Narcissism Misdiagnosing The Bipolar I Disorder

Narcissism Misdiagnosing The Bipolar I Disorder (The use of gender pronouns in this article reflects the clinical facts: most narcissists are men.) The manic phase of bipolar I disorder is often diagnosed as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Bipolar patients in manic phase, many of the signs and symptoms of pathological narcissism - hyperactivity, self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and control freakery. In this chapter again and again of the disease, the patient is euphoric, has grandiose fantasies, unrealistic schemes of tus, and often anger attacks (is irritable) if her or his wishes and plans (inevitably) frustrated.The manic phases of bipolar disorder, however, are limited in time - NPD is not. Furthermore, the mania, followed by - usually protracted - depressive episodes. The narcissist is also frequently dysphoric. But whereas the bipolar sinks into deep self-deprecation, self-devaluation, unlimited pessimism, wherever, guilt and anhedonia - the narcissist, even when depressed, never renounced his narcissism: his grandiosity, sense of entitlement, haughtiness, and lack of empathy. Narcissistic dysphorias are much shorter and reactive - which are a response to the grandiosity gap. In other words, the narcissist is dejected when they are in conformity with the chasm between the inflated self-image and grandiose fantasies - Drab and the reality of his life: his mistakes, lack of benefits, the disintegration of relationships, and low status. Yet, one dose of narcissistic supply is enough to increase the narcissists from the depth of misery to the heights of euphoria.Not so with bipolar mania. The source of his or her mood is presumed that the biochemistry of the brain - not the availability of narcissistic supply. Whereas the narcissist is in full control of its capacity, even if the maximum agitated, the bipolar often feels that he lost control of his brain ( "flight of ideas"), his speech, his / their attention (distractibility), and his motor functions bipolar is prone to reckless behavior and substance abuse only during the manic phase. The narcissist is not the drugs, drink, play games, store credit, in unprotected sex or in other compulsive behaviors both when elated and when deflated.As a rule, the manic phase of bipolar disorder, with its social and occupational functioning . Many narcissists, in contrast, reach the highest steps of the community, church, business, organization or volunteer service. Most of the time, they function perfectly - even though the inevitable blowups and the grating extortion of narcissistic supply usually put an end to social and professional narcissist liaisons.The bipolar manic phase of hospitalization, and sometimes - more frequently than admitted -- with psychotic features. Narcissists are hospitalized, how come the self-harm minutes. Moreover, micro psychotic episodes in narcissism are decompensatory in nature and only under unbearable stress (eg, in intensive care). The bipolar mania provokes discomfort in both residents and patients in the next lover. His constant cheerfulness and compulsive insistence on interpersonal, sexual, vocational or professional interactions and creates discomfort and disgust. Its lability of mood - rapid alteation between uncontrollable rage and unnatural good spirits - is almost intimidating. The narcissism of sociality, for comparison, was calculated, "cold", controlled and goal-orientated (the extraction of narcissistic supply). His cycles of mood and much less pronounced and less bipolar rapid.The inflated self-esteem, excessive self-confidence, obvious grandiosity, and delusional fantasies are similar to narcissistic and cause diagnostic confusion. Both types of patients who have a right to believe that the divestiture, the creation of a task, or by a company for which they are unique and do not have the full capacity, skills, knowledge, experience or bipolar required.But is the bombast much more delusional than the narcissist. Ideas of reference and magical thinking, and in this sense, the bipolar is closer to the schizotypal of narcissistic.There are further differentiating symptoms: Sleep disorders - acute insomnia, in particular - are being manic bipolar and uncommon in narcissism . So is "manic speech" - the press, not explosive, strong, fast, dramatic (including songs and amusing observations), sometimes incomprehensible, incoherent, chaotic, and lasts for hours. It reflects the bipolar inner turmoil and inability to control its course and kaleidoscopic thoughts.As opposed to narcissists, Bipolar in the manic phase are often determined by the slightest stimuli, are unable to rely on relevant data, or to maintain the thread of conversation. They are all over the place "- simultaneously initiating numerous business start-up, in a wide range of organization, writing a thousand letters, contact with hundreds of friends and perfect strangers, in a dominant, demanding, and intrusive without the need for and feelings of the unfortunate recipients of their unwanted attention. Rarely their projects to follow the transformation is so marked that the Bipolar is often accompanied by his closest as "not self". Indeed, some bipolar relocate, change name and appearance, and losing contact with their "previous life". Antisocial or even criminal behavior is not uncommon and aggression is marked, on the other two (attack) and himself (suicide). Some biploars describe a sense of sharpness, similar experiences recounted by drug users: smells, sounds and sights are accentuated and attain a very quality.As opposed to narcissists, bipolar regret their misdeeds following the manic phase and try to atone for their actions. They recognize and accept that "there is something wrong with them" and seek help. During the depression are ego-dystonic and their defenses are the plastic car (that the blame for their defeats, failures and breakdowns). Finally, pathological narcissism is already disceible in early adolescence. The complete bipolar disorder - including a manic phase - rarely before the age of 20. The narcissist is in his pathology - not so the bipolar. The beginning of the manic episode is fast and furious and results in a conspicuous metamorphosis of patient.More on this topic here: Mount Storm, D., Roningstam, E., Gunderson, J., & Tohen, M. (1998) Pathological Narcissism in patients with bipolar disorder. Joual of Personality Disorders, 12, 179-185Roningstam, E. (1996), and pathological narcissism narcissistic personality disorder in Axis I disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 3, 326-340 About the Author Sam Vaknin () is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the rain - as the West has lost the East. He served as a columnist for Central Europe Review, PopMatters, and eBookWeb, Bella and online, and as a United Press Inteational (UPI) Senior Business correspondents. He is the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in Open Directory and Suite101.