/lit/ - Literature

That's me exactly aside from reacting badly to criticism and taking advantage of people

>>3699895

Well, looks like another mental disorder to add to my already extant list of socially constructed diseases.

>>3699910
Any of these apply to you?

Causes:


>An oversensitive temperament at birth
>Excessive admiration that is never balanced with realistic feedback
>Excessive praise for good behaviors or excessive criticism for bad behaviors in childhood
>Overindulgence and overvaluation by parents, other family members, or peers
>Being praised for perceived exceptional looks or abilities by adults
>Severe emotional abuse in childhood
>Unpredictable or unreliable caregiving from parents
>Valued by parents as a means to regulate their own self-esteem

Personally, NPD has been nothing but a delusional trip. I build up impossible scenarios and stories that revolve around me. Whenever reality hits the fan, intense doubt and self depreciation settles in. My world collapses and all blame falls on everyone but me. Rinse and Repeat.

on a rock with 7 billion narcissists


but really, read some freud. narcissism (paranoia) is a formation of the ego in any case — and, hold onto your diapers, babbys, it's rooted in the ambivalence that arises from projected and misrecognized homosexual impulses

>>3699931
a few, not as many though

Narcissus or Narkissos (Greek: Νάρκισσος), possibly derived from ναρκη (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness," in Greek mythology was a hunter from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. He was the son of a river god named Cephissus and a nymph named Liriope.[1] He was exceptionally proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Nemesis saw this and attracted Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus died.[2] Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself.

Most of those could apply to almost everyone.

Wanting the best, disliking criticism, fantasies of unrealistic expectations, easily hurt.

sounds like a typical bisexual male, if you throw in insecurity and a genuine drive to achieve and be recognized.

>>3699983
There are tendencies and there are disorders.

For me, it's a matter of being unable to function in all relationships.

>>3699995
or just a gay guy

>>3699983
>Most of those could apply to almost everyone.

Yep. Does anyone else ever feel like all these fake disorders are like the new astrology? Like, instead of being a Leo, you're Bi-Polar. Why not? They seem to have equal validity. The good thing about the diseases they invent nowadays is that you can mix and match them--like PokéMon. Not satisfied with just having ADD? You're in luck! Now, you can be a Narcissistic Bi-Polar Disordered ADD-ridden Autist.

>>3700012
An expert has appeared!

>>3700012
What you are saying is: Everyone has the same problems. Deal with it.

Is homosexuality a disorder?

Is psychology a fad?

>>3700039
Yes

Freud believed that all humans were bisexual, by which he primarily meant that everyone incorporates aspects of both sexes, and that everyone is sexually attracted to both sexes. In his view, this was true anatomically and therefore also mentally and psychologically. Heterosexuality and homosexuality both developed from this original bisexual disposition.[6] As one of the causes of homosexuality Freud mentions the distressing heterosexual experience: "Those cases are of particular interest in which the libido changes over to an inverted sexual object after a distressing experience with a normal one."

>>3699983
>Wanting the best, disliking criticism

You're mischaracterizing these. It's not "wanting the best" it's "wanting the 'best' of everything." Many people are satisfied with their station in life. Some always feel that they deserve more.

It's not "disliking criticism", it's reacting to criticism with rage or humiliation. This is because criticism threatens their identity, which can be incredibly dangerous around narcissists.

>,fantasies of unrealistic expectations, easily hurt.

Woah, hold the phone. You think most people 100 years ago had fantasies of unrealistic expectations or is this a rising trend? Most people were at peace with where they were, but many people these days think that they're "special" and deserve to be famous. So even if this and being easily hurt could describe most people, that just means the symptoms are prevalent. Your hypothesis is that these symptoms are normal. Mine is that we're living in an epidemic of narcissism which is mostly rooted in the fact that it's easy to sell things to delusional people.

