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Those close to both narcissists and alcoholics experience deprivation, abandonment, shame, rejection and feeling used. Loved ones of both alcoholics and narcissists may withdraw emotionally or eventually leave the relationship. If someone you know exhibits destructive, selfish behavior—and can’t be held accountable for it due to their drinking—it can be hard to decipher if you’re dealing with an alcoholic or a narcissist. After all, this behavior seems to fit the bill for both conditions. Treating both disorders while at a recovery treatment center can help a person remain sober once they’ve completed the program. NPD is a personality disorder, whereas AUD is a substance use disorder.
Both are mental health conditions that can damage relationships, cause personal distress, and undermine a person’s quality of life and sense of well-being. Treatment for co-occurring alcoholism and narcissistic personality disorder is essential to help the individual recover from both conditions. Treatment may involve medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups, or in some cases, hospitalization.
Take the First Step Towards a Healthier Life
Sustained consumption allows alcohol to influence the body’s regular functioning, and with enough time, an individual will struggle to live without drinking alcohol. From there, sessions will work to demonstrate how narcissistic traits impact daily life – as well as how they affect other people – and how an individual can better manage and outmanoeuvre their urges. A common aspect of developing a substance abuse problem is denial [3]. Heavy drinkers will refuse to see that they are at fault, and these misperceptions can become more intense and elaborate as time passes. When an individual drinks alcohol regularly, they run the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. When the patient is through most of the serious symptoms, they can begin their behavioral therapy for addiction and their treatment for NPD.
Doing so would risk encountering the deep shame and emptiness they carry. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. Read more about living with a person who has AUD and managing a relationship with someone who has NPD.
Getting Effective Treatment
When you’re caught in the crossfire of someone with these symptoms, recognize that you aren’t responsible for their behavior—as much as they might try to pin it on you or someone else. The main treatment https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for NPD is talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy. People who are genetically predisposed to experience unpleasant side effects of drinking are less likely to drink often, making AUD unlikely.
In order to receive a diagnosis of NPD, someone needs to display the above symptoms over several years. It can be hard to discern even from a clinical perspective if alcoholism is separate from narcissism. The takeaway is that the individual needs treatment to make significant changes in their life. Depending on the severity of the problem, residential or inpatient treatment may be necessary. Once detox is completed and sobriety has begun, outpatient therapy can be beneficial. It is also recommended to utilize family or couples counseling to heal relationships as well.
Alcoholism And Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with NPD and people with AUD might have some symptoms in common. It’s worth noting that the DSM-5-TR doesn’t use the term “alcoholism,” but the term is still used colloquially to refer to AUD. In a conflict, a narcissist will turn everything around on you, gaslight, and refuse to apologize or agree to change. We do not receive any compensation or commission for referrals to other treatment facilities.
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. A 2018 study examined the link between narcissism and alcohol use based on a survey of 345 college students. It found that narcissism was a predictor of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. If you think that you or a loved one has NPD or AUD, knowing the symptoms can help you better understand both conditions.
For instance, NPD and AUD both involve psychotherapy, but the formats for each can vary. For NPD, it may involve individual or group counseling using cognitive behavioral therapy, schema-focused therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. For AUD, group approaches such as AA and other twelve-step addiction programs are common.
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). These overlapping traits can make it hard to distinguish alcohol misuse from narcissism. Narcissists are full of entitlement and lack empathy for others, so they may do whatever they want to others with no regard to their feelings. Alcoholics do the same when they put their drinking first without concern for how it affects others.
It was estimated as recently as 2017, that approximately one in every eight adults in the United States meets the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Individuals with a NPD feel they can only be understood by special people. They take advantage of others, especially to accomplish their own goals. These individuals narcissism and alcoholism have a lack of concern for the well-being of others or how others may be affected by their actions. These individuals will debate, argue, distract, or back you into a corner, due to the way alcohol affects them. Although people with AUD may relapse or have treatment setbacks, they can recover from the disorder.
- By building support from family and friends, you are more likely to stay on course with your dual treatment plan and avoid the stress that can make AUD and NPD worse.
- However, it’s recommended that both conditions are treated at the same time to improve your likelihood of recovery.
- What they view as insults to self-esteem may make it difficult to accept and follow through with treatment.
- Summary of the reviewed literature on Dark Triad traits in relation to substance use and addictive behaviors.
- Beginning down the road to recovery from alcohol or drug addiction may feel overwhelming, but that is where we can offer some assistance.
- Once detox is completed and sobriety has begun, outpatient therapy can be beneficial.
