Alcoholism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment

For instance, a lack of compassion and feelings of invincibility allow people to keep drinking or taking drugs, despite the obvious negative consequences. People with narcissism may also use drugs to further boost their inflated sense of superiority. Alcohol use may also increase self-centeredness, which can contribute to the development of a narcissistic personality disorder. Alcohol use and long-term abuse can also lead to changes in the brain that result in impaired judgment, memory loss, and difficulty controlling behavior, which can all be symptoms of narcissism.

Alcoholic narcissists tend to refuse help because they are entirely convinced that they are in the right and entitled to do what they want. For this reason, to effectively help your loved one, you may need to consult an interventionist to have a better chance of Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House convincing them to get treatment. A 2019 study looked at the link between narcissism and alcohol consumption in a questionnaire of 345 college students. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism were predictors of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.

Personality Characteristics of Alcoholics: What Are They?

We need a recovery program for the self-absorbed” – Patti Maguire Armstrong (2014). Historically, narcissism has been deemed excessive selfishness or self-admiration. The complete sonnets and poems of Shakespeare (Shakespeare, 1912) recanted the Greek story of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, while ignoring a chance for a real relationship. Psychoanalysts as early as Sigmund Freud (1914) described a developmental stage in children in which their egos lack concern for anyone else’s needs, which he referred to as primary narcissism.

• Those close to both narcissists and alcoholics experience deprivation, abandonment, shame, rejection and feeling used.
• In order to have a diagnosis of NPD, they’ll have to consistently show the relevant symptoms over a period of many years.
• In many cases, it may be crucial for loved ones to maintain distance from the affected person to minimize risks and issues.

Narcissism is a personality disorder that may cause individuals to portray self-involved behaviors. Alcoholism is an addiction where the individual cannot control their alcohol use. A personality disorder is a mental disorder in which a person maintains an unhealthy way of thinking and behaving. Someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) has an inflated ego. If you think you have either or both conditions, it’s best to talk with a mental health professional for a diagnosis. When people have a mental health condition that co-occurs with a substance misuse disorder, such as AUD, doctors may refer to this as dual diagnosis.

Narcissists and Alcohol Addiction

Being close with an alcoholic narcissist can be emotionally draining, and it’s crucial to take care of yourself. If someone you know exhibits destructive, selfish behavior—and can’t be held accountable for it due to their drinking—it can be hard to decipher if you’re dealing with an alcoholic or a narcissist. After all, this behavior seems to fit the bill for both conditions. But that also means that both conditions can be treated through similar approaches.

While diagnosis and treatment can be challenging, studies have shown that the successful treatment of a mental illness can lead to alcohol recovery in two out of every three cases. For this reason, mental health professionals will routinely screen for substance abuse when diagnosing a personality disorder or screen for behavioral concerns when a person has a substance abuse disorder. Substance abuse disorders, such as alcoholism, often co-occur with other mental health conditions. For instance, a person may also be a bipolar narcissistic alcoholic.

The Link Between Addiction and Narcissism

Without treatment, people with BPD have trouble maintaining positive relationships and are vulnerable to abusing drugs and alcohol to cope with difficult emotions. Personality disorders like NPD are those in which a person has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving. Substance abuse disorders like AUD are characterized by mental and physical addiction. Alcohol use disorder is a type of substance abuse disorder where a person cannot control or stop their alcohol use. Treatment for alcoholism may involve detoxification, medication, and therapy.

• In contrast, vulnerable narcissism, or covert narcissism, was a risk factor for future alcohol-related problems.
• A person’s use of alcohol turns into an alcohol use disorder when they exhibit several symptoms.
• Narcissists may initially seem friendly and outgoing, but under that façade, they can’t form genuine connections, even with people who are closest to them.
• By doing so, a person is less likely to be “over-treated” for a condition they may not actually have.
• At Pillars Recovery, we understand the complexities of addiction and how challenging it can be to overcome.

The goal of treatment is to help the individual overcome their addiction, develop coping mechanisms, and learn healthy ways of managing stress and anxiety. People with narcissism often have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. They may struggle with empathy and may not be able to understand or meet the emotional needs of others. They may also be prone to anger and aggression when their needs are not met. Those with alcoholism also tend to be narcissistic, as they think that their drinking is a sign of strength.

Alcoholism and mental health conditions can be a sensitive subject. A person suffering from narcissism and alcoholism very likely has fragile self-esteem, and it can be difficult for them to even admit that they have a problem. If they relapse, they may feel like a failure and can be quick to blame others. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are closely linked and can occur together as a dual diagnosis. NPD increases the risk of alcohol abuse as a means to escape difficult emotions.

There are numerous other online support groups and chat rooms dedicated to loved ones living with alcoholism and NPD. Again, if care is not coordinated by a qualified mental health professional, the overlapping treatments can lead to drug interactions, unintended side effects, and the possible abandonment of treatment. Exhibiting narcissistic behaviors when drunk, for example, doesn’t inherently mean that a person has NPD. Alcohol can influence narcissistic behaviors, such as arrogance, self-importance, and feelings of superiority that aren’t otherwise present when sober. While helping your partner, refrain from enabling their addictive and narcissistic behaviors.