>>3700039

It was before but now isn't

>>3699983
"On Narcissism: An Introduction" begins with a move that is characteristic of Freud's developing approach to theorizing about the psyche. Freud refers to a psychological state that other theorists have described as abnormal--in this case, exclusive auto-eroticism--and suggests that it might be a more pervasive condition that previously thought, then expands this suggestion even further to indicate that it might actually be a condition common to the psychological makeup of allhuman beings.

I don't care about my diagnosis as long as the money rolls in, bro.

>X Personality Disorder

Always complete and utter bullshit. Some rich psychologist got really angry at his narcissistic friend and made up Narcissistic Personality Disorder while he was sitting fine wine on a yacht. Then at the next yacht meeting he told his friend that he needed counseling for his NPD, and then laughed hysterically at him.

>>3700130
*sipping fine wine

>>3700088
"We are all bisexual to begin with. That is a fact of our condition. And we are all responsive to sexual stimuli from our own as well as from the opposite sex. Certain societies at certain times, usually in the interest of maintaining the baby supply, have discouraged homosexuality. Other societies, particularly militaristic ones, have exalted it. But regardless of tribal taboos, homosexuality is a constant fact of the human condition and it is not a sickness, not a sin, not a crime ... despite the best efforts of our puritan tribe to make it all three. Homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality. Notice I use the word 'natural,' not normal."

-Nietzsche

>>3700103
>You think most people 100 years ago had fantasies of unrealistic expectations or is this a rising trend? Most people were at peace with where they were, but many people these days think that they're "special" and deserve to be famous.

Burden of proof - how do you know what people 100 years ago thought or wanted?

Do you think the peasant didn't have dreams of luxury and wealth, the chimney sweep not dreams of being the master of the house and not he mere cleaner of the chimney?

Who wants some happy pills?Alcohol? Marijuana? Utopia living? Movies? Books?

Being on the Freud subject. Anyone attracted to their mother?

Does meditation work? Even for a scatter brain? Can I condition my paranoia out?

Here it is OP:
http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2009/01/can_narcissism_be_cured.html

My favorite description of narcissism is this: narcissism isn't when you think you're the best in the room, it's when you think you're the only person in the room.

>>3700204
>even for a scatter brain
That's like asking if aspirin helps even for someone with a headache

>>3699895
Survival Mechanism General?

Nope.

>>3700012
It's not the traits themselves that makes it a disorder. The DSM is pretty clear about it interfering with the life you want to live or the lives of others.

>>3700205
I knew someone would link this blog! Typical /lit/.

>>3700235
>I knew somebody would submit a relevant link
>I will now attempt to shame you for being 'typical'

>>3700233
Narcissism is no longer in the DSM

>>3700243
His interpretation of narcissism is pretty idiosyncratic, only tangentially relevant to a discussion of NPD. But probably more fitting for /lit/ in any case.

>>3699931
Normally I try to not self diagnose but when I hit everyone of those it saddens me. From grade school, through college and the professional world I have felt like the world is not up to par to the unrealistic standards I set. I modify as much as I can, yet revert.

>>3700248
That's the baseline for how any personality disorder was/is diagnosed. And it is in the DSM-IV, aka the one being used now.

>>3700259
>aka the one being used now.

Yeah I didn't realize the fifth one hadn't come out yet. I remember reading about the removal years ago.

>>3700269
It's causing one hell of a stir, and it's all being done in private as well. Aspeger's is out, which is probably going to cause some kind of "sperg pride check your privilege neurotypicals" nonsense to transpire.

>>3700279
*being written in private

>>3700286
Quite the opposite actually.

>>3700103
>Most people were at peace with where they were

Did you happen to be born into the wrong generation. Totally agree man, music was so much better those days too! Kids used to engage in philosophical discourse, now all they care about is sex and Justin Bieber! I'm 13 and I'm sorry for what my generation has done

Psychotherapy is a hidden attempt of making everyone feel special. Nature does not give a crap, why should you?

