Why is it that compared to other mental illness’s like depression, ADHD, autism and anxiety people seem to be so hostile to NPD? I always see things about ‘mental health awareness’ yet this is never applied to personality disorders.
Just look up “narcissism”, “NPD” or “narcissistic personality disorder” and the results are about how dangerous people with NPD are and how to spot somebody with NPD or if your ex boyfriend is a narcissist etc… etc…
I was watching this video earlier by a YouTube user ‘ShortFatOtaku’ called “Low IQ Twitter Discourse Awards!” and there was this one guy on twitter who said that if you claim advocate for the mentally ill you such do so with personality disorders as well. A statement I completely agree with:
https://youtu.be/3EJedJ8MhNA YouTube
ShortFatOtaku response with “wow your going to let that narcissist kill you and take everything from you?” I shouldn’t have to explain how bad faith and unhinged that is.
Why do people think this way about narcissists? Having NPD doesn’t make someone an inherently bad person. As someone who has NPD I haven’t abused or manipulated anyone ever. Sure, I struggle with empathy, I have to make an effort to think about other people and ok I have a never ending need for validation but that doesn’t mean I’m a bad person I understand I have a problem I didn’t choose to be like this. Manipulation and grandiosity are awful traits that I have but they don’t define me. I’m a good friend, I’m a good sister, I’m a good coworker and there are people out there who benefit from my existence. NPD doesn’t have to define me I’m more then my diagnosis.
“How do you cope with NPD?”
Self reflection helps and listening to other people with NPD gives me a lot of insight into myself.
“Also, what kind of things can other people do to support someone with NPD?”
Just be understanding and don’t come the conclusions like everyone else in this thread
The thread is a bit of a dumpster fire…
I’ve been mulling over your actual question a bit. I could argue that some of the stigmatisation could just be that it’s really easy to dislike someone who’s self centred or selfish, that NPD can present similarly (gross assumptions on my part there, sorry) makes it easy to dislike someone with NPD.
Disliking someone makes it very easy to stigmatise any and all of their traits. It becomes a feedback loop.
Anyway, I hope you manage it well and hope you can surround yourself with supportive people.