17/08/2021 Mindset Therapy

Criteria For NPD: What Does It

Mean To Be Preoccupied With
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Fantasies?
Is what I am experiencing
Sat, Aug 14 2021, 12:00 AM normal?
EMILY MAYFIELD

Mindset Therapy: Mental Hea

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Thank you for returning for the discussion on criteria #2 in the
series on Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  Over the coming
weeks, I will individually discuss one of the 9 diagnostic criteria
Are You Drinking Too Much In
for Narcissistic Personality Disorder that is found in the Quarantine?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th
Edition, or DSM-5. Fully understanding each of the criteria
needed to meet a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Developing Mindfulness to
will help you better understand the disorder, or at least traits Manage Extra Time
of the disorder. Check out the last blog, Criteria For NPD: What
Is a Grandiose Sense Of Self for more information on Criteria
#1.
How to talk about suicide
Today I will discuss the second criteria in the DSM-5 for
Narcissistic Personality Disorder, “is preoccupied with fantasies
of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.”
For someone with narcissism, they fantasize about having
unlimited power, success, beauty, and love.  They see things in
extremes.  Everything is over the top and they deserve the
best of everything. By having unlimited success, power,
brilliance, or love, they can maintain the belief they are
superior to others. These fantasies also allow them to explain
their successes to others in the context of others being
inferior. 
Reality doesn’t support their beliefs about themselves so they
must live in a world of fantasy that is created and maintained
by them.  The fantasies they live in helps protect them from
actually seeing themselves for what they are, which is
someone who has low self-esteem and emptiness.  Because
they live in a fantasy world, information that is presented as
contrary to their beliefs is ignored and dismissed.  If they
suspect someone might be trying to expose them for who they
are, and destroying the fantasy world they have created, they
will become defensive and enter into a narcissistic rage.
With their defensiveness and rage they can keep people at a
distance, which protects their fantasy and allows them to
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17/08/2021 Mindset Therapy

continue to live in their fantasy world. 

By creating these fantasies, they can support their feelings of
grandiosity and that they deserve more than everyone else
because they are superior to others.  The fantasy is the lie they
tell themselves about who they want to be seen as and allows
them to hide who they truly are.
For a narcissist, this is seen as them associating with people
that they think have reached success as they would like.  By
associating with these people, it helps others believe the
fantasy they are spinning.  However, if you look closely, they
don’t contribute in the same way as those who are actually
successful and powerful.   The narcissist can talk a big game
though and this allows them to be kept in this circle.
In their effort to be on top and maintain their fantasy, they will
step all over whoever gets in the way.  They want no one and
nothing to keep them from achieving their perceived goals and
this means that they don’t consider others.  The narcissist has
an inflated ego that is not matched with what is happening
around them.
As long as they can remain preoccupied with fantasies of
success, power, and love then they can believe it is true. 
Combine that with a lack of empathy or concern for how
others might think or feel, and you have a person who looks
out only for themselves and no one else.  Others are used
solely to help them remain in their fantasy world.
At Mindset Therapy we provide mental health services in Texas
and Washington from trained professionals, via
telepsychology, which allows you to attend the appointment
from the location most convenient for you. Visit Mindset
Therapy at https://www.mindsettherapyonline.com/ to learn
more about the services offered and make an appointment. 
Also visit our YouTube page, Mindset Therapy, PLLC, for the
Mental Health Minute series that provides quick pieces of
information for common mental health issues. 

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