Treating both conditions at the same time is also advised as a means of reducing relapse risk. A 2019 study of 345 college students (28% male, 72% female) found both grandiose and vulnerable forms of narcissism to be good predictors of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. At the Blackberry Center, our dual diagnosis program is tailored to each individual to treat their unique circumstances and symptoms.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Support from loved ones can help people with NPD or AUD change their behavior and work toward recovery. Likewise, people with AUD can successfully recover from the disorder. Therapy, a strong support system, and self-care strategies can help you make a full recovery. If your alcohol use is severe, you’ll likely need to go to an inpatient facility so that you can safely withdraw from alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, so it’s important to seek medical help.

How to cope with the challenges of relating with narcissists or addicted people

While both conditions can be challenging, certain approaches can help individuals overcome the potential complications of these disorders. Narcissists are quick to blame others for making them act as they do. That would feel weak, which is anathema to narcissists, who must feel superior and beyond reproach. Similarly, alcoholics have plenty of excuses for why they drink. Narcissists often shame others to cover their own inadequacies. For alcoholics, drinking numbs or masks the shame they carry.

Thus, by not learning from negative experiences, they might continue to see alcohol consequences as positive. Although the overall R2 was small for problem evaluations, this result is novel since no other study has examined a narcissist’s perceptions of alcohol-related problems. In addition to problem narcissism and alcoholism recognition, important factors that might maintain or change drinking behavior are expectancies and evaluations of problems. Although you may be convinced you’re dealing with a narcissist and that they have an alcohol use disorder, only a qualified healthcare provider can make a formal diagnosis.

Being a Narcissist When Drunk

This was measured by the Readiness to Change Ruler for Decreased Drinking.37 Participants rated their level on the ruler ranging from 0 to 10 (My drinking has changed. I now drink less than before). In the same way, those with AUD can be emotional, irritable, unpredictable, and impulsive, especially when inebriated or when they feel attacked or pressured to stop drinking. Narcissists are prone to dramatic mood swings and may change their behavior and attitudes without warning, especially if they feel they’ve been wronged in some way, real or imagined.

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 . Although alcohol misuse and AUD can cause someone to display narcissist-like behavior, this behavior might change when they’re sober or in recovery. The behavior might also only appear when their misuse began. Alcoholism is often described as a self-centered disease because it can cause people to act very selfishly. Often, the behavioral defects which encourage self-centered thinking are there the alcoholism begins, even if it isn’t obvious.

What causes each condition — can one cause the other?

People with AUD may be unable to reduce or stop drinking despite experiencing the negative effects of alcohol or a desire to quit. 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.