10 Ways Narcissists and Alcoholics Are Similar

Establishing clear boundaries is essential in safeguarding one’s well-being and fostering healthier relationships. Local community resources, such as counseling services or addiction support centers, offer specialized assistance. These organizations often provide education about narcissism and alcoholism. Living with or supporting a narcissistic alcoholic requires specific strategies.

Many people have fallen victim to the manipulative behaviors of a covert narcissist without realizing what has happened until they are already in emotional pain. People who display addictive behaviors in addition to narcissistic traits may require a substance abuse treatment program that is equipped to treat co-occurring disorders. It is important to note that people with an addiction do not always show signs of a narcissistic personality disorder and that people with narcissism do not always develop an addiction. In contrast, vulnerable narcissism, or covert narcissism, was a risk factor for future alcohol-related problems. Compared to grandiose narcissists, people in this group were more likely to acknowledge that they had a problem.

Challenges in Interpersonal Relationships

Understanding the complex interplay between covert narcissism and alcoholism sheds light on the challenges individuals face when navigating these intertwined conditions. This reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism can exacerbate their narcissistic tendencies, leading to a detrimental cycle of reinforcement. The ability to empathize is a key factor that distinguishes those with BPD from individuals with covert narcissism. These contrasting traits can lead to power imbalances within the relationship, with the covert narcissist exerting control through manipulation and gaslighting tactics. The covert narcissism and alcoholism associations between covert narcissism and alcohol abuse can result in heightened psychological distress and interpersonal difficulties.

This is characterised by long-term patterns of behaviour that reflect pathological self-importance, a distinct disregard for others and lack of empathy. Narcissists tend to have a preoccupation with power, achievement, success, money and material or status gains. That said, they do not experience genuine emotions or authentic relationship connections in the way most people do. Someone who has a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) experiences grandiose, arrogant behavior patterns that are coupled with a lack of empathy and need to be admired. These behaviors are at the expense of other people, including loved ones. People who are experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs, or sex should contact a doctor or mental health professional.

Treatment & Support

In addition, the need to constantly look and act perfect may cause some people with NPD to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health symptoms. Narcissism and alcoholism both worsen symptoms people may be trying to avoid. Also, people with AUD might seem to behave similarly to people with narcissistic traits. If you think you’re misusing alcohol, or if you think you have NPD, reach out to a mental health professional. Everybody can benefit from speaking with a therapist, regardless of whether they fit the criteria for a mental health condition. In fact, some research suggests that alcohol misuse might be more common among people who have narcissistic tendencies.

1. Dual-diagnosis treatment focuses on providing clients with emotional stabilization and ensures they receive support for any underlying issues affecting their mental or physical health.
2. The narcissist-like behavior of some alcoholics may only be a result of their addiction—it may not be how they really are when sober.
3. People with NPD have a higher rate of relationship failures, legal issues, and difficulty making healthy social connections in their personal and professional lives.
4. The more covert form of pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is not expressed the same way in every individual, but there are typical patterns that are very common.
5. Integrative care is essential to ensure clients with narcissism and alcoholism have the guidance to manage their co-occurring mental health disorders.

A covert narcissist might present themselves in a way that looks like they are giving, but their giving behavior always has the intent of getting something in return. It is not a coincidence that narcissists, in general, tend to gravitate toward interacting with caring and compassionate people. The covert narcissist recognizes those opportunities for manipulation as well. The overt narcissist will demand admiration and attention, where the covert narcissist will use softer tactics to meet those same goals.

NPD diagnosis

When confronted, a covert narcissist may initially deny or deflect responsibility, gaslight the accuser, or play the victim to manipulate the situation. By recognizing these triggers, we can better navigate interactions and protect our emotional well-being. In some cases, setting boundaries and practicing self-care can mitigate the impact of triggers. Consider family therapy to improve communication and understanding among all affected parties. It’s a chronic brain disease marked by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.

What Defines a Covert Narcissist Vs a Communal Narcissist?

People with vulnerable narcissism tend to show avoidant, defensive, or hypersensitive behaviors, and they often experience feelings of rage at a perceived lack of esteem or respect. People with grandiose narcissism tend to have very high self-esteem, behave in a dominant way, and overestimate their own capabilities. Narcissism may leave people more prone to problematic substance use, including alcohol use disorder, as well as other forms of addiction, such as sex addiction and social media addiction. If someone you love needs treatment for alcohol use disorder, there are also new, online options that can make the process easier.

It can be hard to discern even from a clinical perspective if alcoholism is separate from narcissism. The takeaway is that the individual needs treatment to make significant changes in their life. Depending on the severity of the problem, residential or inpatient treatment may be necessary. Once detox is completed and sobriety has begun, outpatient therapy can be beneficial.

It’s essential to recognize the signs of manipulation and take proactive steps to address the situation. Exposed flaws trigger shame and worsen feelings of insecurity and low self-worth. Seeking external validation, rejection hits hard, causing emotional turmoil. Inadequate validation intensifies their need for approval, unnoticed efforts hurting deeply. This dynamic creates a power play where the narcissist manipulates emotions for their gain.

However, when protecting yourself from covert narcissistic abuse, you may want to skip direct confrontation. Try to calmly explain how you feel but if the other person isn’t receptive, you may want to end the conversation and consider how you want to proceed with the relationship. Recognizing covert personality traits requires looking beyond obvious appearances, past common assumptions and expectations. For this reason, covert narcissism is more difficult to spot, and it can take years to recognize it in someone you think you know well. But the good news is that once you become aware of the patterns and signs of covert narcissism, you aren’t likely to miss them again.