A dual diagnosis (or co-occurring disorder) is when one person has a mental health disorder along with a drug or alcohol abuse problem. There is a strong association between SUDs and other mental health disorders. About 50% of people with one disorder will develop at least one more co-occurring mental health problem in their lifetime. Other symptoms include seeking excessive admiration and attention, being preoccupied with success, power, and beauty, and having an excessive need for control. When two conditions like narcissism and alcoholism occur together, sometimes people believe that one disorder causes the other, but co-occurring disorders are more complex than that.
A 2018 study examined the link between narcissism and alcohol use based on a survey of 345 college students. It found that narcissism was a predictor of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. If you think that you or a loved one has NPD or AUD, knowing the symptoms can help you better understand both conditions.
Narcissism vs. narcissistic personality disorder
It is impossible to say whether or not most alcoholics are narcissists. There is no single answer to this question as each individual’s circumstances are unique. However, it is possible that some people who suffer from alcoholism may also covert narcissism and alcoholism have NPD. Although experts believe that genetic factors can make people up to 50% more inclined toward alcohol use disorder, addiction has many possible causes. These include environmental factors, social factors, and emotional factors.
- Others with narcissistic traits may fit on the lower end of the narcissistic spectrum.
- However, there are many correlations between the two, which are most often displayed by alcoholics.
- If someone you love needs treatment for alcohol use disorder, there are also new, online options that can make the process easier.
Both narcissistic personality disorder and alcoholism are treatable conditions, but getting an alcoholic narcissist to accept help is notoriously difficult. Not all narcissists are alcoholics, nor are all alcoholics narcissists, although alcoholism often causes people to develop narcissistic traits, such as arrogance, self-absorption, and a lack of empathy. Not all narcissists have problems with alcohol, but it isn’t uncommon for people with personality disorders to develop alcohol-related problems. This might include joining Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs that offer nonjudgmental peer support to others living with AUD. You can also join a local support group offered by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), which addresses substance abuse when NPD and other mental health disorders. This article discusses the similarities and differences between people with narcissistic personality disorder and those with alcohol use disorder.
Ways Narcissists and Alcoholics are Similar
In reality, these behaviors are often a mask for an individual’s fragile self-esteem and self-image. Others are viewed as either enabling their drinking or as potential threats to their freedom to drink. Narcissists don’t enter a room saying Hi, Im Jack, Im a narcissist. However, their dramatic, manipulative or entitled behaviors often announce their narcissism beyond a doubt. To an alcoholic narcissist, drinking becomes one of their layers of defense.
Vulnerable narcissists, on the other hand, suffer an underlying sense of insecurity, hypersensitivity to criticism, and fragile self-esteem. On the other hand, their mask could start to slip, giving you a glimpse of the vulnerable inner self hiding behind the narcissist’s disguise. If you frequent a lot of bars, you’ve probably noticed that alcohol brings out the narcissist in everyone and tends to amplify a true narcissist’s most unpleasant characteristics. Read more about living with a person who has AUD and managing a relationship with someone who has NPD.
Ways Narcissists and Alcoholics Are Similar
When you are in a relationship with a narcissist, this can be extremely difficult and draining. The situation elevates and can become much worse when dealing with a narcissistic alcohol or drug addict. Narcissism frequently has other symptoms such as depression, bipolar disorder (BPD), anxiety, and drug or alcohol abuse disorder. It can feel impossible to escape this situation, especially if you care for that person.
