According to the Mayo Clinic, narcissism is a personality disorder that is characterized by an over-inflated sense of self. Narcissistic people have a need for praise and admiration and believe they are superior to others. Underneath, they are insecure and sensitive to criticism. Once the disorder is revealed, there are ways that friends and family can deal with a narcissistic personality.
Step 1
Remain focused on your own self-worth. According to Dr. Mark Lauderdale, author of "Secrets of Dealing with Difficult People," narcissists always will try to bring you down no matter how well you have done or how good you are feeling. Lean on your own inner strength that is not reliant on the judgment of others.
Step 2
Call the narcissist on her behavior without anger or criticism. Point out to your narcissist that she has changed the subject back to herself in a conversation and that you were not finished talking. Keep your tone cheerful and non-threatening. It may throw her off just enough to allow her time to consider her behavior.
Step 3
Stay consistent in your demand for equal time. Allow him to become slightly annoyed, yet unable to fault you for your graciousness. Be clear in your expectations and what you hope to get out of a relationship. For example, you may never receive praise from a narcissistic boss, but make sure you receive appropriate compensation.
Step 4
Learn to manipulate narcissists by offering them praise when they allow you to finish talking about yourself and comment on how you appreciate their attention. When trying to get a narcissist to do something he may not want to do, tell him how important his contribution is and how you need his input.
Step 5
Encourage your narcissist to seek help from a counselor or psychiatrist. Point out the difficulties that keep cropping up in his life, such as job loss, broken relationships and financial problems. Mental health professionals utilize a manual created by the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose narcissism and determine how severely it is affecting the person's life.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep a sense of humor once you've identified the condition in a friend or family member. Humoring the inflated ego of a narcissist doesn't have to be serious all the time. Without laughing in the face of the person, you can maintain your own frustration with the behavior by considering it mildly entertaining, if not slightly annoying.
- Avoid angry confrontations with narcissists. One of the hallmarks of the disorder is that they can become verbally and physically abusive when challenged angrily. Your anger will only serve to make them work harder at controlling you and the situation.
