How To Deal With Narcissists

Dear Readers,

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my blog, this is my first entry. What's my pitch you ask? Consider me the Jerry Seinfield of the blog universe (except I'm not Jewish, and hopefully will be a bit more humorous). I will devoutly blog about nothing, except my own thoughts and opinions, and whatever random complaints I have about humans and existence as a whole. With that said, I figured I would start off with an entry about the joys of existing in the blogosphere, enjoy!!

How To Deal With Narcissists:

Who hasn't encountered a narcissist in their life? This rapidly pro-creating creature has become some what of a norm in our modern society, especially with the availability of blogs and youtube, which are nothing more than public bragging forums where we get the shining chance to show everyone how "different" and "fresh" we are from our peers. Everyone seems to have an opinion these days, and I never thought this was a bad thing. I'm somewhat of an indecisive individual, so I welcome the bilge of advice and opinions offered from a spectrum of individuals such as the highly educated professor, to the no-nonsense housewife raising ten kids on her own. But have we become a culture of Narcissists? Surely the chances of becoming a celebrity nowadays are greatly increased, and sometimes it takes just one good boob flashing to land yourself in Youtube stardom, but what will this do to our formation of identity? Perhaps nothing...but I will confess that it has raised my levels of stress and anger.

I find it increasingly more difficult to deal with individuals on a one to one basis, and living in New York, this was never a simple thing to begin with. It seems now, that everywhere I turn, someone is trying to advertise something about themselves. Whether its their political views (if I see one more "Barack the Vote" t-shirt, I am going to impale that person with a rusty nail), or a passing conversation peppered with beating around the bush bragging. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with networking, as I myself work in a business that requires it. What I'm speaking of is bragging for the sake of bragging.

Narcissism is also a very real disease. According to the DSM, NPD - Narcisstic Personality Disorder is defined by the following:

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:^[1]

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special" and unique
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement
6. is interpersonally exploitative
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitude

Honestly, I can check off at least two items on this list that I've been guilty of, but enough about me, let's get back to the matter at hand, my hate for narcissists. I once had a friend who suffered from all 9 of these symptoms, she later went on to become a successful individual with a lucrative career, but I'm the one who gets to wake up every morning and slip on those fabulous sweat pants stained with Big Mac sauce and enrich my mind with the latest episode of Jerry Springer, so look who's laughing now?

*If you or anybody you know suffers from the above condition, please stay out of my neighborhood. Oh yeah, and I think there's a hot-line you can call too.

XoXo
Beauty Schmeuty