Are any of your loved ones a narcissist, and you're asking the question, can narcissists be cured?...
Are any of your loved ones a narcissist, and you're asking the question, can narcissists be cured? The answer is a resounding "No". Generally, most mental health disorders don't have a cure, and as blissful as the news of a cure for narcissism is; unfortunately, there is currently no cure. However, you can properly manage these traits through therapies to help regain sanity and react more positively towards their environment. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is an incurable, lifelong condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are several treatment options available to help with the symptoms of narcissism, but there is no actual cure.
Narcissism is, in fact, a personality disorder which means it's characterized by patterns of thought and behavior that are unhealthy and inflexible. It causes problems in almost every area of a person's life. Some people may cope with NPD better than others because they can exhibit traits of narcissism without actually meeting all the criteria for a diagnosis. However, if you feel you're experiencing symptoms of NPD or have been diagnosed with this personality disorder, treatment can help you manage your emotions and behaviors so you can function better in your daily life. Although narcissistic disorder usually stems from childhood it gets full-blown and begins in adulthood. However, more often than not, most narcissists are not aware of their condition, and when they eventually discover it, they do not want to go for treatment. They feel too proud to acknowledge they have a problem and would rather accuse the well-meaning people who care about them as the ones with the problem and not them. So, how do you know if you're a narcissist, and what steps to take towards managing it? We will highlight the possible signs of narcissist behavior first.
A narcissist is usually a power-drunk and obsessed with wanting authority. They will go as far as doing anything to exercise their extreme dogmatic and imperialistic nature on anyone.
People with narcissism have a high sense of entitlement. They believe everyone they meet within their environment should be their loyal subjects, and they feel they have the right to receive good treatment from them.
Narcissistic individuals lack empathy for others and self-centeredness. They are usually excessively full of themselves and don't care about other people's feelings.
Narcissism comes with an obsession with wanting more power and importance. The personality disorder is rooted in an overinflated, grandiose sense of self. People with this disorder are often very self-assured, egotistical, and highly confident. They tend to view the world through a lens of extreme self-importance and believe that others should treat them as such. This syndrome can be highly damaging to relationships and cause various personal difficulties. In extreme cases, it can even lead to violence.
Narcissists are extremely manipulating and love to control people around them. They guilt-trip anyone to do their bidding and won't care if their victims are comfortable with whatever they manipulate them to do.
People diagnosed with narcissism excessively crave attention from people. They desperately want to be in the limelight and hate it when people compete with them. In addition to this, they are very intolerant of other people criticizing them for whatever reason for their actions.
Narcissists often have extreme arrogant behaviors. They are haughty and only care about themselves at the expense of others. They usually feel they are the best in the room, and every other person is merely existing. While most narcissistic people tend to have the deception of being held in high repute; in reality, they are extremely proud and insensitive toward others.
Many narcissistic individuals are bitterly envious of other people who they may sense compete with them and their lifestyle. They also constantly think people are jealous of them and how they live and, therefore, they feel insecure. Also, most narcissistic persons usually believe that they are extraordinarily special, and difficult to understand by "ordinary" people. Therefore, they desire to associate with persons of high caliber who they believe understand them better.
While the main cause of the narcissistic disorder is still uncertain, possible causes may include different factors like:
Can Narcissists Be Cured?
A narcissistic personality disorder is not curable. However, narcissists can receive therapy to help them lead happier and more fulfilled lives. Many people diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder do not see their behavior as problematic. This belief often makes treatment less likely. But, despite these challenges, some narcissists can recover with proper treatment. There are things to do to decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of narcissistic abuse or manipulation.
It is important to note that treating narcissism must be based on true intention and a solid resolution towards getting better. This is because most narcissistic people tend to avoid and downplay treatment as it is part of their disorder to be over egoistic. Therefore, instead of admitting that the problem is with them, they'd rather believe that the problem is in the world and the people around them who couldn't meet their standards. Because of this, many of them continuously have failed relationships. Their failed relationships lead to depression and push them into taking alcohol and other substances they believe can make them feel good about themselves without bending to the decision of people telling them to seek a therapist and that they need to fix themselves. The major treatment for narcissism is psychotherapy–this involves the use of psychological methods applied through constant personal interaction with the patient. It comes in different ways and includes:
Behavioral Therapy:
This deals with streamlining the patient's attitude to help them cope with normal life events and training them to be tolerant of others. This approach can be very hard, but it shows positive results when used properly.
Therapy for NPD usually involves talk therapy sessions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The goal of CBT is to help the person with NPD learn new ways of thinking and behaving so that they can better relate to others and function in society. For instance, in CBT, a therapist might work with a patient to change his negative self-perception and replace it with a healthier one.
This can be done through various exercises, including:
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy
Often called EMDR therapy; it is a gradual treatment that helps patients address negative and traumatic events and help them get past them. Although EMDR therapy is relatively a new therapeutic method, it has proven to help narcissists who have negative emotional triggers manage them better.
I hope we have answered your question, "can narcissists be cured?" Narcissism is incurable, yet, narcissists can get help to get better. And it is also noteworthy that the journey through getting better takes time and is a gradual process. Therefore, enough time and patience are necessary when undergoing therapy.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-narcissism/201908/10-stages-in-the-treatment-narcissistic-disorders
https://psychcentral.com/blog/liberation/2019/01/can-narcissism-be-cured-too-many-tricksters-are-providing-false-claims
https://www.healthline.com/health/can-a-narcissist-change
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/narcissistic-personality-disorder#:~:text=develop%20it%20later.-,Narcissistic%20Personality%20Disorder%20Treatment,Sometimes%20people%20call%20this%20psychotherapy.
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/mental-health-and-behavior/is-narcissism-treatable
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
Resolving conflict with a narcissist can be challenging due to their manipulation tactics. However, establishing healthy boundaries and not feeding into their need for control can help. It's important to prioritize your own needs and not let the narcissist emotionally abuse you.
Dealing with a cheating narcissist can be challenging due to their manipulation tactics and lack of remorse. It's recommended to seek support from a mental health professional who can provide strategies and tools for managing the relationship and your emotions. They can also help you decide whether it's in your best interest to stay in the relationship or leave.
Jealous narcissists may ignore people as a way to punish or control them. If a narcissist perceives someone else as having all the cool things they want or being overly busy with other people, they might resort to silent treatment out of jealousy.
Poor impulse control is a common trait among narcissists. This can manifest as a tendency to act on whims or desires without considering the potential consequences. In the context of a relationship, this may lead to infidelity if the narcissist is attracted to someone else.
It is a pattern of behavior that is often seen in relationships where one person has a narcissistic personality disorder. It typically consists of four phases: idealization, devaluation, discarding, and hoovering.
The most dangerous type of narcissist is the Malignant Narcissist. They are often very charming and successful, but they also have a complete lack of remorse or empathy. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want, and they can be very dangerous.
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