People who are experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs, or sex should contact a doctor or mental health professional. A doctor can offer help and treatment to those dealing with addiction, which may involve suggesting lifestyle changes or rehabilitation clinics. Whatever the case may be, people need effective alcoholism treatment A strong treatment program will address both the problematic drinking and any other psychological issues, including narcissistic tendencies. Along with denying the existence of their drinking problem, alcoholics refuse to take responsibility for their harmful behaviors.

• However, not everyone with narcissism has an addiction and vice versa.
• For narcissists, manipulation is a way to use someone to get the reactions or attention they desire.
• People may be unable to prevent certain factors, such as genetic reasons, that increase the risk of AUD and NPD.
• American Addiction Institute of Mind and Medicine is located in Orange County, CA.
• When drunk, they have an easier time seeing themselves as smarter and more powerful than everyone else.

If you answered “yes” to most of the questions above, speaking with a therapist might be a good idea. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to look for mental health help if you’re experiencing something that causes you distress. In the United States, the DSM-5-TR is used to diagnose both conditions. People can misuse alcohol without having AUD or being addicted to alcohol. They might infrequently have bouts of excessive drinking, for example, but find that it doesn’t affect their life and that it’s easy to cut back on alcohol (or to stop drinking entirely).

Treatment For Co-occurring Alcoholism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder

However, NPD includes other traits, such as needing constant praise and special treatment, reacting negatively to criticism, and manipulating others. People with NPD might be unwilling or unable to recognize others’ feelings and needs. These overlapping traits can make it hard to distinguish alcohol misuse from narcissism.

But it’s unlikely they’ll reveal the whole, unadulterated truth, regardless of how much they drink. As far as the narcissist is concerned, they tell the truth 99% of the time, but https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/you-are-not-powerless-over-alcohol-and-heres-why/ that doesn’t necessarily mean that truth aligns with yours. Under the influence of alcohol, the narcissist’s inflated sense of self-importance becomes even more pronounced.

Treatment

Many treatment programs utilize a 12-Step approach, and many of those recovering choose to attend meetings after they complete their treatment. Taking responsibility for actions and behaviors would mean moving out of denial and not only having to admit the truth but becoming fully responsible for it. If they fully acknowledge their drinking problem they know they can no longer justify their drinking.

Below, we’ll dive into just how strong the link between narcissism and alcoholism is, the similarities and differences of these disorders, and what to do if you or someone you love shares these traits. When seeking treatment for alcohol addiction, it is important narcissism and alcoholism to locate a treatment program that offers a medically supervised detox program to help manage the dangerous withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. Drinking when consequences are obviously damaging or will cause major losses, are both signs of severe alcohol abuse.

Treatment and Recovery

Narcissists are very emotionally fragile and can have extreme reactions to any type of negative criticism. They have to continually be seen at the center of attention and to deny that anyone is equal or better. Their pasts, their futures, their mood, their day, their whim, their desire – anything entitles them to drink. Entitlement is a way to justify not just drinking but also feeling, which can fuel not taking responsibility or coming out of denial. Similarly, people displaying narcissistic tendencies are more vulnerable to alcoholism because of the reasons explored earlier.

They will do anything to avoid scrutinizing their inner selves, even if it means drinking so much that it hurts their lives. Narcissists are well known for their inability to cope with boredom. The experience of having nothing to do, and no one to impress, fills them with dread because it brings with it a risk of self-reflection. Alcohol helps the narcissist overcome their deep-seated insecurities and gain confidence, increasing the likelihood of them experiencing problems with alcohol later on.