Narcissism

For many years, politicians and medical professionals have been wrangling over health care policy, insurance coverage, prevention, treatment and so on. In our time, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought questions of public health to the forefront. We’re all concerned and we’re all talking about it. But, unfortunately, there are no easy answers.

Additionally, it seems that every few years the media outlets put a spotlight on some major health issue: what’s happening with the old, the young, drug overdoses, etc.

And mental health issues are no exception. In nearly every recent decade a diagnosis is talked about in news magazines, on talk shows, blogs and podcasts. In the 1990’s it was ADHD and Bipolar Disorder. Then, about the year 2000, came a TV show about a detective who suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Consequently, anyone who showed any sort of odd, repetitive behaviors was labeled as  ‘OCD’.

Today, it’s narcissism. In my practice I hear it just about every other day. “I think my husband is a narcissist.” “My kids are so narcissistic.” “I’m sure my mom was a narcissist.” Usually, the speaker is describing a person who acts selfishly. But, does selfish behavior always equate to narcissism? Sometimes, yes … sometimes, no.

Human behavior can be confusing and unpredictable, and so we are all liable to use labels in this way, if only to help us make sense of people. It’s a natural tendency, a kind of flaw in our humanity, if you will. And it’s a flaw that can create problems. Labeling people usually provokes defensiveness and resentment. It should be avoided, until conclusive evidence proves that the so-called narcissist acts like this regularly.

Now, if you happen to be troubled by a person who fits this description, you may have wondered whether anything can be done about it. The answer is yes. There’s a lot to it, and if you’re ready to address it, I’d be honored to be of assistance. Please call for a no-cost consultation. The number is 219-309-3928.

Thanks for reading!