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Narcissistic

User Profile: Lu5566
Lu5566 October 24th, 2021

Hey… I studied psychology in undergrad and some grad work as well. I’ve also been in therapy on & off most of my life.

im feeling overwhelmed by how this word is being thrown around, honestly it’s usually not even used correctly. Also I’m seeing all of these groups on meetup like- how to escape narcissistic people, like there’s a boogie man on the loose and we better watch out , lol -

anyway, I thought this would be a good forum to share my anxieties and almost concerns around this…

I am definitely an empath. Not good, not bad, I just am

and I’ve been kind of tripping myself out recently worrying that I’m drawn to narcissists, dissecting my relationships in my mind.

it’s a bit much….

i really wish people would just keep their own ideas of themselves and their relationships to… themselves, in I statements.

im way too impressionable as it is..

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User Profile: ouiCherie
ouiCherie October 27th, 2021

@Lu5566

Hi Lu, I feel you. The term is thrown around easily, especially when a relationship doesn't work out well.

As far as I understand, a narcissist doesn't have genuine empathy for anyone, not just for selected people, although they can fake it. Correct?


As you have a degree in Psychology, I'd like to ask, what about narcissistic tendency? Is there such a thing?

3 replies
User Profile: AffyAvo
AffyAvo May 27th, 2022

@ouiCherie Hey, I hope you don't mind me replying to something that's a bit old.

Just based on what I can find for the criteria for NDP I would say that the capability for empathy would vary widely for the people with the disorder.

This paper came up too - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415495/#:~:text=A%20lack%20of%20empathy%20is,of%20motivational%20and%20situational%20factors.

My suspicion would be the only time we could make a statement that people with diagnosis cannot empathize at all is if that was required criteria for the disorder. For NDP what I see is checking off at least 5 of 9 different things, no one specific point is required. Also the empathy point I see is

  1. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

I'm uncertain if what I found is the current criteria. For a hypothetical disorder that is defined as the inability to have empathy I would also suspect there would be a lot of misdiagnoses as I think that can be difficult to determine. People express empathy so differently and what one person may empathize with another may not and for those same 2 people the reverse may be true for a different situation.

1 reply
User Profile: ouiCherie
ouiCherie May 28th, 2022

@AffyAvo

Thank you Affy 💜 I agree how people express empathy can be different from person to person. I wear my heart on my sleeve, doesn't mean everyone too.

And relationships can become toxic, but doesn't mean we have to start label each other as narcissistic. Unless diagnosed by a mental health professional.

Additionally, we are encouraged to have a strong boundaries, being assertive and to have a healthy self-love.

Furthermore, there are people who have strong opinions, which they would argue relentlessly, because of ego, even when the other party sees the errors on their opinions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm aware what it is like in an emotionally draining relationship that got me questioned my rights and wrongs. Yet, NPD is a serious thing. It will need a professional to label someone with that. Thus, my question: is there such thing as narcissistic tendency?

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User Profile: eternalHero77
eternalHero77 August 24th, 2025

@ouiCherie How c’n one ten if da person is suffering from being narcissistic or bipolar severe depression 

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User Profile: Lu5566
Lu5566 OP October 31st, 2021

I just think diagnoses in general have become dangerous

If someone isn't nice to you, walk away

If you feel out of control and like maybe you need medication, schedule a Doctor's appointment

If you're down and need a therapist or friend, find one

The End.

User Profile: Lu5566
Lu5566 OP November 13th, 2021

No problem with having a diagnosis, or diagnoses,,,technically I have a couple myself, I just think we need to be thinking more about ownership, as a community and beginning with the mental health professionals.

Bottom line :

Love yourself-

Be Who you Are --

And don't let anyone tell you anything different.

😊

User Profile: Lu5566
Lu5566 OP November 17th, 2021

One thing on Narcissism-

we can All be narcissistic

Everything or most “diagnoses “ are on a spectrum


i will speak from Freud, what a fascinating man ….


Narcissism is a defense mechanism

like avoidance or projection


noone is bad,


pick your poison-

we are all doing the best we can.


my healing these days is all about that


Acceptance.

I write poetry,,,, hence my seemingly disjointed writing


example :: right there,

never assume anything:)))))

peace and love

Always

Lu

User Profile: temptationspirit
temptationspirit August 24th, 2025

I'm empath too. I'm currently dealing with a stressful situation. I'm unable to leave. It's taking it's toll on me. I'm keeping my ideas to myself, it's affecting me. It's the same for the other side. But other side is empty, if it doesn't present who it want to be, they are nothing. Empath and narcissist is a wild ride.

User Profile: temptationspirit
temptationspirit August 24th, 2025

I'm empath too. I'm currently dealing with a stressful situation. I'm unable to leave. It's taking it's toll on me. I'm keeping my ideas to myself, it's affecting me. It's the same for the other side. But other side is empty, if it doesn't present who it want to be, they are nothing. Empath and narcissist is a wild ride.