Best Narcissist Books
It is important to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones should you find yourself in a tug of war with a narcissist — be it a family member, spouse, or parent. Once you recognize the signs of narcissism in the family dynamic, you can take steps to get yourself and your loved ones to safer shores and begin the healing process as well. Journalist, survivor, and NPD trauma coach Julie L. Hall provides a comprehensive, up-to-date, affirming, and accessible guide that will not only help you understand narcissistic abuse trauma, but will help you overcome trauma cycles and move forward with healing. In reviewing your list in this website, I started thinking about what has finally helped me after being in narc relationships since birth . I also was trained and worked as a master’s level counselor, and also did a lot of personal healing in the 80’s as well in codependency. It wasn’t until I became a narcissistic reaction born again Christian in 2013 that my eyes and brain could conceive of what I had and have endured. Therefore, I think one would be remiss in not including books that talk about NPD as a manifestation of the Jezebel spirit in male AND female narcs, and the Ahab spirit in the spouse/targeted counterpart. Unlike people with more realistic self-perceptions, narcissists’ self-perceptions are so unrealistically positive that others rarely do see them as they see themselves. Thus, narcissists believe that they are exceptional people and may behave in arrogant ways because they are attempting to bridge the gap between their self-perceptions and their meta-perceptions. On the other hand, narcissists might fully understand the meaning of narcissistic traits and understand the negative impact these traits have on others. This might explain why narcissists suffer from psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression), particularly in interpersonal domains (Miller, Campbell, & Pilkonis, 2007). Hopefully, future research will disentangle the meaning narcissists assign to narcissistic traits. Interestingly, others are able to detect narcissistic traits at above chance levels from minimal information (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008; Friedman et al., 2007; Vazire et al., 2008). But is the narcissist herself aware of this aspect of her personality? We know of only two studies examining this question, and the results are mixed. Thus, at least for subclinical narcissism, the current evidence as to whether narcissists have insight into their narcissistic personality is unclear. How appreciated, brilliant, incredible, and gorgeous you are, and how much your presence in their life means to them. This is called love bombing, and it can be intoxicating to a victim of narcissistic abuse. It may feel euphoric, but it lands with a dark intention. Because, if you stay close to a narcissistic, it tends to lead to whiplash-inducing moments where the charming, gracious, romantic person who sees so much beauty in you suddenly has another face—an enraged, entitled, accusatory one. And you meet it the minute they don’t get their way in the slightest. So, if you suspect you have a narcissist in your circle, or might be in a one-sided relationship with one—whether or not the dynamic feels toxic—read on. His articles, advice, and insights on relationships have appeared in newspapers and magazines such as Time, the New York Times, The Sunday Times , Psychology Today, and Women’s Health, as well as countless other magazines and websites. He’s also been featured multiple times on NPR, CBS Radio, and the Oprah Winfrey Network channel; appeared on various local morning shows; and been a guest on more than sixty radio stations here and abroad. Dr. Malkin is president and director of the Cambridge, Massachusetts–based YM Psychotherapy and Consultation, Inc., which provides psychotherapy and evidence-based couples workshops. I have learned that it makes me more comfortable not being in that position, because I don’t have to behave that way. So it actually makes me feel more like myself not to be there. |