this post was submitted on 05 May 2026
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[–] Katrisia@lemmy.today 8 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

If you worry about being a narcissist, you are not one. A narcissist would never introspect like that or care.

False. If you suspect narcissistic personality disorder, it is completely valid and you probably need to research the vulnerable side of it or the covert side of it.

Grandiose is the one with an inflated-ego, the famous one, and the DSM-5 describes mostly the grandiose narcissist. Vulnerable is the one where you feel like a misunderstood outcast or a victim of others, maybe even like a "stupid piece of shit" (quoting Bojack Horseman) that possibly deserved your hardships in life.

People with NPD or NPD traits can oscillate between different levels of these two presentations throughout their lives.

Overt is when you show that in 'public' (either grandiose or vulnerable). Covert is when nobody knows or can confirm you feel this way (either grandiose or vulnerable), it's more of a secret.

In recent years, I've met people with undiagnosed NPD later confirmed and a person with diagnosed BPD with not enough narcissistic traits for a diagnosis, but some important ones there. That's only to exemplify that it is not uncommon. I'm glad they were curious and open.

It's crazy to think that a whole diagnostic category and clinical spectrum is in the shadows because of that myth: "you wouldn't be thinking about it". Of course you would, person receiving that "advice", you are not an idiot and I'm sure you are noticing something about yourself. You deserve to know if it's NPD or some other thing, and to get help and to feel better about your life.