If people have risk factors for AUD, feel they are drinking excessively, or cannot control their alcohol intake, they can speak with a healthcare professional. A 2019 study looked at the link between narcissism and alcohol consumption in a questionnaire of 345 college students. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism were predictors of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.
In other words, those who had narcissistic tendencies were more likely to use alcohol and experience problems because of alcohol use. In some cases, someone who’s misusing alcohol may display similar tendencies to narcissistic people — or at least, it might come across that way to those around them. “If you are concerned that you may be causing a problem in these scenarios, a therapist can help you feel more at home with yourself and figure out why you rely on certain negative behaviors,” says Dr. Albers. Overt narcissism is what we tend to think of as the standard textbook definition of NPD.
Diagnosing alcoholism and NPD
Also, people with AUD might seem to behave similarly to people with narcissistic traits. In order to receive a diagnosis of NPD, someone needs to display the above symptoms over several years. While this may be true for a lot of people with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), there are others who fly a bit under the radar when it comes to their self-importance. This might include joining Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs that offer nonjudgmental peer support to others living with AUD. You can also join a local support group offered by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), which addresses substance abuse when NPD and other mental health disorders.
- If you know someone who regularly uses alcohol, it’s possible that narcissism might be one of the influencing factors.
- In addition to expert medical support, Ria Health’s program includes virtual coaching sessions to help people unlearn self-destructive patterns connected to alcohol.
- Recognizing these links traits may enable individuals to seek appropriate help in managing these conditions.
An overt narcissist wears their need for admiration, validation, and sense of self-importance on their sleeve. The expression of these needs and vulnerability in a covert narcissist is more hidden and internal. It can be challenging to identify NPD because people with narcissism don’t typically see their traits as symptoms. People with NPD also may be highly functioning, which may mislead those around them from thinking they have a disorder. If someone you know has alcoholic narcissist symptoms, don’t neglect your own needs. Being close with an alcoholic narcissist can be emotionally draining, and it’s crucial to take care of yourself.
The covert is the introverted “closet narcissist” or the shy, hypersensitive, and socially isolated narcissist. People who think that they may have an addiction or a personality disorder should consult a doctor or mental health professional for advice and treatment. 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. Treating NPD can be challenging and may require long-term therapy, but working alongside healthcare professionals can help people reduce symptoms.
The person then seeks out alcohol or substances to mediate these feelings, leading to more feelings of shame, and so on. This creates a pattern of dependent behavior, which is extremely harmful. Both grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism show a strong link to substance use disorders. A 2019 article in Frontiers in Psychiatry looks at the relationship between the problematic use of substances and narcissism, concluding that self-esteem plays a major role. If you think you’re misusing alcohol, or if you think you have NPD, reach out to a mental health professional. Everybody can benefit from speaking with a therapist, regardless of whether they fit the criteria for a mental health condition.
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Without treatment, people with NPD have trouble maintaining positive relationships and are vulnerable to abusing drugs and alcohol to cope with difficult emotions. Alcohol abuse disorder is characterized by how to talk to an alcoholic in denial periods of sobriety and relapse. Even so, with a combination of therapy, support, and persistence, around a third of people with AUD will maintain sobriety for at least a year and sometimes for decades.
It can be a part of celebratory occasions and fun, or an occasional way to unwind after a long day. For some people, alcohol use becomes regular and problematic and may lead to dependence. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Read more about living with a person who has AUD and managing a relationship with someone who has NPD. If your alcohol use is severe, you’ll likely need to go to an inpatient facility so that you can safely withdraw from alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, so it’s important to seek medical help.
What Is Covert Narcissism?
Alcoholism is an addiction where people cannot control their alcohol use. Narcissism and alcoholism may both share similar characteristics and can occur at the same time. Recognizing these links traits may enable individuals to seek appropriate help in managing these conditions. People with narcissism and those with an addiction share similar character traits. These include a lack of empathy and a willingness to put themselves at risk in the pursuit of feeling superior. Both NPD and AUD are mental health conditions classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
Anxiety and depression are much more common with covert narcissism than overt narcissism, but it might also be much more obvious. 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. For AUD to be diagnosed, a person must meet one of four possible criteria for alcohol abuse, three of seven possible criteria for alcohol dependence, and two of 12 possible criteria for AUD symptoms. Covert narcissists may engage in manipulation and other toxic behaviors to get their way and get the desired feedback to support their self-image, just as overt narcissists do. Personality disorders and substance use disorders occur together about 22.6% of the time, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
For the person with NPD, recognizing there is a problem in themselves is the first step towards recovering. If they have the willingness to change, psychotherapy, including individual, couple, and group therapy can help. You can also visit Psych Central’s mental health resource hub, which has information about how to find mental health support. The underlying narcissism and alcoholism cause of each is sometimes not the same, but the behaviors can seem very similar. Healthcare professionals and psychologists may use a set of criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to diagnose narcissism or AUD. To treat dual diagnosis, people will receive treatment options for both NPD and AUD.
Treating Alcoholism and Narcissism
People with AUD or NPD might resist getting treatment or looking for help. It’s possible for people with AUD to successfully stop using alcohol when they have the right support and treatment. If you think that you or a loved one has NPD or AUD, knowing the symptoms can help you better understand both conditions. In truth, alcohol withdrawal symptoms we all have various kinds of insecurities, but we don’t have to let those insecurities control the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. If you feel lost about who you are as a person and where you are in life right now, there’s a way to get back on the path toward feeling more like your true self.
Narcissists with low self-esteem may gain acceptance from others or a sense of security through alcohol consumption or use it as a coping mechanism for dealing with distress. In fact, some research suggests that alcohol misuse might be more common among people who have narcissistic tendencies. When called out, someone may respond by exhibiting more harmful behaviors like passive aggression or gaslighting. This may be because low self-esteem is often the reason for these behaviors, as one study highlighted when looking at the connection between cyberbullying and covert narcissism. Narcissists have a hard time responding to criticism, even when they’re in the wrong.
It seems that many people who have NPD might also have AUD, but it’s not clear why. People with NPD and people with AUD might have some symptoms in common. Setting up healthy boundaries about what you can and can’t put up with is also important because your needs have to be met just as much as other people around you. 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.