Dealing with a Narcissistic Alcoholic: Strategies to Safeguard Well-being

For NPD, mood changes often relate to perceived slights or lack of admiration. In AUD, mood swings are typically tied to intoxication and withdrawal. Alcohol may temporarily alleviate feelings of inadequacy or boost confidence in individuals with NPD, leading to increased consumption.

Their belief in being superior to others can manifest in dismissive or condescending behavior.
By recognizing the interplay between narcissism and alcoholism, you can better equip yourself to handle challenging interactions with empathy and resilience.
On the one hand, many feel a deep desire to provide the stability and love they never experienced.
It means reminding yourself you are enough, even when the old scripts scream otherwise.
Maybe she never found someone who could hold her story with enough safety to keep her from running back to her coping mechanisms.

The unpredictable swings between affection and neglect, or stability and chaos, teach children to expect inconsistency in all aspects of life. By implementing these coping strategies, you can empower yourself to handle the challenges posed by a narcissistic alcoholic while safeguarding your well-being and emotional health. Remember, you deserve to prioritize your own needs and boundaries in any relationship. Studies have identified genetic and environmental factors that contribute to narcissistic alcoholism. Emerging treatments and ongoing studies aim to improve outcomes for individuals with co-occurring narcissism and alcohol use disorder. Family therapy is often beneficial, helping to repair relationships damaged by narcissistic behaviors and alcohol abuse.

Narcissism is a personality disorder in which the individual generally has an inflated sense of self-importance, and a deep desire for admiration and excessive attention. Read further to understand both narcissism and alcoholism and the potential correlations between the two disorders. There are several issues relevant to the effects of trauma on a child in these types of households. The most critical factors include the age of the child, the duration of the trauma during development, and the ability of the child to have support within the family or from an outside source.

Alcoholism Effects:

It is marked by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. You could start by engaging with a mental healthcare provider or treatment center that specializes in alcoholic narcissistic mother dual diagnoses. Treatment centers can also ensure that you can access the right support systems at the right time in your treatment. Personality disorders like NPD are those in which a person has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving. Substance use disorders like AUD are characterized by mental and physical addiction.

Maybe even send it to a young mom you know who drinks too much — sometimes the right words land at the right time. Maybe this article can help someone else as much as it helped you, or in a similar way to how it helped you. Comment below to ask for advice, or leave a piece of wisdom you think could help future readers who find themselves here.

Dual Diagnosis: Narcissism and Alcoholism

Clinical observations and studies have positively linked narcissistic personality disorder to an increased potential for alcoholism. The relationship between narcissism and alcoholism presents unique and complex challenges, and when these disorders coexist — expect the challenges to multiply. Alcoholism involves both physical dependence on alcohol and psychological compulsion to drink. The effects of alcoholism are wide-ranging and can impact every aspect of the individual’s life and can also further impact the relationships with their friends and family. The statistics provided by multiple sources further break this down to about 76 million adults in the country who have lived or are currently living with a family history of alcoholism.

Avoid Enabling Behavior

By building support from family and friends, you are more likely to stay on course with your dual treatment plan and avoid the stress that can make AUD and NPD worse. Reach out to loved ones you trust who can walk with you through the recovery journal. The outlook is even better in people with mental illness who misuse alcohol and other substances. Treating each condition independently can sometimes lead people to “choose one over the other,” especially if care is not coordinated. Every time you feel swallowed by the chaos of your own mind, step into their shoes.

Alcohol use disorder is characterized by periods of sobriety and relapse. Even so, with a combination of therapy, support, and persistence, around a third of people with AUD will maintain sobriety for at least a year and sometimes for decades. Medications like Campral, Topamax, and Revia have greatly improved AUD recovery rates.

This might include joining Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs that offer nonjudgmental peer support to others living with AUD. You can also join a local support group offered by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), which addresses substance use when NPD and other mental health disorders. Growing up with a narcissistic alcoholic mother meant your nervous system was wired for survival before you even knew what the word meant. You didn’t get the luxury of safety or predictability — you got chaos, and your brain adjusted by staying on high alert. The existence of both narcissism and alcoholism can have devastating effects on relationships.

Community and Family Support

With any mental health condition, the outlook is almost invariably better if you are treated than not treated. All personality and substance use disorders are diagnosed based on a strict set of criteria described in the DSM-5. While there is room for interpretation, a person with NPD and/or AUD must meet a minimum standard before a diagnosis can be delivered with confidence. Alcohol use disorder is a type of substance use disorder where a person cannot control or stop their alcohol use. If this feels heavy and you’re not sure how to carry it alone, reach out.

Understanding the underlying issues can help you approach situations with greater empathy and awareness. In dealing with a narcissistic alcoholic, navigating the long-term outlook can present challenges, but your well-being is paramount. Establishing clear boundaries and making informed decisions are crucial steps in managing relationships with such individuals. Gain a better understanding of narcissism and alcoholism to comprehend the root causes of their behavior. Educating yourself on these topics can equip you with insights into how to approach and interact with a narcissistic alcoholic more effectively. Reach out to friends, family members, or a therapist for guidance and emotional support.

Ask yourself, What would the version of me — the one who grew up safe, nurtured, and loved — choose in this moment? Build boundaries.If your mother ignored your boundaries, setting them now will feel terrifying — maybe even selfish. They’re how you protect your healing while still showing compassion for yourself. That’s exactly why I do my work the way I do — through intensive sessions.

When you grow up in a home with one or more alcoholic parents, the impact of the dysfunction reverberates throughout your life. Enhancing communication skills can help you navigate interactions with a narcissistic alcoholic more effectively. Practice active listening, express your thoughts calmly and directly, and set realistic expectations for communication.

Eventually I moved out, one night after she had kicked me out and I walked to my then-boyfriend’s house, sobbing. My dad picked me up and said he’d never let me go back (seeing me have anxiety attacks and be in a generally exhausted state wore thin on his patience). With that said, not every mental health issue is easily resolved.

The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only.
Understanding the underlying issues can help you approach situations with greater empathy and awareness.
These groups offer coping strategies specific to living with alcoholism and narcissism.
Understanding the connection between these two mental health conditions is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

I guess my mom always had an alcohol problem, I just never noticed until it worsened when I was around 12. This is my first post on here, but I was oddly overjoyed the other day when I discovered that this subreddit existed and that other people were talking about similar things I’ve experienced. Finding the right support system is important when dealing with NPD and AUD.