Narcissist Alcoholic: The Dangerous Intersection of Two Disorders

Once detox is completed and sobriety has begun, outpatient therapy can be beneficial. It is also recommended to utilize family or couples counseling to heal relationships as well. As individuals with narcissistic traits consume alcohol, it can exacerbate their self-centered behaviors and reinforce their narcissistic patterns. It may lead to increased grandiosity, impaired judgment, and an inflated sense of self-importance.

Defining Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

It is typical for people to display occasional narcissistic traits, but a pattern of narcissism could be part of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a mental health condition. Understanding the shared risk factors and vulnerabilities between narcissism and alcoholism can help healthcare professionals tailor treatment approaches and interventions. By addressing these underlying factors, individuals with co-occurring narcissism and alcoholism can receive comprehensive care. Individual therapy, also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, is a common treatment approach for both narcissism and alcoholism. In individual therapy, a person works one-on-one with a trained therapist to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Is There a Connection Between Alcoholism and Narcissism?

• Understanding the shared risk factors and vulnerabilities between narcissism and alcoholism can help healthcare professionals tailor treatment approaches and interventions.
• For instance, research has shown that genetic predispositions can place a person at risk of NPD.
• This combination often results in increased interpersonal conflicts, impaired judgment, and resistance to seeking help or acknowledging problems.
• Narcissism is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with oneself, a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration.
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• This can make treatment more challenging than it would be to treat each issue separately.

It’s important to note that medication should always be used in conjunction with therapy and other forms of support. Recognizing the signs of narcissism and alcoholism is an important first step towards seeking help and support. It can be challenging to acknowledge and confront these narcissism and alcoholism issues, but doing so is essential for recovery.

• If you or someone you know exhibits these signs, it is important to seek professional help and support.
• Five outcome variables (alcohol use, problems, and problem recognition, expectancies and evaluations) were tested in steps.
• People with narcissistic traits or NPD often exhibit a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success or power, and a belief that they are special or unique.
• It’s like trying to fill a bottomless pit – no matter how much they consume, it’s never enough to truly satisfy their emotional needs.
• If you’ve dealt with a narcissist you know that one minute they can be charming and pleasant but then turn around and become threatening and attacking.

Conditions

Both NPD and AUD are mental health conditions classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). According to a 2019 study in Behavioral Medicine, 40.6% of NPD have substance use problems. On the flip side, grandiose and vulnerable NPD were both independent factors for alcohol misuse, concluded a 2019 study in the Journal of American College Health.

Treatment options for narcissistic alcoholics

Following alcohol guidelines can help people stay within moderate levels of alcohol consumption. For females, it is not advisable to consume more than one unit of alcohol per day. With both conditions, the benefits of therapy depend on your willingness to work on yourself. It’s possible for people with AUD to successfully stop using alcohol when they have the right support and treatment. People who are genetically predisposed to experience unpleasant side effects of drinking are less likely to drink often, making AUD unlikely. If you think that you or a loved one has NPD or AUD, knowing the symptoms can help you better understand both conditions.

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is particularly effective for those with NPD, as it teaches emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Research indicates that individuals diagnosed with NPD are more likely to develop AUD compared to those without narcissistic traits.
• One such change might be to avoid substances like alcohol if they tend to trigger harmful behavior.
• The final analysis sample was 345 participants, which represents about 90% of the original 383 participants.

Interplay Between NPD and AUD

A person with narcissistic personality disorder may have an inflated or grandiose sense of self-importance or worth and experience feelings of entitlement. It’s possible to have a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) as well as an alcohol use disorder (AUD). For this reason, mental health professionals will routinely screen for substance use when diagnosing a personality disorder or screen for behavioral concerns when a person has a substance use disorder.

• It is important to recognize that alcoholism is not solely a result of personal weakness or moral failing, but rather a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
• The National Institute of Mental Health asserts that 22.6% of people suffering from a personality disorder may also have substance misuse problems.
• While not all individuals with narcissistic traits develop narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), these traits can significantly impact various aspects of their lives, including relationships and behaviors.
• The idea of vulnerable versus grandiose narcissism comes from the psychodynamic idea that people with narcissistic traits believe they need to be perfect to be okay.

These overlapping traits can make it hard to distinguish alcohol misuse from narcissism. In some cases, someone who’s misusing alcohol may display similar tendencies to narcissistic people — or at least, it might come across that way to those around them. By Michelle PugleMichelle Pugle writes health articles for award-winning websites, as seen in Healthline, Verywell, Everyday Health, and Psych Central. She has a Master’s degree, undergraduate degrees in English and Sociology, a diploma in Holistic Herbal Therapy, and is trained in mental health first aid, anti-violence work, and peer support work. Even so, with a combination of therapy, support, and persistence, around a third of people with AUD will maintain sobriety for at least a year and sometimes for decades. Medications like Campral, Topamax, and Revia have greatly improved AUD recovery rates.

Alcohol can temporarily alleviate feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and low self-worth, providing a temporary escape from the demands of maintaining a grandiose self-image. However, this reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism can lead to a dangerous cycle of addiction. People recovering from co-occurring AUD and NPD must find healthy ways to replace maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns. Narcissism involves manipulation, taking advantage of the kindness of others, and selfish behaviors. The care team helps clients overcome these symptoms and develop a healthy support system.

Personal and Social Coping Strategies

By doing so, a person is less likely to be «over-treated» for a condition they may not actually have. All personality and substance use disorders are diagnosed based on a strict set of criteria described in the DSM-5. While there is room for interpretation, a person with NPD and/or AUD must meet a minimum standard before a diagnosis can be delivered with confidence. Exhibiting narcissistic behaviors when drunk, for example, doesn’t inherently mean that a person has NPD. Alcohol can influence narcissistic behaviors, such as arrogance, self-importance, and feelings of superiority that aren’t otherwise present when sober. This comprehensive approach addresses the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of dual diagnoses, offering individuals the tools needed for sustainable recovery and a healthier future.