The Link Between Alcohol and Narcissistic Personality Disorder

In addition, men scored higher on exploitativeness (i.e., interpersonally manipulative for personal gain) than women. We conducted mediational analysis with asymmetric confidence intervals and a bias-corrected bootstrap technique. Mediational tests showed that higher levels of grandiose-fantasy were indirectly related to fewer alcohol-related problems through less IC and less heavy-episodic drinking. In contrast, higher levels of devaluing were indirectly related to more alcohol-related problems through more IC and heavy-episodic-drinking.

• When narcissistic personality disorder and substance abuse are co-occurring, symptoms of both issues are worsened.
• All therapies we use have earned approval from the Joint Commission and other accrediting bodies.
• They may experience arrogance, manipulation, rejection, and a lack of empathy.
• As for NPD, there is not a specific drug to treat it, but some patients benefit from antidepressants.

Individuals can go through talk therapy, developing social skills and targeting emotional triggers. Treatment for an alcohol use disorder can begin https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with an alcohol detox program. It involves the use of medications like naltrexone that decreases the impacts of withdrawal on the brain.

Treating Ego and Alcohol

This also makes it difficult to recommend the correct treatment. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are closely linked. Healthcare professionals may ask people about their drinking habits to assess AUD. To diagnose NPD, a doctor may narcissism and alcoholism refer people to a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist may carry out a standard psychiatric interview, which healthcare professionals use to diagnose personality disorders. Healthcare professionals may also use the Narcissistic Personality Inventory to diagnose narcissism.

In addition to expert medical support, Ria Health’s program includes virtual coaching sessions to help people unlearn self-destructive patterns connected to alcohol. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism, or covert narcissism, was a risk factor for future alcohol-related problems. Compared to grandiose narcissists, people in this group were more likely to acknowledge that they had a problem. Narcissism is intense self-involvement to the extent that it makes the person overlook the needs of people around them. Although everybody may show narcissistic behavior occasionally, true narcissists often disregard other people and their feelings. In addition, they don’t seem to understand the effect their behavior has on other people.

How Does Alcohol Affect a Narcissist?

If you or a loved one needs help for a substance use disorder and a co-occurring  mental health disorder, you can find help for both at Chapters Recovery Center. We can provide a medically supervised detox (a necessity for alcohol withdrawal) and a range of outpatient programs, beginning with the most intensive partial hospitalization program (PHP). You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to reach out for help.

However, it’s recommended that both conditions are treated at the same time to improve your likelihood of recovery. You might also engage in lifestyle changes and self-care strategies in order to make progress. One such change might be to avoid substances like alcohol if they tend to trigger harmful behavior. If you answered “yes” to most of the questions above, speaking with a therapist might be a good idea.

Dark Side of Narcissism

Depression causes a person to have a consistently negative outlook and affects a person’s thoughts and actions. Alcohol is sometimes used as a quick fix but can actually make symptoms worse. Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa.

• Alcoholics believe that drinking comes first, even at the expense of the needs of their loved ones.
• Further research into the causes of AUD might help experts develop more treatment options.
• During this stage, alcohol is removed entirely from the body.

This article discusses the similarities and differences between people with narcissistic personality disorder and those with alcohol use disorder. Narcissistic personality disorder and alcoholism are co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders are substance use disorders and mental disorders that exist at the same time. In order to minimize the negative effect the behaviors of an alcoholic narcissist have on your life, it is essential to establish firm boundaries.