mental health

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Is Everybody A Narcissist These Days?

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Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and the Pitfalls of Over-Diagnosis

In today’s social media-driven world, the term “narcissist” has become a buzzword, often used to describe anyone who exhibits selfish, manipulative, or toxic behavior. As a therapist, it seems that anyone who has wronged a client get the label of a narcissist. One needs to separate a true diagnostic criteria from someone’s upbringing, their behavior patterns, and their motivations in life.

True Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a complex and clinically diagnosable mental health condition that goes far beyond surface-level traits. It’s crucial to differentiate between the casual use of the term and the clinical reality—not just for accuracy, but for compassion and understanding.

The Diagnostic Criteria of NPD

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), NPD falls under the category of personality disorders and is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. To receive a diagnosis, an individual must exhibit at least five of the following nine criteria:

  1. Grandiose sense of self-importance – Exaggerating achievements and talents or expecting to be recognized as superior without commensurate accomplishments.
  2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
  3. Belief in being “special” and unique – Thinking they can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions.
  4. Requirement for excessive admiration – A constant need to feel valued and praised by others.
  5. Sense of entitlement – Expecting unreasonable favorable treatment or compliance with their expectations.
  6. Interpersonally exploitative behavior – Taking advantage of others to achieve their own goals.
  7. Lack of empathy – Unwillingness or inability to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
  8. Envy of others or belief that others envy them – Often coupled with resentment.
  9. Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes – Acting superior or dismissing others.

It’s important to note that these behaviors must cause significant impairment in the individual’s social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning to qualify as a disorder.

The Trend of Self-Diagnosing Others

The popularization of psychological terms has made it tempting to label anyone who hurts us as a narcissist. Social media platforms are rife with memes, reels, and videos simplifying NPD into digestible soundbites, often without context or nuance. While these may be relatable or even cathartic for some, they risk trivializing a serious condition and fostering misunderstandings.

It’s natural to want to make sense of harmful behavior, especially if you’ve experienced gaslighting, manipulation, or emotional neglect. However, not everyone who exhibits selfish or toxic tendencies has NPD. People are multifaceted, and their actions often stem from a combination of personal history, unresolved trauma, and situational factors. Labeling someone with a mental health disorder based on limited interactions or incomplete understanding does a disservice to them and to the integrity of psychological diagnoses.

Why Accurate Understanding Matters

Misusing the term “narcissist” can also harm those who genuinely suffer from NPD. While their behaviors may be challenging, people with NPD often struggle with deep-seated insecurities and difficulties forming healthy relationships. Compassion and professional support are crucial for their growth and healing.

Moreover, focusing solely on diagnosing others can divert attention from personal growth and healing. Instead of seeking labels, consider addressing the dynamics of the relationship and exploring your own boundaries and responses. Therapy or counseling can provide valuable tools for processing emotional pain and fostering healthier connections.

Conclusion

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a serious and complex mental health condition that requires careful assessment by a trained professional. While it’s tempting to attribute the actions of those who’ve hurt us to NPD, overgeneralization can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities for meaningful growth. Let’s commit to using psychological terminology responsibly, cultivating empathy, and focusing on our own emotional well-being rather than rushing to label others.

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Dealing with Sleep Disruption Caused by Anxiety

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Anxiety is a prevalent mental health issue among the elderly population residing in nursing homes. Around 40 million Americans face anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety, along with its underlying triggers, can significantly disrupt sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can create a vicious cycle where anxiety hinders sleep, and sleep deprivation, in turn, exacerbates anxiety.

It is crucial for elderly individuals in nursing homes to seek help from therapists when anxiety starts affecting their ability to maintain their daily routines, especially their sleep. Quality sleep plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health. Picture your body constantly stuck in a state of fight or flight while you’re attempting to sleep, hindering your body’s recovery and your ability to function during the day.

Sleep deprivation can also compromise your immune system. Even a short period of sleep loss can lead to a significant increase in anxiety and its debilitating effects. It can be important to distinguish between insomnia (general persistent problems falling and staying asleep) from mental health diagnoses effecting sleep. The goal is always to treat the source of the issue.

