Narcissistic Personality disorder

According to the Mayo Clinic, this personality disorder is “a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”

Individuals with this condition may feel a hit to their self-esteem when they don’t receive the admiration or attention they feel they deserve. They may also find their relationships—with family, friends, or dating partners—unfulfilling. Typically, this disorder isn’t diagnosed in teenagers, but they may show some of the following traits which are treatable:

• Have an overly high sense of self-importance
• Feel entitled and have a need to be admired
• Exaggerate their own achievements and talents
• Fantasize about their own success, power, brilliance, or self-image
• Take advantage of others for their own gain
• Unwilling to recognize others’ needs or feelings
• Demand that they have the best in everything, such as the best technology or cars

Narcissistic Personality Disorder may occur due to neurobiology (connection between brain, behavior, and thinking), genetics, or environment—such as a parent-child relationship with excessive adoration or criticism. A parental figure with these traits can elicit mental and emotional health issues in children.

How Can Turn-About Ranch Help?

We believe that it’s crucial for individuals to learn how to properly handle their narcissistic tendencies as early as possible. We have helped many teens who consistently demonstrated the traits described above, and our program has acted as a “reality check” for them. We teach teens to value themselves without needing excessive attention from others. Along with building their own self-esteem, we teach them to value group efforts as a whole.