Is there really such a thing as a narcissist?

Question

Or borderline personality disorder? or any disorder at all actually. I get to reading all the answers and questions on here and don't truly understand all these labels we give to things we don't like. That's what it is, you know. Not things we simply need a name for to reference them and "treat" them. But just things we don't like.

We're not very fair, we humans. Where's the compassion? Where's the love?

Okay, I'll go back to thinking about eating half a grapefruit now. :D

Answer 1

There really is such as a thing as narcissist personality disorder (and borderline personality disorder). The label that we put on this is to define those individuals that are not in the average of "average" personality. In some aspects, it is no different than how we can put a label upon different personalities. No, we cannot know or understand with full rationalize about those we put a "label" on, but that is why there is numerous research and studies to broaden and expand our knowledge. We can know a high probability pertaining to that label, such as behaviors, cognitions, etc--, yet likewise, we can never really understand everything about everyone (even those considered in the "norm").

I can understand what you are saying from your perspective, that you do not see love and compassion in putting a label on someone, but it is very different from that. When you take several defining characteristics and able to define that to a higher degree this results in progress in our understanding. It’s like defining extrovert versus introvert behavior. When there is certain characteristics, traits and behaviors that attribute to if we can define someone as an introvert and extrovert, we are then able to research further and increase our understanding. Just because you are able to define particular behaviors as a disorder, does not mean you are casting that individual aside into a pile defined “weakest”. You can still have compassion and love, but this world also works upon knowledge and this increases our knowledge of this universe and human complexities.

Answer 2

Yes there is.

Have you ever met someone with bi-polar disorder?

I have, one of my good friends turned out to be bi-polar, and she didn't tell any of us, (we are no longer friends).

She was like night and day sometimes and we were all like...ummmm..ok, but it got to be too much.  

Answer 3

You ask "Where's the compassion?"  Obviously you have never met a narcissist or someone with borderline personality disorder.  They have no true love or compassion for anyone but themselves.  My daughter is either bi polar or borderline personality.  She has actually been diagnosed with both during adolescence.  She does really well for a while then she does the most selfish, self harming behaviors.  She thinks of no one but herself.  Not her husband, not her son, not her family.  So, yes there are narcissistic people out there.  I, like you, do not like to label people.  I never accepted any of the diagnosis given to my daughter.  Now as I have my son in law staying with me along with my grandson and my daughter is in love with a heroin (ex???) addict with no job and no place to live but we are all suppose to be ok with this because "she" deserves to be "happy".  We are implementing tough love and her "boyfriend" is never allowed on our property and the baby cannot spend the night at the place they are staying.  No money ever!  This is hard because I now realize that she does have a mental illness and all those diagnosis I didn't want to attribute to anything other than adolescence, were very accurate.  Problem is she is too old (20) for us to commit her even if she needs medication and it would be for her own good.  So my point here is do not be too analytical and over think the existence of labels and true personality flaws because you never know when it may directly impact your life with someone you love and denial can only lead to destruction (ie: my daughter) when they are older and too late to do something about it.

Answer 4

I dated a narcissist once. If you had you wouldn't ask.

Mental illness & personality disorders are very real. We can treat the illness & still have compassion. Lack of compassion would be to ignore when there is a problem. Thanks.

Answer 5

I know what u mean but at the end of the day I have a condition known asn schizophrenia so that makes me schizophrenic right?