Strategies to Address Anxiety-Induced Sleep Issues Independently

There are some simple techniques that can be attempted to alleviate anxiety and improve sleep quality before seeking therapeutic interventions. Breathing exercises and a technique called “triangle breathing” can help regulate your heart rate manually, assisting in calming you down in the moment. Triangle breathing involves inhaling for three seconds, holding your breath for three seconds, and exhaling for another three seconds. This straightforward method can help bring your mind and body back to a calm state. Anxiety comes from thoughts, so it takes a ‘neck down’ intervention to try and fight or distract from those thoughts.

Incorporating meditation, yoga, or physical exercise into your routine can also be effective in calming both your mind and body. Physical activity offers various benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, managing weight, reducing the risk of physical illnesses, fostering social interaction, and promoting healthier coping mechanisms. Moreover, in today’s era of constant digital connectivity, putting your phone away and setting it to silent mode can eliminate distractions that might trigger anxiety when attempting to sleep.

How Therapists Can Assist in Treating Anxiety-Related Sleep Problems

Collaborating with a therapist experienced in anxiety therapy can provide valuable support in minimizing its daily impact and restoring a healthy sleep pattern. Anxiety therapists typically employ cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and guided therapy to help you regain optimal sleep quality.

CBT is the most used therapy intervention for addressing anxiety. It aims to identify and rectify negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety. CBT can improve sleep by creating awareness of behaviors that disrupt it, such as maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, reserving the bed solely for sleep, eliminating stimulants that hinder sleep, and removing distractions and light sources from the bedroom.

Another effective anxiety therapy intervention is guided therapy, which uses mental imagery, memories, and stories to evoke positive and calming feelings. Guided therapy can assist in calming your mind, preventing it from wandering and triggering anxiety. An example of this technique is imagining yourself engaging in a mundane activity like painting a room with a soothing color. This keeps your mind focused on the task at hand, reducing anxiety triggers. Learning to connect your mind and body helps diminish anxiety’s grip on your overall well-being.

If anxiety is interfering with your ability to sleep or carry out daily functions, it’s advisable to reach out to a therapist. While anxiety is common and often experienced in specific situations, persistent and life-altering anxiety doesn’t need to be a burden you carry in your daily life. There are numerous highly effective therapy interventions available to help you regain the quality of life you deserve.

Taking Sleep Problems and Anxiety Further

Working in collaboration with a therapist and a medication prescribing professional can be an option if therapy alone does not significantly reduce the symptoms. Top quality providers will attempt supplements like melatonin, magnesium, and lavender before attempting medication that provides sedation effects. Many nursing home facilities have their own Nurse Practitioners who prescribe medications. Otherwise, there are telehealth options for prescribers. The collaboration of prescribers and facility staff is important to monitor and track any changes or side effects that could signal a need to change or stop prescriptions.

Police Social Workers

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Social workers in police stations and on police department pay roll? It seems like that could go two ways depending on the person in the position. Personally I would think that working at the police station but being employed by an outside agency would lead to greater community difference.

Many towns in and around the Chicago area employ the use of police social workers. It sounds like a wonderful resource in crisis intervention scenarios. But from the content of the story that I have linked at the bottom of this post, it sounds like they are advocating for police social workers to do services that other community agencies already do.

The issue I have with social workers being employed by the police station is whether they will remain true to their unique social work ethical standards and values. In a working environment, you really want to acquiesce with the workplace culture and I would worry that social workers wouldn’t want to challenge fellow coworkers regarding the different types of work that they do and the level of advocacy they conduct with individuals versus the community as a whole.

In the end, I think it is a great resource opportunity for communities to consider. However, the community needs the money  and long term financial stability to be able to hire highly trained workers. Then maybe the social workers will be able to become trainers for the police that they work with in collaboration.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160201/news/160209974/

Eeyore Remains Eeyore

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In a previous post about inspiration porn, I identified a Tumblr resource called realsocialskills.org. I found their latest post to really speak to me about people with disabilities that are not so obvious or people with mental illness. It got me thinking about an argument I read on Facebook pointing towards the same issues.

If someone has depression, your presence or your friendship doesn’t take away that depression. You are not a catalyst for improving or curing someone and you shouldn’t hold expectations of such. Looking at Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh really helps me to remember this way of being a friend. Pooh and Piglet and Rabbit invite Eeyore to all of their activities without trying to change him. They like Eeyore for who he is and not for what he could become with their help. They don’t get frustrated that their invitations to do fun things don’t help Eeyore liven up. Eeyore doesn’t need to change and he doesn’t need to just have someone to empower him to move beyond his circumstances.