>>3700254
His article about narcissism not being the same as grandiosity is interesting and seems to make a lot of sense, though.

>mfw hoi polloi take 394832498 disorders seriously instead of exploiting overzealous labelling to their financial benefit

>>3700288
This is stupid. Modernity has had obvious ramifications that shouldn't be swept under the rug because you're too afraid of being called edgy.

>>3700294
Oh, I love that blog. I think he's strongest when he's doing media criticism and talking about psychiatry's place in society, though.

>>3700307
Not who you're replying to, but I disagree that there was a simpler time where people were satisfied or comfortable with who they were. Whether that entails narcissistic traits or not, I'm not inclined to speculate. I'm sure (post-)modern ennui has a lot to with whatever generational pathology you'd like to diagnose, though.

>>3699895
I hate this shit, because its so vague as to apply to fucking anyone. Everyone has become a mental hypochondriac, because they assume they're the only one with emotional depth.

>Reacting to criticism with anger, shame, or humiliation
This applies to everyone, even the most even tempered. People are instinctively defensive of their work, because it is an extension of the self. By making this an actual disorder you only serve to validate the response, people no longer think that EVERYONE tempers their response to critique.

>Taking advantage of others to reach own goals
taking advantage is so vague. Everyone is aided by others to pursue their goals, thats called life.

>Exaggerating own importance, achievements, and talents
We naturally exaggerate that which we have first hand experience of. Everyone knows those stories that you "had to be there" for. We are most impressive to ourself, because we know what he have overcome, but our companions don't.

>Imagining unrealistic fantasies of success, beauty, power, intelligence, or romance
Wow, so daydreaming is a mental disorder? We always obsess over what we don't have, and we obviously are going to dream about a situation perceived to be better than our own.

>>3700329
>Requiring constant attention and positive reinforcement from others
constant is vague, and everyone will define it differently. Once a day? Several times a day? once a week? who the fuck knows, shift your goal posts to meet this criteria!

>Becoming jealous easily
Again, what is everyone? People are always innately jealous, what's important is not acting on that jealousy. By saying their envious emotions are the result of a disorder that's out of their control you enable them to act even more jealously because they foolishly believe they're the only ones who feel those sharp pangs of envy.

>Lacking empathy and disregarding the feelings of others
Because we are so naturally self-centered (it's only natural considering our self is the only thing we can never escape from) of course we will always feel that we lack as much empathy as we should. Being empathetic, truly empathetic, is HARD. I mean do we think everyone that identified with "this is water" has NPD?

>Being obsessed with self
hahaha, ok

>Pursuing mainly selfish goals
As opposed to purely altruistic ones? Everyone is interested in their own self interest, it's only logical the goals they create are designed with themselves in mind.

>Trouble keeping healthy relationships
Maintaining a relationship is WORK, and so everyone feels that they put in work to maintain their relationships, but incorrectly perceive relationships as being natural and spontaneous to others. Remember we see what's underneath our surface, but can never see underneath the surface of others.

>Becoming easily hurt and rejected
What is everyone again? Everyone portrays themselves as stoic figures that can endure anything, and as such we perceive them as such. Our inner pain is unique.

>>3700331
>Setting goals that are unrealistic
Who has realistic goals?

>Wanting "the best" of everything
This can't be serious.

>Appearing unemotional
Again, we think we appear unemotional, because we are constantly reminded of the emotions that we do not manifest physically. Just because we only show maybe 10% of our emotions, doesn't mean we appear unemotional. Other people might also show only 10% of their emotions, we just don't see the other 90%.

>>3700329
>>3700331

See: >>3700233

>>3700103
This is entirely the result of people no longer deriving their sense of worth from overarching systems like religion.

This doesn't mean its unhealthy, but obviously when people realize life is everything, and only nothing comes after they will no longer be content to waste away their existence.

>>3700342
Well, you say that like crises of faith haven't been pretexts for major wars, or that pre-modern people didn't wrestle with belief or lack thereof.

