TRA + Narcissistic Personality Disorder

submitted by veruscka8 from (self.GenderCritical)

Narcissistic personality disorder

Overview

Narcissistic personality disorder — one of several types of personality disorders — is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they're not given the special favors or admiration they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships unfulfilling, and others may not enjoy being around them.

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder centers around talk therapy (psychotherapy).

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder and the severity of symptoms vary. People with the disorder can:

  • Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  • Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
  • Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
  • Exaggerate achievements and talents
  • Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
  • Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
  • Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
  • Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
  • Take advantage of others to get what they want
  • Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
  • Be envious of others and believe others envy them
  • Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
  • Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office

  • At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

  • Become impatient or angry when they don't receive special treatment

  • Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted

  • React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior

  • Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior

  • Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change

  • Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection

  • Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation

When to see a doctor

People with narcissistic personality disorder may not want to think that anything could be wrong, so they may be unlikely to seek treatment. If they do seek treatment, it's more likely to be for symptoms of depression, drug or alcohol use, or another mental health problem. But perceived insults to self-esteem may make it difficult to accept and follow through with treatment.

If you recognize aspects of your personality that are common to narcissistic personality disorder or you're feeling overwhelmed by sadness, consider reaching out to a trusted doctor or mental health provider. Getting the right treatment can help make your life more rewarding and enjoyable.

Causes

It's not known what causes narcissistic personality disorder. As with personality development and with other mental health disorders, the cause of narcissistic personality disorder is likely complex. Narcissistic personality disorder may be linked to:

  • Environment ― mismatches in parent-child relationships with either excessive adoration or excessive criticism that is poorly attuned to the child's experience
  • Genetics ― inherited characteristics
  • Neurobiology — the connection between the brain and behavior and thinking

Risk factors

Narcissistic personality disorder affects more males than females, and it often begins in the teens or early adulthood. Keep in mind that, although some children may show traits of narcissism, this may simply be typical of their age and doesn't mean they'll go on to develop narcissistic personality disorder.

Although the cause of narcissistic personality disorder isn't known, some researchers think that in biologically vulnerable children, parenting styles that are overprotective or neglectful may have an impact. Genetics and neurobiology also may play a role in development of narcissistic personality disorder.

Complications

Complications of narcissistic personality disorder, and other conditions that can occur along with it, can include:

  • Relationship difficulties
  • Problems at work or school
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Physical health problems
  • Drug or alcohol misuse
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Prevention

Because the cause of narcissistic personality disorder is unknown, there's no known way to prevent the condition. However, it may help to:

  • Get treatment as soon as possible for childhood mental health problems
  • Participate in family therapy to learn healthy ways to communicate or to cope with conflicts or emotional distress
  • Attend parenting classes and seek guidance from therapists or social workers if needed

src: mayo clinic

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[–]MarkTwainiac 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Sexologist and TIM expert Ray Blanchard has noted that the anger and hatred that many TIMs, including but not confined to TRAs, feel towards women differs from the misogyny of other men because it's rooted in, and is an expression of, these men's narcissistic rage. They experience their maleness as a "narcissistic injury" and blame women for it.

Sexologist Anne Lawrence MD, the TIM with AGP who authored "Men Trapped in Men's Bodies: Narratives of Autogynephilic Trannssexualism" and other important work has observed that AGPs typically/often display many traits of narcissism and NPD.

It seems to me that most TIMs nowadays, regardless of their sexual orientation, are all AGP to some degree as well as highly narcissistic. Some have full-blown NPD; others just have narcissistic traits and tendencies. Nowadays, in fact, most MtF transism appears to be an expression of narcissism - and other factors that go hand and hand in with is such as male sexual fetishism, compulsion, obsession and male libertinism. But the narcissism isn't incidental or a side dish to TIMs' transness, it's a major feature and a fundamental driving force.

Unfortunately, I see a lot of narcissism also in many TIFs, and the various non-binaries gender speshuls all coming out as kweer.

[–]MarkTwainiac 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

"Narcissistic personality disorder affects more males than females, and it often begins in the teens or early adulthood."

Hmm, what else begins in males during puberty/adolescence and early adulthood? Autogynephilia and other sexual fetishes and perversions.

AGP always begins with, and always involves, disregarding and violating the boundaries of girls and women. All AGPs tell of "borrowing" the undies, hosiery, bathing suits and other clothing items belonging to their sisters, mums, grans, aunties, flatmates, GFs, wives, daughters and so on to use in order to get aroused and wank off in/to. With a few rare, self-aware exceptions of AGP men who are trying to deal with their proclivities without doing harm to women and women's rights, most AGPs inevitably progress to wanting and demanding they be let in to all female spaces.

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have a personal theory that narcissistic tendencies, if not full-on narcissism, can be found in those who benefit from a social imbalance. I think we see it in a lot of men due to patriarchy, but we also see it more in middle/upper class women now that a middle class has had a couple generations to raise kids in. I think the way we raise kids indoctrinates them into a learned dominant/submissive relationship imbalance, normalized by the isolation of the nuclear family, and if those who grow up and get to a position of power, whether economically or socially over others, they are likely to exhibit narcissistic tendencies, if not full-on narcissism. It's similar to how Seneca said you're more likely to find angry people in wealthier classes, because they expect to get things their way and take it harder when they don't have control.

[–][deleted] 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thank you for this! It's my niche interest here based on personal experience with Bipolar/Cluster B PDs and their large overlap with all things TRA.

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Also important is collective narcissism, which seems to be what's happening with the TQ set.

[–]SameOldBS 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I remember watching that C4 documentary The Making of Me and being really struck by the narcissism of the middle-aged men who were transitioning. One particularly memorable scene was a dinner party where the husband was now 'out' as a woman, and you could see how angry and appalled the other guests were to his obliviousness to his wife's distress.