Social media is an increasingly popular platform for advertisement, business, socialising, communicating, posting pictures and passing time but they are also an excellent place for self-promotion and enhancement. Whether narcissistic people spend more time on social media, the photo and selfie update frequency, the number of tweets, content, and followers can be relevant to narcissism traits.
Where to get treatment for Narcissism?
Julian O’Sullivan psychologist and Werribee based psychologist. who provides psychotherapy for narcissism among other disorders. He does so using psychodynamic therapy. He works with adults mostly and has 10 years of experience doing so.
But what is Narcissism?
It involves personality traits such as grandiosity illusion, high need for constant admiration, being cunning and trying to control others, being rude or abusive and arrogant, lack of empathy with other people’s feelings and selfishness and unreasonable expectations. There are effective psychotherapy Melbourne services able to provide treatment for this. He targets such unreasonable expectations when doing so. However, behind this cover of high level of self confidence, there lies a fragile personality which can break if it faces any criticism. Fear, rage and shame, feeling alone and isolated, feeling less than other people, and less of a good person are the underlying feelings of a narcissist. Environment, genetics and neurobiology reasons can cause this mental issue. Parental overprotection, lack of love and intimacy in child and parents relationship and conditional love, overvaluation or devaluing kids in comparison to their siblings, being too merciful on the kids and giving them the permission for entitlement are the biggest known reasons for narcissism in young adults.
Social media in recent time is blamed to promote and rise in narcissism, but is it true?
We are living in the media era which is mainly used by millennials. This generation is reported to be “generation me” and there is a significant rise in narcissism between this generation. Some sociologists believe that we live in the age of entitlement (Firestone, n.d). There is a research done about narcissism and four hypotheses were tested. The results showed that people with narcissism do more activity on the social media and there was a correlation between self-promoting contents and photos and high narcissism as it was expected. For further information on treatment for this issue visit Julian O’Sullivan Growth Minded Psychology.
What are the treatments for narcissism?
Treating narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) can be challenging due to the nature of the condition, which often includes a lack of insight or unwillingness to acknowledge weaknesses or flaws. However, several therapeutic approaches and strategies have been identified as potentially effective in managing symptoms of narcissism and improving the quality of life for those affected. It’s important to note that treatment success varies from person to person, and a combination of therapies may be most beneficial.
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy): The cornerstone of treatment for NPD is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, as the therapy must be tailored to each individual’s needs. Therapeutic modalities that have shown promise include:
– Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals recognize and change harmful thought patterns and behaviors. For those with NPD, it can be used to address issues such as empathy development, social skills, and coping mechanisms for handling criticism or failure.
– Psychodynamic Therapy: This approach explores underlying unconscious motivations and early life experiences, aiming to uncover the root causes of narcissistic behaviors. Through this exploration, individuals may gain insight into their condition and learn healthier ways to relate to others.
– Schema Therapy: This integrates elements from various therapeutic models to treat personality disorders. It focuses on identifying and changing deeply ingrained patterns or schemas that are thought to underlie NPD, such as beliefs of entitlement or superiority.
Group Therapy: While challenging, group therapy can be beneficial for individuals with NPD by providing a space to practice empathy, receive feedback from peers, and develop healthier interpersonal skills. It’s crucial that these groups are led by experienced therapists who can manage the dynamics and ensure a constructive environment.
Medication: There are no medications specifically approved to treat NPD. However, medications may be prescribed to address co-occurring issues or symptoms, such as depression or anxiety, which can contribute to the severity of narcissistic behaviors.
Lifestyle and Self-Care: Encouraging a healthy lifestyle and self-care practices can support overall mental health, which in turn may help mitigate some symptoms of NPD. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mindfulness or stress-reduction techniques can have positive effects.
Challenges and Considerations: Engagement in treatment is a significant hurdle, as individuals with NPD often do not recognize their need for help or resist therapy. Building a therapeutic alliance based on trust and respect is crucial. Therapists need to approach patients with empathy and without judgment, fostering a safe environment for self-exploration and growth.
To sum up, treating narcissism requires a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual’s specific needs and challenges. Psychotherapy, particularly CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and schema therapy, plays a central role, potentially supplemented by group therapy, medication for co-occurring conditions, and supportive lifestyle changes. Success in treatment largely depends on the individual’s willingness to engage in the therapeutic process and the skill of the healthcare professionals involved.