>>3700352
I'm saying the reason why these traits are only becoming more VISIBLE now

>>3700334
>>3700329
>>3700331


I get your guys point, but you need to see that while any two or three of these characterisitics , in a moderate form can be present in a normal person, add them up and exaggerate them a bit and you get something totally different.

What you're doing is like saying " sure, men are warmblooded, and bipedal and make noises and are omnivourous and care for their young and the males fight for females, but chickens are like that too."

>>3700358
And I'm saying it's a little iffy to assume even average people generally derived their sense of self worth from systematic religious belief in any historical epoch. If any thing the middle ages was rife with religious conflict often married to brazenly secular aims.

>>3700365
>What you're doing is like saying " sure, men are warmblooded, and bipedal and make noises and are omnivourous and care for their young and the males fight for females, but chickens are like that too."
What?

Not at all, its like if someone defined a man (in order to differentiate between men and other beasts) as warmblooded, bipedal, noisy, omnivorous, and fight for females. I would say that's a shitty definition because that applies to beasts beyond just man.

>>3700367
>If any thing the middle ages was rife with religious conflict often married to brazenly secular aims.
I'm not referring to the courts, I'm referring to the commoner. I've never found the nobles in any era to be particularly religious; it seems to be most common among the poor.

This describes me fairly well, other than the taking advantage of others and the jealousy parts.. I also don't need CONSTANT reinforcement from others, but it does make me feel good (at least fleetingly) when someone compliments me.

>>3700372
Again, it's not the presence of these traits alone that's pathological, it's the extent to which they interfere with the person with the disorder's life and his/her relationships.

>>3700378
Yes, and the middle ages also had countless peasant rebellions and crusades against Christian "heresies" in Europe.

>>3700384
So to add to this a bit: people weren't really ever pacified by their faith as a general rule, there was always a political conflict lurking under every religious one, and the poor DID play a role in these.

>>3700379
>it does make me feel good (at least fleetingly) when someone compliments me.
Wow you're seriously fucked up. Go see a doctor or get yourself sectioned because you're clearly a danger to society.

>>3700380
Which is exactly why I so detest the OP. He's basically suggesting that these traits are a sign of a disorder, which is wrong.

Otherwise healthy people are convinced they have disorders because the definition of a disorder itself is so vague. That's why I argued we are becoming mental hypochondriacs.

Similar to physical ailments you should practice reactive diagnosis, not proactive.

>>3700393
It's clearly defined in the DSM that that's what the disorder is, it's just omitted from the post. A competent, responsible psychiatrist isn't going to diagnose NPD based on personality traits alone.

>>3700389

Well I mean that compliments make me feel better than I think they do the average person. And this includes compliments that I don't even think I really deserve.

>>3700384
Of course any era that has differing classes will be subject to rebellions, but you're ignoring the larger point that religion WAS more prevalent in the past, and that religion DOES grant you to ability to not concern yourself as much with your current lot in life, because life itself is only a stepping stone into your TRUE life.

As well, you ignore the fact that a rebellion or crusade against christianity is hardly an abandonment of religion itself, only a particular brand of religion.

>>3700400
How do you know you feel better from these compliments than the average person? Do you have ESP?

>>3700399
Because everyone in this thread is a competent responsible psychiatrist.

What is the principle symptom of hypochondria? Oh right, a distrust of doctors.

>>3700411

No, but I can observe the way people react to things. You're being contrary for no reason.

>>3700372
And that's what you get with psychological conditions. It's like Lucian's admonitions to actors:
"But in Pantomime, as in rhetoric, there can be (to use a popular phrase) too much of a good thing; a man may exceed the proper bounds of imitation; what should be great may become monstrous, softness may be exaggerated into effeminacy, and the courage of a man into the ferocity of a beast"

What happens is that you can either play up normal behaviors or play down abnormal ones to reach whatever conclusion you want. A lot of people are only "mad south by southwest" and personality disorders are like that. But there's a difference between a hoarder and a collector, and between a lazy poorly socialized kid and an Agoraphobic. Sometimes a quantitative difference mkes a qualitative one

>>3700417
And to another person do you think they see you overreacting to compliments or do you manage yourself well enough to not appear egotistical in the company of others?

