Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Unveiling the Hidden Faces

Introduction

When I began exploring and healing from abuse, I realized that there are numerous individuals with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) in various roles of my life - bosses, presidents, coworkers, and even neighbors. My journey has made me articulate about the prevalence of NPD, and the subtle ways in which it manifests.

Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Initially, I only knew one person formally diagnosed with NPD - my mother, who received the diagnosis in 2018. However, my awareness of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) expanded as I identified patterns of behavior in people around me. Narcissistic traits can be observed in individuals without an official diagnosis, and the individuals who exhibit these traits are often drawn to each other.

Narcissists in My Life

Looking back, I realize that a significant number of people in my past were narcissists, and I was unaware of it. This familiarity and comfort, even if toxic, can drive individuals to gravitate towards narcissists. In the present, I live between two narcissists - a covert narcissist and an overt one. The overt narcissist can be irritating, while the covert narcissist’s moods are less disruptive as he stays mostly indoors.

This is a common pattern, especially for individuals coming from families with narcissists. There is a natural inclination to be drawn to what is familiar and comfortable, even if it is harmful.

Common Narcissists in Society

While I can only count one person I knew personally who was formally diagnosed with NPD, I can confirm that I know of approximately eight others, ranging from antagonistic communal, covert, overt, and even malignant ones. These can include:

Some individuals with NPD condition live relatively unscathed by their narcissistic behaviors, but often, it takes experiencing it up close to truly understand the gravity of NPD.

Consequences and Awareness

My experiences have taught me that the “lesser spotted” covert type of narcissist is far more dangerous than the "greater spotted" grandiose one. These covert narcissists are often more numerous than statistics suggest. Understanding this has made me more cautious about my social and professional relationships.

Going forward, I prefer to pay closer attention to the presentation, listen, observe, and watch the behavior. This approach has helped me identify truly wonderful friends who might not have been in my life otherwise. It is a lesson learned the hard way, but one that has made navigating social circles much more rewarding.

So, while the line between NPD and mere narcissistic traits can be blurry, awareness and observation are key to navigating these complex behaviors. Life is still wonderful with sincere, empathetic friends at my side, even in the face of hidden narcissists.