MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment in San Diego
For veterans struggling with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), Solara Mental Health has three main goals for treatment: (1) helping veterans increase their self-awareness; (2) teaching veterans techniques for breaking destructive behaviors and thought processes; and (3) showing veterans ways to increase, develop and display empathy for others.
To achieve these goals, our structured narcissistic personality disorder treatment in San Diego combines compassion with expertise. We provide a treatment experience that is specialized, modern, and specifically tailored to each veteran and their needs.
Our combination of individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and holistic therapies helps veterans gain a more genuine sense of self and the world. This gives them a better ability to handle stressful situations and a greater capacity to form meaningful social relationships and help others.
These new insights and abilities can help those struggling with a narcissistic personality disorder to build fuller, more satisfying lives.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms and Effects
Chiefly characterized by an exaggerated sense of self, narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health disorder that can greatly disrupt day-to-day life. People struggling with NPD often feel entitled to special treatment, are highly sensitive to criticism, and are unable to empathize with others.
They crave attention and strive for personal perfection, though these usually stem from intense feelings of shame and inadequacy. Specific symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder vary from person to person, but include the following:
- Inflated sense of self, including the feeling of superiority over others
- Obsession with success, power, and perfection
- Inability to recognize or care about others’ feelings and needs
- Feeling entitled to attention and favors, particularly over other people
- Using others to get ahead
- Envying others and believing they envy you
- Generally proud, bragging, and conceited behavior and speech
Left unchecked, the symptoms of NPD can hinder professional functioning and advancement, prevent new social relationships and damage existing ones and inhibit realistic views of self, others, and the world.
Similarly, when people with narcissistic personality disorder are unable to meet their own standards of perfection, they may feel intensely distressed and unsure of who they are. If not addressed, these feelings can lead to depression.
Treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder
There is no standardized pharmacological or psychological treatment for narcissistic personality disorder. The presence of NPD is usually accompanied by other mood disorders. When a diagnosis has been established, it is crucial to discuss the diagnosis because there will be several challenges in the future. Treatment of ongoing symptoms of co-occurring affective disorders is equally important.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Usually known as psychotherapy or usually referred to as “talk therapy”, is the most common method to treat dependent personality disorder. CBT is a therapeutic practice designed to help people with mental health disorders address their current struggles and negative thoughts – learning to accept the things and situations they cannot change and take control of the things they can.
Lifestyle changes
As you work through therapy, you may find it helpful to make the following lifestyle changes:
- Substances that may trigger problematic behaviors should be avoided.
- Keep healthy habits in mind and pursue them.
- Reduce stress and anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation.
Solara’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment for Veterans
Solara Mental Health in San Diego is focused on giving veterans a supportive and safe environment to recover from their narcissistic personality disorder. Our mental health treatment facility recognizes that each veteran will have their own personal needs, and we will customize their treatment plan to help with their specific diagnosis and symptoms.
Solara Mental Health is VA-contracted, which gives us the unique opportunity to help veterans with their mental health needs, including narcissistic personality disorder treatment. As long as authorization is approved, we provide housing, transportation, and accommodations.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment at Solara Mental Health in San Diego
For people with narcissistic personality disorder, the first—and perhaps hardest—step is recognizing and admitting that help is needed. Doing so may feel like a confession of imperfection, but it is not. It is a crucial first step in accepting the situation and beginning the healing process.
At our mental health center, we recognize that this and other inherent treatment difficulties present unique challenges to treating NPD. As such, our clinicians are highly trained and prepared to handle any potential complications, including veterans who feel angry, dismissive or humiliated when their exaggerated self-image is questioned.
To aid the recovery process, our inpatient program is small and intimate, allowing veterans to identify with others, practice healthy social interactions and develop greater empathy in an environment that is understanding and non-judgmental. Similarly, the clinicians at our psychiatric facility provide veterans with treatment plans that are as comprehensive as they are personalized.
During treatment, clinicians will help veterans learn to identify and disrupt damaging thoughts and behaviors and come to replace them with appropriate, healthy, and realistic attitudes and actions. With these new skills will come the ability for veterans to see themselves and others more realistically and develop loving, healthy relationships.
While our veterans make considerable and rapid improvements, a narcissistic personality disorder is often a long-term condition. Through years of experience, our mental health treatment center has learned how to provide the entire spectrum of care for our veterans.
From inpatient to outpatient, from transitional living to a long-term aftercare plan, our program has been designed to free our veterans from the clutches of narcissistic personality disorder.
Contact us now to start the healing process.
Proudly Serving Veterans
with TriWest Insurance
