I have heard a lot of people say that they have OCD because they clean too much.
Can you give me some examples of OCD like behavior that you have experienced or witnessed?
P.S: OCD=Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
My office
One of the many PLEASURES of being a psychologist is that you always get your own office!!! And you can decorate it any way you want it! I don't have a great knack of decorating but I wanted to personalize the space and make it as comfortable and warm as I could for my clients. So far, they all like it.
What do you think of the "client corner" of my office?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Personality Disorders-II
Here comes yet another one in the DRAMATIC cluster of personality disorders. This one is called NARCISSISTIC Personality Disorder. As you can guess from the name, a person suffering from this disorder has a deep sense of love for oneself. This love is so powerful that it becomes a source of distress for the others, and hence pathological.
I know of one acquaintance who has this disorder. He is male and therefore, I will use the pronoun "him" in this post. However, both men and women both can suffer from this one.
Ready?
Do you know of someone who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)?
We all are proud of our achievements and talk about them to some extent but someone with NPD will continue to do so for days, months, and years together, even when there is an absence of accomplishments, pretending that he is a hero and no one else exists.
Do you know of someone who is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love?
Someone with NPD will live in their own world where they live a glorified life and when confronted with reality, will react with anger and justifications. It wont be surprising to realize that a lot of their narrated stories are fake.
Do you know of someone who believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)?
He with NPD will believe those beneath him to be average (since he is so superior). And those average are close to being worthless. To interact with those average people will be below his dignity.
Do you know of someone who requires excessive admiration?
He with NPD will want praise and compliments all the time. If people are jealous of him, that will give him pleasure. And if people disagree with him, then they are inferior and "stupid". They want to be told that whatever they do is the best. They do not care if its sincere or not, the amount matters.
Do you know of someone who has a sense of entitlement?
Those with NPD will believe that the world has to revolve around them and stop at their convenience. People should comply to their wishes whatever it may be and when these expectations are not met, they react with rage.
Do you know of someone who selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends?
Those with NPD will not care if they are hurting someone or using them to fulfill whatever they themselves want to achieve. Therefore, they are not able to have any deep relationships.
Do you know of someone who lacks empathy?
Those with NPD will not be able to step into someone else's shoes to understand the problem that they are going through. They will only be preoccupied with their own issues and have no concern for others' distress.
Do you know of someone who is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him?
If someone with NPD discovers someone else who he perceives to be better liked, appreciated, or talented, he will be very envious of the person. He also believes that those "inferior" to him are jealous of him and therefore do not talk to him.
Do you know of someone who shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes?
Basically, someone with NPD will be extremely proud, arrogant, boastful, and treat others like dirt.
So there!! You are now educated on this disorder. Remember not to confuse high self-esteem with NPD. Someone with high self-esteem will not necessarily think that he is superior to others. But someone with NPD will. Moreover,underneath all this grandiosity that the NPD person displays, ies a very fragile self-esteem. They have trouble handling criticism and may secretly be ashamed when that happens. Therefore, in order to make themselves feel better, they try to belittle others!
As with all other personality disorders, the person suffering from it, may be in DENIAL and react with anger when suggested that they might have it. But if you feel like someone has this disorder and you want to help them, see if you can get them to see a professional! Good luck!
Remember: This was NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.
I know of one acquaintance who has this disorder. He is male and therefore, I will use the pronoun "him" in this post. However, both men and women both can suffer from this one.
Ready?
Do you know of someone who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)?
We all are proud of our achievements and talk about them to some extent but someone with NPD will continue to do so for days, months, and years together, even when there is an absence of accomplishments, pretending that he is a hero and no one else exists.
Do you know of someone who is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love?
Someone with NPD will live in their own world where they live a glorified life and when confronted with reality, will react with anger and justifications. It wont be surprising to realize that a lot of their narrated stories are fake.
Do you know of someone who believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)?
He with NPD will believe those beneath him to be average (since he is so superior). And those average are close to being worthless. To interact with those average people will be below his dignity.
Do you know of someone who requires excessive admiration?
He with NPD will want praise and compliments all the time. If people are jealous of him, that will give him pleasure. And if people disagree with him, then they are inferior and "stupid". They want to be told that whatever they do is the best. They do not care if its sincere or not, the amount matters.
Do you know of someone who has a sense of entitlement?
Those with NPD will believe that the world has to revolve around them and stop at their convenience. People should comply to their wishes whatever it may be and when these expectations are not met, they react with rage.
Do you know of someone who selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends?
Those with NPD will not care if they are hurting someone or using them to fulfill whatever they themselves want to achieve. Therefore, they are not able to have any deep relationships.
Do you know of someone who lacks empathy?
Those with NPD will not be able to step into someone else's shoes to understand the problem that they are going through. They will only be preoccupied with their own issues and have no concern for others' distress.
Do you know of someone who is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him?
If someone with NPD discovers someone else who he perceives to be better liked, appreciated, or talented, he will be very envious of the person. He also believes that those "inferior" to him are jealous of him and therefore do not talk to him.
Do you know of someone who shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes?
Basically, someone with NPD will be extremely proud, arrogant, boastful, and treat others like dirt.
So there!! You are now educated on this disorder. Remember not to confuse high self-esteem with NPD. Someone with high self-esteem will not necessarily think that he is superior to others. But someone with NPD will. Moreover,underneath all this grandiosity that the NPD person displays, ies a very fragile self-esteem. They have trouble handling criticism and may secretly be ashamed when that happens. Therefore, in order to make themselves feel better, they try to belittle others!
As with all other personality disorders, the person suffering from it, may be in DENIAL and react with anger when suggested that they might have it. But if you feel like someone has this disorder and you want to help them, see if you can get them to see a professional! Good luck!
Remember: This was NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
