Are Alcoholics Narcissists?
Are Alcoholics Narcissists? Let us know the link between alcoholism and narcissism! Can alcoholism play a role in narcissism? Can it be related to narcissism? Let us find out further.
What is a narcissist?
Narcissists are often characterized by their boosted sense of self-importance, self-pride, and self-needs. With a narcissist, everything is just about them. Narcissists thrive upon the attention, adoration, and validation that they receive from others, and what makes them distinguished from others is the way they think and the way they behave, which is totally selfish and mean.
NPD(Narcissistic Personality Disorder) or Narcissism portrays some common toxic traits in an intensified state than others. In psychological terms, narcissists who suffer from NPD(Narcissistic Personality Disorder) portray these emotions and traits in a greater magnitude than others. These emotions include a boosted sense of self-importance, inflated self-worth, and a constant need for admiration, adoration, and validation.
What is an Alcoholic?
An alcoholic is identified as someone who is completely dependent on alcohol both physically and mentally. They are so dependent on alcohol that they are often termed as people who misuse alcohol.
Alcoholism is a problem created by excessive and dependable drinking. People who drink to survive are known as Alcoholics because they cannot function smoothly in day-to-day life without consuming alcohol. Alcoholism is often included in the list of substances referred to as substance abuse.
For alcoholics, consuming alcohol is the top priority, and they may also neglect all other responsibilities and obligations such as work, or family. Alcoholics consume alcohol, despite knowing its negative impacts on the body, and mind, and its side effects.
Are Alcoholism and Narcissism linked?
Narcissism is a deep-rooted personality trait. It is a personality disorder that is a clinically proven mental health illness, which requires a diagnosis to claim someone as a narcissist.
Alcoholism is considered a substance abuse disorder, which is often referred to as an addiction. However, it may or may not require a clinical diagnosis as compared to narcissism, based on the healthcare provider.
Thus not all alcoholics are diagnosable narcissists and not all narcissists are alcoholics. Then why do these two groups have so much in common? What are the behavioral similarities between them?
These two disorders have some remarkable behavioral or character traits shared on a common basis. Let us know the similarities between Alcoholism and Narcissism,
7 Ways Narcissists and Alcoholics Are Similar
Denial
Narcissism is often characterized by denial which is used as a shield to cover all the problematic and inappropriate.
In the same way, denial is the answer that keeps alcoholism going.
Sowing the Seeds of Destruction
Narcissists are difficult people, who are ruinous and catastopic wherever they go. They destroy relationships. They lose or destroy relationships with friends, family, or loved ones by betraying, lying, and cheating on them. They sacrifice everything including their relationships, careers, and self-respect just to maintain their high-end image, and social reputation to gain attention.
In the same manner, alcoholics sacrifice everything their careers, money, families, and relationships just to obtain alcohol.
Thus both narcissists and alcoholics do not care about others, or how they are affected due to their behavior and would go beyond all the boundaries to gain what they want; attention in the case of narcissists and alcohol in the case of alcoholics thus sowing the seeds of their own destruction, as well as creating a disruptive environment for others around them too.
Deflection of Blame
Narcissists deflect the blame for their wrongdoings onto others. They would never accept their mistakes and hardly apologize for them. They think admitting to mistakes makes them inferior and thus they blame others for putting them in such a situation where they had to do what they did.
In a similar manner, alcoholics might blame situations, people, and circumstances that made them drink in the first place. They may have lots of excuses for their drinking abuse.
They exploit people and situations
Narcissists feel that they are entitled to do what they desire, behave the way they wish, manipulate others, and think that they are supposed to be treated in a special manner as they are better than others. They can do as they wish and achieve anything and everything even if they have to exploit others.
Alcoholics are always stocked and use their resourcefulness to obtain their alcohol supply, even if it includes manipulating or exploiting others.
They are Defensive
Narcissists become defensive when confronted. They might be furious and you may have to face their rage. They may hurt you emotionally when you confront them by gaslighting you.
Alcoholics cannot take it when you confront them about their substance abuse. They may be angry, be abusive both physically and emotionally. They may even use physical harm to stop people from pointing fingers at them.
They are Manipulative and Arrogant
Narcissists often display that they are perfect and nobody can be as good as them. They may abuse and manipulate others to have situations and results in their favor. They are control freaks who need to control everything.
