| Pathological narcissism is an addiction to Narcissistic | | | | his inherent limitations, inevitable failures, painful and |
| Supply, the narcissist's drug of choice. It is, therefore, | | | | much-feared rejections, and the Grandiosity Gap |
| not surprising that other addictive and reckless | | | | — the abyss between the image he projects |
| behaviours — workaholism, alcoholism, drug | | | | (the False Self) and the injurious truth. They relieve |
| abuse, pathological gambling, compulsory shopping, or | | | | his anxiety and resolve the tension between his |
| reckless driving — piggyback on this primary | | | | unrealistic expectations and inflated self-image |
| dependence. | | | | — and his incommensurate achievements, |
| The narcissist — like other types of addicts | | | | position, status, recognition, intelligence, wealth, and |
| — derives pleasure from these exploits. But | | | | physique. |
| they also sustain and enhance his grandiose fantasies | | | | Thus, there is no point in treating the dependence |
| as "unique", "superior", "entitled", and "chosen". They | | | | and recklessness of the narcissist without first |
| place him above the laws and pressures of the | | | | treating the underlying personality disorder. The |
| mundane and away from the humiliating and sobering | | | | narcissist's addictions serve deeply ingrained emotional |
| demands of reality. They render him the centre of | | | | needs. They intermesh seamlessly with the |
| attention — but also place him in "splendid | | | | pathological structure of his disorganised personality, |
| isolation" from the madding and inferior crowd. | | | | with his character faults, and primitive defence |
| Such compulsory and wild pursuits provide a | | | | mechanisms. |
| psychological exoskeleton. They are a substitute to | | | | Techniques such as "12 steps" may prove more |
| quotidian existence. They afford the narcissist with | | | | efficacious in treating the narcissist's grandiosity, |
| an agenda, with timetables, goals, and faux | | | | rigidity, sense of entitlement, exploitativeness, and |
| achievements. The narcissist — the adrenaline | | | | lack of empathy. This is because — as |
| junkie — feels that he is in control, alert, | | | | opposed to traditional treatment modalities — |
| excited, and vital. He does not regard his condition as | | | | the emphasis is on tackling the narcissist's |
| dependence. The narcissist firmly believes that he is | | | | psychological makeup, rather than on behaviour |
| in charge of his addiction, that he can quit at will and | | | | modification. |
| on short notice. | | | | The narcissist's overwhelming need to feel |
| The narcissist denies his cravings for fear of "losing | | | | omnipotent and superior can be co-opted in the |
| face" and subverting the flawless, perfect, | | | | therapeutic process. Overcoming an addictive |
| immaculate, and omnipotent image he projects. When | | | | behaviour can be — truthfully — |
| caught red handed, the narcissist underestimates, | | | | presented by the therapist as a rare and impressive |
| rationalises, or intellectualises his addictive and | | | | feat, worthy of the narcissist's unique mettle. |
| reckless behaviours — converting them into an | | | | Narcissists fall for these transparent pitches |
| integral part of his grandiose and fantastic False Self. | | | | surprisingly often. But this approach can backfire. |
| Thus, a drug abusing narcissist may claim to be | | | | Should the narcissist relapse — an almost |
| conducting first hand research for the benefit of | | | | certain occurrence — he will feel ashamed to |
| humanity — or that his substance abuse | | | | admit his fallibility, need for emotional sustenance, and |
| results in enhanced creativity and productivity. The | | | | impotence. He is likely to avoid treatment altogether |
| dependence of some narcissists becomes a way of | | | | and convince himself that now, having succeeded |
| life: busy corporate executives, race car drivers, or | | | | once to get rid of his addiction, he is self-sufficient |
| professional gamblers come to mind. | | | | and omniscient. |
| The narcissist's addictive behaviours take his mind off | | | | |