06/11/2025
Did you know that narcissism isn’t all or nothing?
We all have narcissistic traits — the capacity for self-focus, pride, and the desire to feel special.
In its healthy form, narcissism helps us believe in ourselves and take up space.
It becomes a problem when self-worth depends entirely on admiration or control, when empathy fades, and when relationships turn into mirrors instead of connections.
At its extreme — when these patterns are rigid, persistent, and cause real harm — it can meet the criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
But most of the time, what we’re seeing in others (and in ourselves) are traits, not a personality disorder.
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