The cycle of narcissism and alcoholism begins when individuals with narcissistic traits turn to alcohol as a means of coping with their emotional vulnerabilities and insecurities. Alcohol provides them with a temporary escape from their inner turmoil and a false sense of grandiosity, which aligns with their narcissistic tendencies. In addition to these symptoms, people with a narcissistic personality disorder may also have difficulty holding down long-term relationships due to their lack of empathy and disturbed interpersonal dynamics. They may be prone to outbursts of anger and have difficulty controlling their emotions. A mental health professional can help you diagnose and treat any underlying mental health disorders that may be contributing to your alcoholism and narcissism. People who display addictive behaviors in addition to narcissistic traits may require a substance abuse treatment program that is equipped to treat co-occurring disorders.<\/p>\n

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. Research has shown that there is an overlap between alcohol use disorder and personality disorders, including NPD. One study found that among individuals who reported alcohol use, 9.1% were diagnosed with NPD at some point during their lives [1]. Narcissism is a personality trait where people may feel a need for admiration, show a lack of empathy, or be self-involved. It is typical for people to display occasional narcissistic traits, but a pattern of narcissism could be part of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a mental health condition. It’s important to note that not all individuals with alcoholism develop narcissistic behaviors, and not all individuals with narcissistic traits become alcoholics.<\/p>\n

Narcissism and alcoholism: Is there a link?<\/h2>\n

You can also find narcissist abuse support groups, both online or in-person, through organizations like Help Within Reach. There are numerous other online support groups and chat rooms dedicated to loved ones living with alcoholism and NPD. With NPD, for example, there are no drugs specifically used for the treatment of the personality disorder, but antidepressants or anxiolytics may be prescribed if depression or anxiety is present. Exhibiting narcissistic behaviors when drunk, for example, doesn\u2019t inherently mean that a person has NPD.<\/p>\n