Living with a narcissist can be incredibly challenging, particularly if they aren’t willing to enter narcissistic personality disorder treatment and get the help they need. But following a few simple tips can help you to maintain your own mental health. It may even help your loved one get the help they need.
Sometimes, you can struggle to go through this situation on your own. If you or your loved one are prepared to get help, call Promises today at 844.875.5609 to learn about our comprehensive mental health treatment programs.
Signs of Narcissism
Narcissism is the more common term for narcissistic personality disorder. People with this disorder often have an aggrandized sense of self-importance, seek out positive attention from others, and have difficulty understanding or caring about the feelings of others.
Some common signs of narcissism include:
- Taking advantage of other people
- A constant preoccupation about themselves or their success
- Expecting special treatment from others
- Arrogance or excessive confidence
- A belief that they are superior to others
- Difficulty accepting criticism
- Underlying feelings of insecurity
These are just a few of the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. The condition can have an even wider range of symptoms and consequences if left untreated.
Tips for Living With a Narcissist
Living with a narcissist can be extremely difficult. Due to the nature of the disorder, people with narcissism often treat those around them very poorly. They frequently expect others to constantly be attending to their needs.
If you are living with a narcissist, it’s important to prioritize your own health and well-being. Some of the best steps you can take include:
Educate Yourself About Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Learning more about narcissistic personality disorder can help you to understand your loved one, how they think, and why they behave the way they do. By taking this perspective, you can better predict the way they might behave in certain situations and prepare for potentially challenging moments.
Hold Strong Boundaries
People with narcissistic personality disorder will often expect the people they live with to constantly accommodate their needs or expect special treatment. If you live with a narcissist, you can find yourself in a never-ending cycle of caring for your loved one, lavishing them with praise, or being taken advantage of.
Learning to set strong boundaries with your loved one will be of critical importance. Clear and direct boundaries can help to avoid some of these requests. In turn, they can provide you with enough space to go about your own life as you see fit.
Prioritize Your Mental Health
Living with a narcissist can be incredibly taxing. Between their requests for special treatment, their intolerance of criticism, and the mood swings they exhibit when they don’t get their way, the stress of living with a person with narcissistic personality disorder can quickly become too much to bear.
When people experience chronic stress, they place themselves at a heightened risk for disorders such as depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders. When you prioritize your own mental health, including seeking out professional support if needed, you can avoid these devastating consequences and maintain your own well-being.
Reach Out to Get Professional Support at Promises
At Promises, we offer a range of comprehensive mental health treatment programs. Our experts are here to help both you and your loved one deal with the challenges of narcissistic personality disorder. Whatever kind of support you’re looking for, our team has the tools and expertise to help.
To get started with treatment, call 844.875.5609 to speak to a member of our team. We can walk you through the treatment options that work best for you and will be there to support you at every step of your mental health journey.