What Does a Narcissist Mean, How Do You Know If Someone Is a Narcissist?

We all love ourselves. Because we have to love. Everyone goes, we stay. A state of self-love within normal limits is normal, but when this situation turns into falling in love with oneself, narcissism emerges. Today, psychology defines this condition as a personality disorder, and people who have this disorder, that is, who are in love with themselves, are also called narcissists.

Although using the adjective narcissist for a person in daily conversations is funny or descriptive of some situations, when we get to the bottom of narcissism, we see that these people are not successful in their business or private lives. Although they are protected by a self-confident outer shell, an almost baby-like self-esteem independent of the outside world, these people have a vulnerable and vulnerable selves.

What is narcissism?

Narcissism, also called self-love, refers to a person’s admiration for himself. This fascination can be physical or mental. This state of admiration and commitment to oneself is experienced so intensely that it can be defined as falling in love with oneself.

Primary narcissism, which is not considered a personality disorder, begins in early infancy, when the infant is only self-aware. Secondary narcissism occurs as the infant becomes aware of the environment. In other words, a certain level of narcissism is necessary for the survival of the individual. The transformation of this into a personality disorder is a situation that occurs in the future.

What does narcissist mean?

Narcissistic personality disorder in its fullest form; It is a situation in which the person exaggerates his own importance, feels the need to be admired, and therefore has difficulty in having relationships and empathy. Narcissistic people hide under a strong mask of self-confidence. However, when we remove this mask, we encounter a fragile self that is vulnerable to even the slightest criticism.

We encounter people with narcissistic personality disorder in many periods of history. The dictators who say that the country would perish without me, the Roman emperors who think they are gods, and the Egyptian pharaohs are undoubtedly individuals with narcissistic personality disorder and many other psychological problems.

What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, how to understand?

• Excessive self-admiration
• Do not consider yourself superior even if there is no success
• Don’t overestimate mediocre achievements and abilities
• Constantly dreaming about finding perfection
• Believing that only people as superior as yourself can relate
• Belittle and humiliate other people
• Do not expect unquestioned harmony from everyone
• Lack of empathy
• Don’t think everyone is jealous of you
• Belief for no reason that you should have the best of everything
• Don’t be angry when you don’t get special treatment
• Do not consider even your problems superior to others
• Difficulty controlling emotions and behaviors
• Inability to cope with stress and changes
• Being depressed when failing to excel
• Having hidden feelings that you can never explain

Why does narcissistic personality disorder occur?

Like many psychological disorders, the exact cause of narcissistic personality disorder is not known. Environmental factors, hereditary characteristics, neurobiological problems between the brain and behavior can cause narcissistic personality disorder.

What problems do narcissistic people face?

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition that is more common in men than women. It usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood. It may occur due to an overprotective or neglectful parent. Narcissism in children or teenagers can often be temporary.

Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder have problems in love and friendship relationships, have adjustment problems in work and school life, are open to depression and anxiety, are likely to experience physical health problems, are prone to drug and alcohol addiction, and are prone to suicidal thoughts.

How do you stop being a narcissist?

The exact causes of narcissistic personality disorder are not known, and there is no definitive and only way to treat it. Since the treatment of narcissistic personality disorder detected in childhood and adolescence will be much easier, parents with such suspicion should definitely take their children to a specialist.

It’s not too late for an adult narcissist, either. As a result of the psychological support to be received, at least a decrease in the symptoms can be seen. However, since the most important cause of narcissistic personality disorder is the broken parent-child relationship, parents have a great job in this case. Before you have a child, you can prevent your child from becoming a narcissist by attending parenting classes given by experts.

Bonus: The story of Narcissus

Narcissism comes etymologically from one of the Greek mythology characters, Narcissus. Known as the first narcissist in history, Narcissus is a handsome hunter who also gave his name to the narcissus flower family.

The fairy girl Ekho, who leaves the men who fall in love with her as a hobby, unrequited, sees our handsome hunter Narcissos one day while walking in the forest and falls in love. However, Narcissus does not reciprocate Echo’s love and the fairy girl is in a mess. The reflection of Echo’s pain, which melts away day by day due to his infatuation, spreads to the forest in the form of echoes that we call echo today.

Of course, the Greek gods living on Mount Olympus got very angry at this situation and gave Narcissus a punishment. Narcissus sees his own reflection when he bends over the river to drink water while hunting in the forest. Opinion, that opinion. Falling in love with his own enchanting reflection, Narcissus watches himself for days without eating and drinking, and eventually dies on the spot. When he dies, his body merges into the river as a daffodil flower.

We answered questions such as what is a narcissist with a personality disorder, what is narcissism, how do you recognize a narcissist, and we shared interesting details about the subject. Love yourself, but as with everything, do not overdo it.