Ever been around someone who thinks they are generally superior to you and most people they know? Or wants you to recognize all their lovely achievements, but can’t remember to give you a compliment?
Better yet, who thinks you’re just exaggerating your feelings when you cry, refuses to adjust behavior when you tell them they’ve hurt you, but claims to love you?
These situations may sound familiar to those in a relationship with someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Personality disorders in general are negative, persistent patterns of interacting with the world and others that develop over time. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder tend to feel rather grandiose (e.g. “I’m king of the world!”), lack empathy toward others and have an overwhelming need for admiration and praise from others.
Of course, it’s possible to have certain traits of narcissism without having a disorder. Some of its other traits include intensely believing in one’s own specialness and uniqueness; taking advantage of others for one’s own gain; fantasizing about one’s own unlimited success, beauty or fame; feeling entitled to having certain things or being treated a certain way; often being envious or jealous of others or believing others are envious and jealous of you; appearing arrogant or haughty.