My mother has NPD. That disorder is very hard on the children.
I am grateful to my wife, and for my son. We are doing things better for sure.
I am grateful to my wife, and for my son. We are doing things better for sure.
One memory sticks out that perfectly encompasses his malady, is when my wife cooked a big meal for a gathering which included in-laws, friends, and neighbors. When she announced dinner was going to be served, he filled a plate with food and ate by himself at the table, before anyone else had sat down or been served. When asked later why he did that, he came up with a few reasons which essentially were “I was hungry”.
I’m leaving out all manner of physical, emotional, manipulative, financial abuse he inflicted but the above anecdote is such a pure distillation of the lack of social grace combined with intense self-indulgence.
For those treating patients with NPD, the diagnosis provides a framework for understanding and treatment.
Most with the disorder will not seek treatment, as they don't think they have a problem.
Of course, diagnosis from afar is fraught, as is diagnosis by non professionals. But I think the former president provides a good frame of reference for how people with NPD behave, but taken to an almost surreal extreme.