This means that communal narcissist utilizes their community, from friends to family to coworkers, to act out their narcissistic beliefs and feelings. If you have a relationship with someone who has NPD, you might struggle to understand their behaviors. People who have NPD might engage in exploitative actions such as gaslighting and manipulation. covert narcissism and alcoholism Learning to recognize these tendencies can help you better cope with narcissistic behaviors and establish your own boundaries. According to a 2009 article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the rates of drug addiction and alcoholism with NPD are 21.7% and 9.3% respectively, which is over 3% of the general population.

So far, FA has not been recognized as a formal psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; [53]) and in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11; [54]). Due to the relative novelty of this phenomenon, only little longitudinal and experimental research on its etiology is currently available [31, 55, 56]. Moreover, the available studies partly use different instruments to asses FA which limits the comparability of their results [57]. Therefore, similar to other forms of addictive behavior, its potential inclusion in the diagnostic manuals is controversially discussed in the literature [58, 59]. Nevertheless, it should not be ignored that recent longitudinal studies described potential negative consequences of FA for subjective well-being and emphasized the urgent need to investigate the mechanisms that foster its development.

Is there a link between narcissism and addiction?

However, it can be assumed that this positive experience may contribute to further excessive immersion into the online world and to the development of an addictive bond to the SNS that can negatively impact their well-being. Moreover, in correspondence with previous results [65, 66], grandiose narcissism was positively related to FA (confirmation of Hypothesis 3b). Research that considered the valence of the relationship between grandiose narcissism and anxiety symptoms revealed inconclusive results [20]. In the current study, which employed the anxiety subscale of the DASS-21 [21], grandiose narcissism was positively related to anxiety symptoms (see Research Question 1). Moreover, anxiety symptoms positively mediated the association between grandiose narcissism and FA (see Research Question 2). However, as shown by the results of the regression analysis and the mediation analyses, vulnerable narcissism seems to contribute to the addictive tendencies to a greater extent than grandiose narcissism.

Author of Trauma and Addiction, Dayton (2009), describes, “the needs of those around them have to come second to their meeting their own, often overpowering desire for their next ‘fix,’ whether it be a drink, drug, food or sexual encounter. Although experts believe that genetic factors can make people up to 50% more inclined toward alcohol use disorder, addiction has many possible causes. These include environmental factors, social factors, and emotional factors. A 2018 meta-analysis looked at the results of 62 studies and found that grandiose narcissism has a moderate association with increased social network use.

How to cope with the challenges of relating with narcissists or addicted people

2Entitlement rage was considered a facet of grandiosity or vulnerability in different studies [see Ref. (29)]. “+” indicates evidence for positive association, “++” strong evidence for positive association, “∼” no evidence for association. A 2014 study into narcissism and the use of internet pornography found a direct correlation between hours spent viewing pornographic material and the extent of narcissism. It also found that people who watch internet pornography are more likely to have narcissism than people who do not. We do not receive any compensation or commission for referrals to other treatment facilities.

• Thus, it may be inferred that the intensive use of Facebook typically reported for narcissistic individuals is at least partly driven by anxiety that may foster the development of addictive tendencies.
• Second, the comparably young and mostly female composition of the sample limits the generalizability of the current findings.
• Instead of that, she tells us that “it is preferable to create boundaries so that you are not taken on their rollercoaster of emotions.”
• People with narcissistic personality disorders may wish to control their sexual partner’s behavior for their own satisfaction, and they may have an inflated sense of sexual entitlement.

For some people, alcohol use becomes regular and problematic and may lead to dependence. Narcissists are full of entitlement and lack empathy for others, so they may https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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.

Is There a Connection Between Alcoholism and Narcissism?

You could start by engaging with a mental healthcare provider or treatment center that specializes in dual diagnoses. Treatment centers can also ensure that you can access the right support systems at the right time in your treatment. Again, if care is not coordinated by a qualified mental health professional, the overlapping treatments can lead to drug interactions, unintended side effects, and the possible abandonment of treatment. With NPD, for example, there are no drugs specifically used for the treatment of the personality disorder, but antidepressants or anxiolytics may be prescribed if depression or anxiety is present.

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. Our results suggest that targeting thought processes in which people with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) are actively devaluing others may be a good target for therapeutic intervention. However, note that in both mediation models only a partial mediation effect was obtained. Thus, it can be assumed that anxiety symptoms are an important, but not the sole factor that explains the enhanced risk of narcissistic individuals to develop FA. Their identification and successful handling could decrease the addictive tendencies and protect the well-being of narcissistic people.

Narcissistic personality disorder

If you think you have either or both conditions, it’s best to talk with a mental health professional for a diagnosis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 22.6% of people with a personality disorder also have a substance use disorder (SUD), which can include alcohol use. Traits like narcissism and personality disorders like NPD are long-standing. In order to have a diagnosis of NPD, they’ll have to consistently show the relevant symptoms over a period of many years.