>>3700417
You're being retarded for no reason. You think people's actions always match their thoughts? If you say your unusually receptive to compliments, how do you show it? Do you literally start crying when someone compliments you? Would anyone around you know that you were getting so worked up over one compliment?

>>3699895
>>Reacting to criticism with anger, shame, or humiliation
That's caleld being an insecure faggot. It's common.
>>Taking advantage of others to reach own goals
That's caleld being a controlling faggot. It's common.
>>Exaggerating own importance, achievements, and talents
That's caleld being a faggot. It's common.
>>Imagining unrealistic fantasies of success, beauty, power, intelligence, or romance
That's caleld being a faggot. It's common.
>>Requiring constant attention and positive reinforcement from others
That's caleld being a faggot. It's common.
>>Becoming jealous easily
That's caleld being an insecure insecure faggot. It's common.
>>Lacking empathy and disregarding the feelings of others
That's caleld being a dumb faggot. It's common.
>>Being obsessed with self
That's caleld being a faggot. It's common.
>>Pursuing mainly selfish goals
That's caleld being a selfish faggot. It's common.
>>Trouble keeping healthy relationships
That's caleld being a closet homosexual. It's common.
>>Becoming easily hurt and rejected
That's caleld being a faggot. It's common.
>>Setting goals that are unrealistic
That's caleld being a dumb faggot. It's common.
>>Wanting "the best" of everything
That's caleld being a huge faggot. It's common.
>>Appearing unemotional
That's caleld being underage.

It's common.

>>3700424

I reckon I react slightly more strongly to praise than the average person, yes.

>>3700429
So your self-critique hinges on the fact you "reckon" you react "slightly" stronger than the average person?

Tell you what, you want to have NPD? Got it, it's yours.

>>3700429
You're not a reliable source. Even if that is true, it just means you're less capable of maintaining a stoic expression as others.

I guess my most tangible disorder is the inability to maintain relationships.

I am 23 years old and have never dated a girl on long term (I am not a virgin, though. I had two sexual encounters). Worst yet, I easily lose contact with people around me. I had actual friends during both high school and college but I lost all contact as soon as I graduated.

I once tried to reach for professional help but was too busy at work (how much of that was just an excuse is beyond me).

I feel lonely, some times crushingly so, but I guess I can live with it.

>>3700408
No, the religious fervor of heresies were used as a pretext for rebellions with the aim of improving the peasant's lot in life. The religious struggle was inextricable from the material one.

I think the notion that faith provides a degree of comforting certainty is a very modern account of religious belief. That's all something applied in retrospect from the position of modern skepticism. The actual history is a lot more complex than that.

This is 90% of /lit/ + inferiority complex.

>>3700417
I'm not being contrary. I'm asking you a question -- how do you really know?

>>3700445
faith doesn't provide certainty at all. Nothing is certain, and that's not what I'm saying.

I'm saying that back then it was considered normal to believe you were eternal, an idea that is wholly rejected now. CS Lewis might have grappled with his faith, but you don't think he was comforted by the notion of life after death?

>>3700465
Err...whoops, I misread you. My bad.

>I'm saying that back then it was considered normal to believe you were eternal, an idea that is wholly rejected now.

Fair enough, although I tend to think that the absence of an "eternal" isn't even the main problem modernity presents to people. Maybe a symptom of it, I dunno.

>>3700423
So a third party is needed to add perspective?

Self fulfilling prohecy General?

So hard work. Facing your fears. Courage. Decisiveness. Emotional guards. Realistic day to day. Is this all it takes?