The study of narcissism goes back to the work of Freud, where he made the distinction between healthy narcissism, with the child being eulogized by their parent, and unhealthy narcissism, where something has gone wrong developmentally, resulting in the person having a complicated and unhealthy relationship with themselves.

Symptoms of this unhealthy narcissism include;

• Grandiousity

• Entitelment

• Manipulativeness

• Rage

• Paranoia

• Hypersensitivity

• Jealousy

• Lack of guilt / insight

• Imperative need for admiration

• Deceitfulness - putting a spin on things, being in denial or outright lies

• Envy & greed

• Emotional coldness

• Gaslighting

• Vanity

• Controlling the other person

• Unpredictability - particularly from a good mood to anger or sliding without missing a beat and with no explanation from rage to sugary, upbeat pleasantness

• Taking advantage of other people

• Schadenfreude - revelling in the other person's misery or misfortune - it's the opposite of envy

• Poor boundaries - particularly being very severe in maintaining their own, whilst being invasive of the other person's boundaries

• Doesn't listen - often because they're not there in the moment - they're doing rather than being

• Fragile ego

• Inconsiderateness of the other person's needs

Narcissistic people rarely seek therapy, but they are often encountered within psychoanalysis when they are the client's partner or parent.

For further information or to book a session, please feel free to contact me at:

t. 01297 625006 m. 07989 000088

ewpsychotherapy@gmail.com

11 Wessiters, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2PW

Providing Counselling, Psycholology, Psychoanalysis, Jungian Analysis, Couple & Marriage Therapy and Supervision for people in and around:

Seaton, Axminster, Chard, Yarcombe, Dunkeswell, Cullompton, Payhembury, Honiton, Dalwood, FenitonWhimple, Exeter, Ottery St Mary, Kilmington, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Branscombe, Axmouth, Rousdon, Lyme Regis, Uplyme, Charmouth, Seatown Bridport, Beaminster, Tiverton, Ilminster, South Petherton, Taunton and Crewkerne.