Engaging in positive social engagements is considered a form of self-care. Family and friends of individuals with co-occurring AUD and NPD may feel overwhelmed or unable to help. Narcissists manipulate others to achieve their own interests, and any attempt at an intervention may cause them to strike out physically or emotionally. Many individuals with NPD end up divorced or separated from their partner.

As Someone Living With NPD and AUD

1. It is not a coincidence that narcissists, in general, tend to gravitate toward interacting with caring and compassionate people.
2. A covert narcissist needs to use tactics like this to elevate themselves and maintain power in the interaction.
3. People with NPD may use alcohol as a coping mechanism to numb their underlying insecurities or boost their sense of grandiosity.

They might infrequently have bouts of excessive drinking, for example, but find that it doesn’t affect their life and that it’s easy to cut back on alcohol (or to stop drinking entirely). However, NPD includes other traits, such as needing constant praise and special treatment, reacting negatively to criticism, and manipulating others. People with NPD might be unwilling or unable to recognize others’ feelings and needs. Although alcohol misuse and AUD can cause someone to display narcissist-like behavior, this behavior might change when they’re sober or in recovery. A 2019 study found a link between vulnerable narcissism, shame, and an increased likelihood of problem drinking and gambling. Vulnerable narcissism features traits like low self-esteem, helplessness, and rejection sensitivity.

What Triggers a Covert Narcissist?

They exhibit manipulative behaviors, such as guilt-tripping and gaslighting, to control and undermine their child’s relationship with the other parent. Understanding the risks of parental alienation and implementing strategies to counteract them is essential to protect the well-being of the child and mitigate the harm caused by the alienating parent. Research published in the Personality and Social Psychology Journal of Research highlights these distinctions, shedding light on the contrasting behaviors of covert and communal narcissists. While covert narcissists operate in secrecy and manipulation, communal narcissists openly promote themselves and their communal mission.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) describes a person’s chemical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Clinicians work together to ensure all departments provide cohesive and consistent treatment for clients struggling with their surroundings. Therapy is one of the most effective forms of treatment for clients with NPD and co-occurring AUD. Pathways Recovery Center’s residential dual-diagnosis treatment provides clients the support they need to grow, heal, and thrive.

The goal of creating distance is not to hurt the other person; the goal is to protect yourself and create space for you to heal. Remember that boundaries are just a way for you to let someone else know what your values are. Consider what is important to you, what your values are, and work to create boundaries to support them. Narcissists want you to take it personally because that is how they maintain leverage. Remember, a narcissist feels small, so they have to make themselves “big” somehow.

However, it is more likely that the alcoholic is trying to surround themselves with others that support these extreme drinking habits. An alcoholic can exhibit symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), but usually not enough to be diagnosed. If you’ve dealt with a narcissist you know that one minute they can be charming and pleasant but then turn around and become threatening and attacking. Alcoholics can undergo similar shifts when under the influence and can seem like a different person in a matter of a few drinks.

These disorders can amplify each other’s effects and complicate treatment approaches. Some individuals have both Narcissistic Personality Disorder and an active addiction. Coping with someone with a dual diagnosis can be more difficult than if that person suffered from only narcissism or untreated alcoholism. This might include joining Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs that offer nonjudgmental peer support to others living with AUD.

How Does Hoovering by a Covert Narcissist Contribute to Parental Alienation?

The treatment of NPD and AUD should ideally be delivered simultaneously, especially if there is severe addiction or depression. With that said, there are challenges to delivering appropriate care for the dual diagnosis. For AUD to be diagnosed, a person must meet one of four possible criteria for alcohol misuse, three of seven possible criteria for alcohol dependence, and two of 12 possible criteria for AUD symptoms. In truth, we all have various kinds of insecurities, but we don’t have to let those insecurities control the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. If you feel lost about who you are as a person and where you are in life right now, there’s a way to get back on the path toward feeling more like your true self.

Covert Narcissist Manipulation Tactics Exposed

You may also find it helpful to talk to a therapist about your experiences. A mental health professional can help you understand the behavior and develop coping skills that will help. A covert narcissist needs to use tactics like this to elevate themselves and maintain power in the interaction. If they can get you to question your perceptions, it allows them the opportunity to manipulate and exploit you more. Covert narcissism is characterized by the same behaviors of overt narcissism that are displayed in less obvious, more subtle ways.

Learn to recognize the signs, don’t take their behavior personally, and create distance between you and that person to help establish clear boundaries. In addition to looking for the red flags of a narcissist, it is also important to be able to recognize the more subtle behaviors strongest vodka in the world of a covert narcissist. Being aware of these traits can help empower you, helping you to recognize and better navigate potentially unhealthy relationships and interactions.