Is My Mother Borderline or Narcissistic?
If you're wondering whether your mother is borderline or narcissistic, you're not alone. Many people struggle to understand their mother's behavior and wonder whether it's due to a personality disorder. While only a professional can give you a definitive answer, there are some signs that may indicate that your mother is suffering from either borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder: The Stuff You Need to Know
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that is characterised by instability in moods, emotions, relationships, and behavior. Those who suffer from BPD often have difficulty controlling their emotions and impulses, which can lead to self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse, self-injury, and even suicide. While BPD is mostly thought of as a "women's disorder," it actually affects both men and women equally. If you think you or someone you may know is suffering from BPD, it's vital to seek professional help as soon as possible.
What Causes BPD?
The exact cause of BPD is not known, but it is assumed to be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. People with BPD are very likely to have a family member with the disorder or another mental illness, which suggests that there may be a genetic component. Additionally, people with BPD are more likely to have experienced trauma or abuse in childhood, which suggests that early life experiences may play a crucial role in the development of the disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of BPD?
The symptoms of BPD can vary from individual to individual, but there are some common signs that indicate someone may be suffering from the disorder. These include:
• Intense fear of abandonment
• Unstable or tumultuous relationships
• Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger
• Chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom
• Engaging in risky or self-destructive behaviors
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
• Rapid changes in mood or emotional state
• Feelings of dissociation or "out-of-body" experiences
If you think you have any of the symptoms above in yourself or someone you may know, it's very important to seek professional help quickly. Left untreated, BPD can lead to serious problems like substance abuse, self-injury, and even suicide.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: An Overview
Narcissistic personality disorder is known as a mental disorder that is characterised by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, and an obvious lack of empathy for other people. People with this disorder very often believe they are superior to others and have very little regard for other people's feelings.
Narcissistic personality disorder is by far one of the most challenging personality disorders to treat because people with this disorder often do not believe they have a problem. Treatment usually involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist who specialises in treating this disorder.
What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
The main cause of narcissistic personality disorder is not fully understood. However, it is thought to be determined by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.
People with narcissistic personality disorder often have parents who were overindulgent and put their needs above those of their children. As a result, these children never learned how to empathize with others or handle criticism. They may also have experienced trauma or abuse during their childhoods.
Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with narcissistic personality disorder often display the following symptoms:
-An inflated sense of self-importance and grandiose beliefs about their own abilities
-A need for excessive admiration from others
-A lack of empathy for other people's feelings
-A preoccupation with success, power, and beauty
-A belief that they are special or unique and can only be understood by other highly important or high-status people
-A sense of entitlement and expectation of favorable treatment from others
-Interpersonal exploitiveness, which is a willingness to take advantage of other people to achieve their own goals
-A lack of remorse or guilt when they hurt other people
So, now you know a bit about these two personality disorders, their symptoms, and their causes, the real question can get answered now. 'Is my mother borderline or narcissistic?
One of the most common signs of borderline personality disorder is a fear of abandonment. If your mother is constantly needing reassurance from you that you won't leave her, it's possible that she's suffering from this condition. Other signs include impulsive behavior, such as spending sprees or promiscuous behavior, and intense mood swings.
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterised by an over-inflated sense of self-importance and an obvious lack of empathy for others. If your mother is always putting herself first and expects you to cater to her needs, she may be suffering from this condition. Other signs include a sense of entitlement and taking advantage of others.
How can you tell which one your mother has?
If she exhibits both sets of symptoms, it's possible that she has both disorders. However, only a professional can give you a diagnosis. If you're concerned about your mother's mental health, the optimal thing you can do is to do is to talk to her about your concerns and try your best to encourage her to seek out help from a mental health professional.
What to do if your mother refuses to see a professional?
If your mother refuses to see a mental health professional, there's not much you can do. You can try to encourage her to seek help, but ultimately, it's up to your mother whether or not she wants to get treatment. If she is unwilling to seek help, you may want to consider if you should get help for yourself. There are many support groups and therapy options available for people who have narcissistic or borderline personality disorder. Seeing a therapist can help you learn how to deal with your mother's symptoms and protect yourself from their negative effects.
If you're wondering whether your mother suffers from borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder, it's important to look for signs such as a fear of abandonment, impulsive behavior, mood swings, a sense of entitlement, and taking advantage of others. If you notice any of these clear signs, it's important to seek professional help so that your mother can get the treatment she needs.