Even I have to remember this sometimes, I have to remember that there are differences between people born with disabilities and people who acquire a disability later in life. We have to be mindful of the struggles of others and not put expectations ahead of enjoying the company of others. You accept people for who they are now and you work around their limitations or whatever circumstances they are dealing with but you don’t get to try and cure them or save them.

I highly recommend subscribing or bookmarking realsocialskills.org

http://realsocialskills.org/post/136885378817/ableist-hostility-disguised-as-friendliness

Children’s Mental Health Campaign

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A network of newspapers across Wisconsin are creating a multi-faceted awareness campaign for Children’s mental health. The newspaper network for USA Today will be conducting several townhall meetings to provide awareness but also get feedback from local agencies and professionals.

Having worked with teenagers for over 5 years, mental health and suicide-ideation are very big issues in their lives. A number of years ago, various programs and agencies were created to assist in addressing mental health in youth. There is a PATH program implemented by United Way and Family Services which brings mental health services into the schools. There is also Catalpa Health which has been the main resource for children’s mental health since it’s creation in 2012. It was created through a collaboration between the three main private healthcare companies in the area. I tried to get a graduate internship there, to be at the forefront of a dire community need. But instead I have had various email contacts with the Director Greg Blume. They don’t hire APSWs, only people with clinical licenses which has its pros and cons. But Wisconsin is in dire need of more psychiatrists to be employed in these community partnership ventures.

In 2014, Wisconsin was awarded a grant from SAMHSA for $1 million for the next 5 years. Project YES was/is supposed to help fund mental health services for young adults in need of mental health and substance abuse services initially in Jefferson and Outagamie counties and then expanding to other counties. From what I have researched, Project YES is more of an awareness campaign state-wide. I have asked the local newspaper to highlight any details about Project YES’s financial contributions to community services.

I will follow the awareness campaign and townhall schedule and relay information that I think is pertinent to social work and advocacy for youth.

Crisis Response Starts with Service Awareness

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Police being called to assist in mental health crises is one of the issues that isn’t mentioned in the linked article below. Yes, police are called in these instances however, it should not be the first response for a mental health crisis call.
In my community, NAMI conducts a crisis intervention team (CIT) training. This training is also offered to other professionals and community members. The main failure in other communities is when consumers are not aware of other available resources for crisis response. The Fox Cities has a 211 number you can call that provides a list of community services which also includes the county crisis line.
If a family member called someone without a weapon who had a professional license and training, situations could be handled through dialogue and the therapeutic relationship that develops when professionals meet with clients in intake appointments. Using community crisis services may also offer insight into the client who may already have history with a professional. Also, many people who have experienced trauma can see police presence as a triggering event, furthering the breakdown of a crisis response.
I don’t necessarily blame police, I blame their training protocols and the quickness in which a weapon is used when responding to a situation. In no way do I think police shouldn’t remain vigilant or protective of their own safety. However maybe there can be less of an emphasis on the fact that police carry guns and guns can exacerbate a crisis situation. There are tazers and rubber bullets that can also be used when people are able to properly assess the level of immediate danger.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/12/29/why-police-calls-involving-the-mentally-ill-often-end-in-tragedy/

Police and Social Workers Team Up

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In the area that I live, there is a volunteer crisis response team. They work in partnership with the county’s crisis hotline and also the police. This is a prime example of how crisis response should be handled.
I also like that the crisis team of police and social workers in the linked story below primarily focus their efforts on community outreach and establishing relationships with people in need of services.
Not enough agencies do proactive community outreach with the client populations they serve. And sometimes, crisis services are disconnected from each other or only select clients qualify for certain services.
There is still institutionalization in this country. Clients with aggressive behaviors are not served in community-based agencies, rather they go to hospitals or institutions. I believe that needs to change. I believe trained, licensed professionals need to stand up for these clients and attempt to prevent institutional crisis responses.
What are your thoughts? Does your community respond to crisis in a collaborative and professional way?

Source: Police and Social Workers Team To Help The Troubled