
Narcissism and Alcoholism: Similarities, Differences, Diagnosis
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In addition to expert medical support, Ria Health’s program includes virtual coaching sessions to help people unlearn self-destructive patterns connected to alcohol. A 2018 study examined the link between narcissism and alcohol use based on a survey of 345 college students. It found that narcissism was a predictor of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.
If you think you’re misusing alcohol, or if you think you have NPD, reach out to a mental health professional. Everybody can benefit from speaking with a therapist, regardless of whether they fit the criteria for a mental health condition. A 2018 study found that people with personality disorders were more likely to have AUD at some point in their lives. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 22.6% of people with a personality disorder also have a substance use disorder (SUD), which can include alcohol use. In fact, some research suggests that alcohol misuse might be more common among people who have narcissistic tendencies. A personality disorder is a type of mental illness where the person has a strict and unhealthy pattern of thinking, behaving, and functioning.
Treatment options
Everyone has a reason for the way they act, and an alcoholic narcissist might tell you a perfectly good reason for why they should drink, whether or not those reasons are justifiable. They might view their problem as a personal shortcoming or a failure that they are embarrassed to open up about. People with narcissism usually have incorrect perceptions about their life and what people think of them.
Traits like narcissism and personality disorders like NPD are long-standing. In order to have a diagnosis of NPD, they’ll have to consistently show the relevant symptoms over a period of many years. Similarly, many people who misuse alcohol might display very few signs of narcissism.
Narcissism and sex addiction
In other words, those who had narcissistic tendencies were more likely to use alcohol and experience problems because of alcohol use. People can misuse alcohol without having AUD or being addicted to alcohol. They might infrequently have bouts of excessive drinking, for example, but find that it doesn’t affect their life and that it’s easy to cut back on alcohol (or to stop drinking entirely). If alcohol misuse begins to impact your life, health, or safety, you might have AUD.
- Treatment approaches that address both conditions simultaneously, such as dual diagnosis treatment, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy, can provide comprehensive support and guidance.
- Supporting them with emotional support and encouraging them to seek professional help can be effective ways to help them overcome their addiction and manage their narcissistic tendencies.
- Alcohol can serve as a temporary means of escape from these negative emotions and the pressures of maintaining a grandiose self-image.
- However, alcoholism does increase narcissistic behaviors and tendencies.
- It’s important to note that not all individuals with alcoholism develop narcissistic behaviors, and not all individuals with narcissistic traits become alcoholics.
With both conditions, the benefits of therapy depend on your willingness to work on yourself. Each person needs a different treatment method depending on their unique situation, and as such, not everyone will have the same treatment program. It’s possible for people with AUD to successfully stop using alcohol when https://ecosoberhouse.com/ they have the right support and treatment. People who are genetically predisposed to experience unpleasant side effects of drinking are less likely to drink often, making AUD unlikely. If you think that you or a loved one has NPD or AUD, knowing the symptoms can help you better understand both conditions.
They are self-centered and feel entitled
Let Little Creek Recovery Center guide you down the right path to recovery, personal growth, and long-term sobriety. We are here to provide assistance in locating an Ark Behavioral Health treatment center that may covert narcissism and alcoholism meet your treatment needs. Many of the symptoms of NPD are thought to be the result of a sensitive or vulnerable ego. While they may not show it outwardly, criticism is especially unbearable for a narcissist.