NPD Diagnosis + Converting Negative Narcissism To Positive Narcisism

[The Right Honourable Jimmy]

I am having an assessment for Narcissism Personality Disorder in a week with a specialist pdoc. My key worker says it's very likely I am a narcissist. Personally I do not mind, I see it as a very positive trait and it's what keeps me alive since I'm bipolar as well and it kept me from not committing suicide when I had depressive episodes in the past except from once when I was at a horrible state. My ideology is, it's exceptionally important that I don't kill myself since my personality perceives suicide as weakness(NO OFFENCE...SOWWY) It's not good at the end of the day...

 

The question is how to I convert negative narcissism to positive narcissism,

how can I still be godlike but understand how others feel?

How can still make my life shine, become someone very important, but not be an arsehole and not be a corrupted leader. I do like being in charge, that is true...

 

I got to do something, my key worker thinks as my personality grows, people around me would suffer from emotional narcissistic abuse because I can be extremely manipulative at times. At the moment, I can't see why would that be true and I don't find my traits horrible. I love attention (NOT the sort of pity type attention), praise...positive attention such as WELL DONE!!! YOU'RE F%"!"£$ GREAT" that sort of attention. (I do despite negative attention, that's for sure). I can't seem to be causing my partner any narcissistic emotional abuse because I do think we share certain narcissistic traits, so I suppose that's good.

 

Finally, I don't like this diagnosis at ALL, it's not an illness, if I'm an arsehole then I am...if I am arrogant DEAL WITH IT you judgemental psychiatrists. Although, if I can't recognise I emotionally harm others around me then I suppose that's not good and I will not be praised for that. Yes I want to change...for selfish reasons but that does not matter...it's actions that define us...

 

Do you think narcissism is horrible?

Do you see it as an illness? (I don't  )

+

How can I convert my negative narcissism to positive narcissism?

[Seahorse]

Yes I think narcissism is an illness. No, I have no clue how you can convert it into positive narcissism... or maybe I have, but I am not confident enough to tell because I'm not a therapist. I think your therapist can help you with that.

 

I probably have experience with two narcissists, one cerebral narcissist (I worked with her) and one somatic narcissist. They were both very manipulative and had delusions of grandeur. I do not think they were interested in ''being good'' at all because they did not thought of it as something admirable. They both loved both positive and negative attention.

 

I think many worldleaders are probably sociopaths or narcissists and I guess some of them have converted it into something good...

[The Right Honourable Jimmy]

I don't know why people would want negative attention? i can never understand that....I thought attention had to be positive..praising. People pitying you is a sign of weakness I do despise weakness in my self mostly.

[Sync]

I think the best way to achieve your goals would be to work with a tdoc who specializes in personality disorders (if the diagnosis holds). From what you say it sounds like you and a therapist would have similar goals. You want to be able to recognize when you're being manipulative and harmful to those around you, and I think a PD tdoc would be both qualified and motivated to help you do that.

[The Right Honourable Jimmy]

I think the best way to achieve your goals would be to work with a tdoc who specializes in personality disorders (if the diagnosis holds). From what you say it sounds like you and a therapist would have similar goals. You want to be able to recognize when you're being manipulative and harmful to those around you, and I think a PD tdoc would be both qualified and motivated to help you do that.

Yeah, I might see a therapist but it's not for curtain, I am afraid that they will ruin me, make feel down to earth and I don't want that. I just want to be nicer that's all...for selfish reasons though =) its the end result that matters.

[cara23]

Do you think narcissism is horrible?

Do you see it as an illness? (I don't  )

+

How can I convert my negative narcissism to positive narcissism?

After experiences with someone whose behavior I eventually realized was consistent with pathological narcissism, I honestly do think the behavior that narcissism results in is horrible and I do consider it to be disordered (it just tends to have greater negative effect on the people the narcissist interacts with than on the narcissist himself/herself).  No human is "godlike." Not one.

 

I don't know about converting your narcissism from negative to positive, but I know that the author of a book which I found personally helpful for me in understanding what I'd witnessed/experienced (Character Disturbance - George Simon) believes that character can be developed throughout life.  I don't recall there being too much in the way of guidance on character development in the book, though (and his ideas would seem to require coming "down to earth").

Edited February 7, 2015 by cara23