Can Narcissists Be Cured?

Do I Have Narcissism?

Narcissism is, in fact, a personality disorder which means it's characterized by patterns of thought and behavior that are unhealthy and inflexible. It causes problems in almost every area of a person's life.

Some people may cope with NPD better than others because they can exhibit traits of narcissism without actually meeting all the criteria for a diagnosis. 

However, if you feel you're experiencing symptoms of NPD or have been diagnosed with this personality disorder, treatment can help you manage your emotions and behaviors so you can function better in your daily life.

Although narcissistic disorder usually stems from childhood it gets full-blown and begins in adulthood.

However, more often than not, most narcissists are not aware of their condition, and when they eventually discover it, they do not want to go for treatment.

They feel too proud to acknowledge they have a problem and would rather accuse the well-meaning people who care about them as the ones with the problem and not them.

So, how do you know if you're a narcissist, and what steps to take towards managing it? We will highlight the possible signs of narcissist behavior first.

Obsessive With Power

A narcissist is usually a power-drunk and obsessed with wanting authority. 

They will go as far as doing anything to exercise their extreme dogmatic and imperialistic nature on anyone.

Excessive Sense Of Entitlement

People with narcissism have a high sense of entitlement. 

They believe everyone they meet within their environment should be their loyal subjects, and they feel they have the right to receive good treatment from them.

Indifference Towards Others' Feelings

Narcissistic individuals lack empathy for others and self-centeredness. 

They are usually excessively full of themselves and don't care about other people's feelings.  

High Sense Of Self-Aggrandizement

Narcissism comes with an obsession with wanting more power and importance. 

The personality disorder is rooted in an overinflated, grandiose sense of self. 

People with this disorder are often very self-assured, egotistical, and highly confident.

Extremely Manipulative and Control Freaks

Narcissists are extremely manipulating and love to control people around them. 

They guilt-trip anyone to do their bidding and won't care if their victims are comfortable with whatever they manipulate them to do.

Craving For Excessive Admiration

People diagnosed with narcissism excessively crave attention from people. 

They desperately want to be in the limelight and hate it when people compete with them. 

In addition to this, they are very intolerant of other people criticizing them for whatever reason for their actions.

Extreme Arrogance And Haughtiness

Narcissists often have extreme arrogant behaviors. 

They are haughty and only care about themselves at the expense of others. 

They usually feel they are the best in the room, and every other person is merely existing.

While most narcissistic people tend to have the deception of being held in high repute; in reality, they are extremely proud and insensitive toward others.

Bitterly Envious

Many narcissistic individuals are bitterly envious of other people who they may sense compete with them and their lifestyle. 

They also constantly think people are jealous of them and how they live and, therefore, they feel insecure.

Also, most narcissistic persons usually believe that they are extraordinarily special, and difficult to understand by "ordinary" people.

Therefore, they desire to associate with persons of high caliber who they believe understand them better.

Possible Causes Of Narcissism 

While the main cause of the narcissistic disorder is still uncertain, possible causes may include different factors like:

• Biological Factor: This can be due to the genetic predisposition of the narcissistic individual.
• Psychological Factor: This can result from early childhood trauma experienced by the narcissist. Similarly, growing up in an unstable and highly violent environment where such a person faced constant ridicule.
• Social Factor: Also, living in a narcissistic society can be a major influence on the outlook of individuals, thereby turning them into narcissists.

Can Narcissists Be Cured? 

A narcissistic personality disorder is not curable. 

However, narcissists can receive therapy to help them lead happier and more fulfilled lives. 

Many people diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder do not see their behavior as problematic.

This belief often makes treatment less likely. 

But, despite these challenges, some narcissists can recover with proper treatment.

There are things to do to decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of narcissistic abuse or manipulation.

Treatment  

It is important to note that treating narcissism must be based on true intention and a solid resolution towards getting better.

This is because most narcissistic people tend to avoid and downplay treatment as it is part of their disorder to be over egoistic.

Therefore, instead of admitting that the problem is with them, they'd rather believe that the problem is in the world and the people around them who couldn't meet their standards.

Because of this, many of them continuously have failed relationships. 

Their failed relationships lead to depression and push them into taking alcohol and other substances they believe can make them feel good about themselves without bending to the decision of people telling them to seek a therapist and that they need to fix themselves.

The major treatment for narcissism is psychotherapy–this involves the use of psychological methods applied through constant personal interaction with the patient. It comes in different ways and includes:

Behavioral Therapy:

This deals with streamlining the patient's attitude to help them cope with normal life events and training them to be tolerant of others. 

This approach can be very hard, but it shows positive results when used properly.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy

Often called EMDR therapy; it is a gradual treatment that helps patients address negative and traumatic events and help them get past them. 

Although EMDR therapy is relatively a new therapeutic method, it has proven to help narcissists who have negative emotional triggers manage them better. 

Conclusion

I hope we have answered your question, "can narcissists be cured?"

Narcissism is incurable, yet, narcissists can get help to get better. 

And it is also noteworthy that the journey through getting better takes time and is a gradual process.

Therefore, enough time and patience are necessary when undergoing therapy.

Resources 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-narcissism/201908/10-stages-in-the-treatment-narcissistic-disorders

https://psychcentral.com/blog/liberation/2019/01/can-narcissism-be-cured-too-many-tricksters-are-providing-false-claims

https://www.healthline.com/health/can-a-narcissist-change

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/narcissistic-personality-disorder#:~:text=develop%20it%20later.-,Narcissistic%20Personality%20Disorder%20Treatment,Sometimes%20people%20call%20this%20psychotherapy.

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/mental-health-and-behavior/is-narcissism-treatable