Alcoholics may also be manipulative when it comes to obtaining their supply. They may even complain about how expensive their drinks are, and may also obtain them by hook or crook even if that includes borrowing money from others on credit.
They are driven by cravings
Narcissists crave attention, adoration, and validation. They may do everything to obtain their narcissistic supply. Supply is everything that makes them important like control, praise, worth, ego boost, and everything that makes them feel superior.
Alcoholics have undeniable, uncontrollable alcohol cravings. they may surpass their alcohol tolerance forcing them to withdraw from social interactions.
3 Points of Differences that make Narcissists and Alcoholics Different
Narcissism and Alcoholism share many similarities but they are different from each other in a few ways,
Display of certain behavior
The behavior of narcissists remains constant without any changes. They may be manipulative, abusive, and toxic with or without alcohol consumption.
Alcoholics may not always display such arrogance or bad behavior, and may also be able to empathize, care, and understand others in many cases when they are sober or are not under the influence of alcohol.
Recognizing a need to bring in changes in their behavior
Narcissists think that they are perfect and there is nothing wrong with them. They do not even realize that their behavior is improper and intolerable to others. They think they do not require any changes and others are full of flaws.
An Alcoholic person may recognize a need for change, when their alcoholism starts affecting their life extremely and when everything falls apart or drifts away from them. Though changes may or may not be implemented, the thought of shame that brings in guilt and inspired changes is there in their head.
Owning up to mistakes
Narcissists will never, I repeat Never, accept their mistakes. They may constantly refuse to admit that they are wrong even if it affects their lives. They can never accept criticism.
Alcoholics may not recognize their mistake as they may not remember anything due to abuse of alcohol. But if they feel that their behavior has affected others or has caused a ruckus they may apologize in order to make things right.
Do Narcissists tend to become Alcoholics?
Someone can be a narcissist or have a clinical diagnosis for narcissism, without being an alcoholic. However, some research has concluded that narcissists tend to have alcohol abuse or are susceptible to it with or without a diagnosis.
Both NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) and AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) are mental health conditions that have been classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5) and may frequently co-occur.
Alcoholic narcissists tend to be heavy drinkers due to multiple reasons. It is a common sight where two mental health disorders overlap, and the condition is called a dual diagnosis.
Such an alcoholic narcissist uses alcohol as one of the defense mechanisms when criticized, faces failure, or feels defeated.
Can Alcohol make someone Narcissistic?
To gain an answer based on current and existing research, it cannot be proved that alcoholism can cause personality disorders like narcissism. This can be verified, as narcissism is inherited through parents, or it is inherited through heredity, or due to Brain Mutations, Genetic transmission from parents to offspring, or Parenting flaws. There is no such mention of alcoholism causing narcissistic personality disorder.
However, alcoholism can affect narcissism and cause an increase in narcissistic traits, behavior, and tendencies. An alcoholic might not be affected by NPD, yet they might display some traits and behave like a narcissist while under the influence of alcohol.
Are Alcoholics Narcissists?
Exhibiting narcissistic traits and behaviors while drunk, does not prove that the person is narcissistic or has NPD. Alcohol is capable of influencing narcissistic traits like arrogance, self-importance, feelings of entitlement, and superiority, which may be absent when that same person is sober or is not under the influence of alcohol.
In the same way consuming alcohol does not mean that a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) has Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
All mental health conditions have some criteria, interpretations, and standards that must be met to tag a person as a narcissist or an alcoholic. Each mental health condition must be diagnosed and treated independently.
Final Thoughts
Exhibiting narcissistic traits and behaviors while drunk, does not prove that the person is narcissistic or has NPD. Alcohol is capable of influencing narcissistic traits like arrogance, self-importance, feelings of entitlement, and superiority, which may be absent when that same person is sober or is not under the influence of alcohol.
In the same way consuming alcohol does not mean that a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) has Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
It cannot be proved that alcoholism can cause personality disorders like narcissism.
However, alcoholism can affect narcissism and cause an increase in narcissistic traits, behavior, and tendencies. An alcoholic might not be affected by NPD, yet they might display some traits and behave like a narcissist while under the influence of alcohol.
From Relationship, Depression, and Personality Disorder to Narcissistic problems, I have helped a lot of people find their solutions. Upon gathering a number of common problems that people face, I decided to put the information on this blog so that anyone can get their answers easily.
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