Narcissistic Personality Disorder 1

Some studies have shown that people who express their views accurately and show a sense of superiority in comparison with others are mentally stronger, less stressed, and lower risk of depression. In other words, people who live in their own fashion are in some ways far more free from the dangers of mental health. But if they become too overly into their own cool, they cannot eventually be accommodated in others and their society. And that's the narcissistic personality disorder.

 

The name Narcissistic Personality Disorder suggests that this disorder is derived from the name of Narcissos in Greek mythology. Narkissos refused to love anyone. But he fell in love with his own reflection in the spring water, and he fell in love with himself, not anyone else. And even though he knew it was himself, he couldn't get out of that love and couldn't move a step there. Eventually, a flower bloomed at the place where he died, and the name of this flower was called Narcissus. After all, Narcissism comes from Narcissos, which means self-love.

DSM-5 Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder:

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
4. Requires excessive admiration.
5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectation of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).
6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors and attitudes.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, Va., American Psychiatric Association, 2013, pp. 669–670. Copyright 2013, American Psychiatric Association.

 

To some extent we all live our lives with love for ourselves. If you don't have love for yourself, it's too miserable because you can't appreciate your existence and live under your degradation. However, on the other hand, excessive self-love in one's own fashion will lead to the same fate of death as Narkissos, so this is also something to be wary of.

 

Let me love myself! But let's not be Narkissos!

Let's increase my self-esteem! But let's not make the mistake of protecting our pride!

Remember, only those who can love others can love themselves!

Remember, only those who love themselves can truly love others!

For a person without love has no love to share with others.