Getting the right treatment can help make your life more rewarding and enjoyable. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.

What to expect from your mental health provider

A personality disorder is a mental health condition where people have a lifelong pattern of seeing themselves and reacting to others in ways that cause problems. People with personality disorders often have a hard time understanding emotions and tolerating distress. Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder is talk therapy, also called psychotherapy. Medicines may be included in your treatment if you have other mental health conditions, such as depression.

Send a note of thanks to Mayo Clinic researchers who are revolutionizing healthcare and improving patient outcomes. Genetics and other factors also may play a role in the development of narcissistic personality disorder. Therapy can be short term to help you manage during times of stress or crisis. Therapy also can be provided on an ongoing basis to help you achieve and maintain your goals. Often, including family members or others in therapy can be helpful.

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Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, relate to others and behave. Many narcissism and alcoholism link people with one type of personality disorder also have symptoms of at least one other type. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is not the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is an anxiety disorder. People have unique personalities made up of a complex combination of different traits.

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If they do seek treatment, it’s more likely to be for symptoms of depression, drug or alcohol misuse, or another mental health problem. What they view as insults to self-esteem may make it difficult to accept and follow through with treatment. If you notice symptoms in a family member or friend, talk to that person about seeing a doctor or mental health professional. If the relationship causes you a lot of stress, you may find it helpful to see a therapist. When people have personality traits that are less adaptive, this leads to inflexibility and unhealthy coping. For example, they may manage stress by drinking or misusing drugs, have a hard time managing their anger, and find it hard to trust and connect with others.

There are no medicines specifically used to treat narcissistic personality disorder. But if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other conditions, medicines such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines may be helpful. People with narcissistic personality disorder may not want to think that anything could be wrong, so they usually don’t seek treatment.

Antisocial personality disorder

• Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood.
• In some cases, you may not know that you have a personality disorder.
• Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.
• Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, relate to others and behave.
• And they can lead to social isolation, other mental health issues with addictions, as well as occupational and legal issues.

Personality disorders can seriously disrupt your life and the lives of those who care about you. And they can lead to social isolation, other mental health issues with addictions, as well as occupational and legal issues. Narcissistic personality disorder affects more males than females, and it often begins in the teens or early adulthood. Some children may show traits of narcissism, but this is often typical for their age and doesn’t mean they’ll go on to develop narcissistic personality disorder.

In addition, someone who has known you for a long time may be able to ask helpful questions or share important information.

If you’re aware that you have any of the symptoms above, talk to your doctor or other regular healthcare professional or see a mental health professional. People with borderline personality disorder have a strong fear of abandonment or being left alone. Even though they want to have loving and lasting relationships, the fear of being abandoned often leads to mood swings and anger. It also leads to impulsiveness and self-injury that may push others away.

• A personality disorder is a mental health condition where people have a lifelong pattern of seeing themselves and reacting to others in ways that cause problems.
• Many people with one type of personality disorder also have symptoms of at least one other type.
• If you notice symptoms in a family member or friend, talk to that person about seeing a doctor or mental health professional.
• Consider taking a trusted family member or friend along to help remember the details.

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves. Impulsiveness involves having extreme emotions and acting or doing things without thinking about them first. If you have any symptoms of a personality disorder, see your doctor or a mental health professional. When personality disorders are not treated, they can cause serious issues in relationships and mood. Also, the ability to function and pursue personal goals may get worse without treatment.

It’s believed that personality disorders are caused by a blend of how genetics and your environment affect you. Your genes may make it more likely that you develop a personality disorder, and what happens to you in life may set a personality disorder into motion. You may start by seeing your health care provider, or you may be referred you to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Some features of narcissistic personality disorder are like those of other personality disorders. Also, it’s possible to be diagnosed with more than one personality disorder at the same time. Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder centers around talk therapy, also called psychotherapy.

Personality traits affect how people understand and relate to the world around them, as well as how they see themselves. In some cases, you may not know that you have a personality disorder. Consider taking a trusted family member or friend along to help remember the details.

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. Mood swings, anger and impulsiveness often get better with age. But the main issues of self-image and fear of being abandoned, as well as relationship issues, go on.