eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Treat Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(5 Ratings)

Narcissistic personality disorder can be quite difficult to treat. The person dealing with the disorder often will not recognize the problem. As a friend, family member or clinician, you can follow these guidelines to help treat narcissistic personality disorder. At best, you can help others cope with this often confounding problem.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Determine whether the individual meets the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder: heightened sense of one's own importance or ability; fantasies about having great power, beauty or accomplishment; need for incessant recognition; expectation of specialness and superiority; exploitation of other people; inability to empathize; envious orientation or the belief they are envied. Take note of the severity of each symptom.

  2. Step 2

    Decide whether the disorder is causing significant impairment in their personal, family or work life. Determine if the extent of the impairment is something they are aware of. Often times, the individual will not be aware of his impairment.

  3. Step 3

    Avoid mentioning the presence of a disorder around the individual, as it will typically prevent adequate healing. Educating family, friends and work associates on the behaviors and manifestation of the disorder will be immensely helpful.

  4. Step 4

    Work with the behaviors of the individual. Teach them to try and at least think of others occasionally even when it's uncomfortable. Discern where the onset of such behavior patterns began. Then identify some unhealthy schemas formed as a result of the narcissism.

  5. Step 5

    Prepare for extreme opposition to help or suggestion as the narcissistic disorder typically extends to the therapeutic process and therapy is typically terminated. Treat with the behaviors in a manner that suggests increased performance in their sphere of expertise, as though this too will make them more superior.

Tips & Warnings
  • Be patient and don't expect miracle treatment for this disorder as it is often simply a personality style and not easily changed or manipulated unless the person seeks the change independently.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Get Free Health Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2010 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. † requires javascript

Live Strong Partner
Livestrong_eHow Health