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Step 1
Understand that narcissism is a personality disorder---often it is rooted in childhood issues, such as abuse or neglect. Often the person can't help himself---he actual believes his delusions of being superior to others. Remember that Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is classified as a mental illness.
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Step 2
Avoid affirming the person's delusions. Do not agree with her wild fantasies about how great she is---it will give her a reason to continue and it could make the behavior worse over time.
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Step 3
Ignore the person whenever possible. A narcissist feeds off attention from others. When the person starts talking about himself excessively, the best thing to do is just walk away---leave the situation.
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Step 4
Avoid telling the person that he is a narcissist directly. He will likely resist and withdraw from you, and possibly even resent you for the accusation. This is a diagnosis that you must leave up to a professional.
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Step 5
Have reasonable expectations about the person and his ability to stop being self-absorbed. This is not a disorder that goes away on its own---often the person will need intensive counseling to deal with his narcissism. Suggest counseling if you are in a close relationship with the person, such as a marriage. While he may not be able to stop the behavior completely, his condition may improve with treatment.
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Step 6
Stay positive and strong-minded. A narcissist can be a drain on his friends and family and will often put others down as a way of building himself up. It is important to have high self-esteem yourself, so that you do not start to believe and absorb what he says as if it is the truth.
