Narcissism in women normally presents itself in the form of dramatic, overly emotional behavior and is often explained away as extreme confidence. A woman with narcissistic personality disorder may believe that she is truly better than everyone else and treat others as if they are beneath her. Extreme jealously and a demanding nature are also potential symptoms of narcissism in women. Underneath the tough exterior, most women with this condition actually have a very fragile sense of self-worth and have trouble maintaining healthy relationships. The recommended treatment for narcissism in women is usually psychotherapy, although prescription medications may sometimes be used, especially if there are other underlying emotional disorders present.
An exaggerated sense of self is often the most noticeable sign of narcissism in women. The woman with this condition will often boast about achievements and try to coax compliments from others for even the slightest things. She truly thinks that her ways of thinking and behaving are always correct and expects those around her to be in agreement. Those who do not agree are often treated poorly, as if they are not worth speaking to at all.
While narcissism in women tends to cause a dramatic emotional reaction to perceived disrespect, there is usually a complete disregard for the emotions of others. The woman with this condition may feel completely justified when mistreating others, although she would not accept the same treatment directed at herself. The narcissist normally feels no guilt at all about taking advantage of others because she feels that everyone else is beneath her and should do exactly what she wants.
Extreme jealousy is a major component of narcissism in women. The affected woman may believe that everyone is jealous of her because she is so much better than them. On the other hand, she is also extremely jealous and distrustful of others. Although the narcissist may seem confident, her self-esteem is usually very low. This combination makes it very difficult to sustain long-term healthy relationships.
Psychotherapy is an essential part of treatment for narcissism in women. The therapist will try to help the woman understand the reasoning behind harmful thoughts and feelings and work to replace them with healthier alternatives. Counseling may also be recommended for family members so that the patient has a wide support system during the recovery period. Medications are not usually prescribed for narcissism, although underlying conditions such as depression or anxiety may be treated with prescription drugs.
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ahain
Post 4 |
@SkittisH - First off, let me say that was a really nicely worded post. You put your ideas out there in a good non-judgmental way. Secondly, I've got to be honest and tell you I don't agree.
Aren't you overreacting just a tad, here? I mean, you make it sound like American girls are pressured into being gorgeous or dying. The average person may admire and lust after movie stars and super models, but they don't expect all women to look like them -- if they did, the movie stars and super models wouldn't stand out as special anymore, right?
I'd be willing to bet that most cases of narcissistic personality disorder start with serious problems in somebody's childhood that traumatize them. Sad, but truly a frequent occurrence. |
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SkittisH
Post 3 |
Interesting article. I have to say, I think diagnosing narcissism in women in particular must be harder and harder to do, in the United States, at least.
More and more, our society is all about looking beautiful and flawless and seeming perfect, and I know there's a lot of pressure on young girls to hold up to the standards of looking like movie stars and the airbrushed models they see in magazines.
With all of that pressure, I wouldn't be surprised if many girls don't end up narcissistic as a defense mechanism from not their upbringing or parents or personal life, but the American expectations of women in general. What do you guys think? |
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malmal
Post 2 |
@aishia - I have to say, I'm guilty as charged for being a fan of narcissistic characters in stories. Not only are they an example of being confident instead of being a shrinking violet, but their over-the-top behavior gets funny reactions out of the other cast members.
I tend to empathize best when a character who is usually terribly confident actually has a moment of uncertainty, because it shows that they're really struggling. I don't know, peril just appeals to me in stories -- it's dramatic.
Anyway, I don't think having narcissistic characters be admired in stories is bad. Maybe seeing that is reassuring for those with narcissism who are trying to overcome it, because ti shows that the whole world doesn't reject them for their behavior -- especially when the characters have a slip-up and the rest of the cast still loves them despite it.
I think the fact that I'm a big fan of narcissistic characters in fiction shows that they can have a lot of appeal, over-the-top "confidence" and all. |
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aishia
Post 1 |
Isn't it funny how people perceive narcissistic characters in fiction versus the real thing?
Fiction stories -- movies, books, comics -- often have one narcissistic member of the cast that seems ridiculously arrogant and overconfident -- and the other characters usually are really irritated, but at the same time they have a little admiration for the character for being "confident" enough to be that narcissistic.
I think this mentality from the writers makes narcissism out as okay, when really it's an all-consuming disorder that is really uncomfortable for the person with it as well as everybody around them. Where's the story that shows the true side of narcissism?
A real person with narcissistic personality disorder sounds very difficult to live with. |
