A 2018 study examined the link between narcissism and alcohol use based on a survey of 345 college students. It found that narcissism was a predictor of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. However, NPD includes other traits, such as needing constant praise and special treatment, reacting negatively to criticism, and manipulating others.
They react strongly to any perceived criticism that confirms their negative sense of self. These co-occurring mental health conditions can make it particularly challenging for clinicians, let alone friends and family, to pinpoint where the problems stem from. Grandiose narcissism was a positive predictor of alcohol consumption and a positive (i.e., good) evaluation of alcohol-related problems. Vulnerable narcissism was a positive predictor of alcohol-related problems, problem recognition (i.e., readiness to change), and problem expectancies. A 2019 study found a link between vulnerable narcissism, shame, and an increased likelihood of problem drinking and gambling.
Alcohol use disorder
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 22.6% of people with a personality disorder also have a substance use disorder (SUD), which can include alcohol use. Many people use the terms “alcohol use disorder” and “alcohol misuse” interchangeably, but they refer to two different things. Although alcohol misuse and AUD can cause someone to display narcissist-like behavior, this behavior might change when they’re sober or in recovery. Alcohol abuse disorder is characterized by periods of sobriety and relapse. 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.
Illness and complaints of symptoms are used in order to control and manipulate or even to keep partners from leaving them. As a Counselling Psychologist specialising in narcissistic abuse I have seen and heard many stories and descriptions of the distinct characteristics of the narcissist. One of the most helpful things I advise my clients to do is to arm yourself with as much as information as necessary so that you are more able to recognise narcissism before you find yourself in an abusive relationship with one. Their gratification may be indirect through their emotional investment in someone they admire. They take things personally and feel distrustful, mistreated, unappreciated, and misunderstood. Although they devalue themselves, they dream of greatness and wonder why people don’t appreciate and understand them.
Narcissism and alcohol use disorder
In truth, we all have various kinds of insecurities, but we don’t have to let those insecurities control the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. If you feel lost about who you are as a person and where you are in life right now, there’s a way to get back on the path toward feeling more like your true self. Overt narcissism is what we tend to think of as the standard textbook definition of NPD. An overt narcissist comes off as self-absorbed, vain and outwardly expressive about their self-importance but tends to feel insecure, less-than and inadequate on the inside. Individuals who are experiencing these symptoms would benefit from considering a treatment program for alcohol abuse. If you think you have NPD, try to make an appointment with a mental health professional.
People with covert narcissism generally spend more time thinking about their abilities and achievements than talking about them. NPD typically involves insecurity and an easily damaged sense of self-esteem. This can manifest in covert narcissism as extreme sensitivity to criticism.
tips to heal from covert abuse
It seems that many people who have NPD might also have AUD, but it’s not clear why. People with NPD and people with AUD covert narcissism and alcoholism might have some symptoms in common. Alternatively, you can access support symptoms for each condition separately.
While all narcissists react poorly to criticism, the introvert may have the thinnest skin of all, because they believe they’re uniquely sensitive. Instead of the aggressive and exploitative nature of extroverted narcissist, coverts have feelings of neglect or belittlement, hypersensitivity, anxiety, and delusions of persecution. No, not all addicts have narcissistic personality disorder, just as not every person with this disorder is a narcissist addict. However, people who are addicted to alcohol may display narcissistic traits that can seem like alcoholic narcissism as their dependency makes them more focused on feeding their addiction and less attuned to the needs of others. People with covert narcissism are not as outwardly aggressive or boastful about themselves.
The silent treatment
Playing the victim may involve saying or acting like you’ve caused them harm and implying that you need to repair the damage. By Jodi Clarke, MA, LPC/MHSP
Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice. We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice. We’re all under pressure to be like our ideals, to make ourselves into a certain image, and we do all sorts of things to create the illusion that we’re fine, including lying to ourselves and others,” he says.