narcissistic individual is preoccupied with fantasies of his

brilliance as well as his unlimited success or power. He fantasizes about

beauty or ideal love.

3.. A narcissistic individual believes that he is " special " or " unique. "

He feels that he can only be understood by or should associate with other

special or high status people.

4.. A narcissistic individual requires excessive admiration and is on a

constant search for admiration.

5.. A narcissistic individual has a sense of entitlement. He has

unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment and expect others to

automatically comply with his wishes.

6.. A narcissistic individual takes advantage of others to achieve his own

ends and uses others without regards to the feelings of others.

7.. A narcissistic individual lacks empathy and does not identify with the

feelings or needs of others.