Perfectionism In Service of Self with Extreme Demandingness (PISSED) describes a narcissistic variant sometimes confused with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). People with both conditions can be very difficult in relationships, but there are important differences.
Also, understand that some people with OCD lack empathy for how their obsessions and/or compulsions are affecting others – this resembles narcissism. More specifically, narcissists also tend to lack empathy when it comes to other people and how their words and actions hurt or disturb others.
It is not uncommon for people who suffer from OCD to also struggle with narcissistic traits. In fact, some researchers believe that there is a link between the two disorders. While the cause of this link is still being studied, there are some theories about how it may occur.
Based on some overlapping symptoms, borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are two mental health disorders that are often mistaken for one another.
We found that patients with OCD exhibited a deficit in mentalizing ability (cognitive empathy) compared to the control subjects.
Do people with OCD really believe those irrational thoughts? Most people with OCD are well aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational.
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often experience aversive emotions such as anxiety, fear and disgust in response to obsessive thoughts, urges or images.
While some people may exhibit narcissistic traits occasionally and mildly, a pathological narcissist will routinely use destructive narcissistic tactics in order to gain false superiority and exploit relationships.
Not every narcissist has narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), as narcissism is a spectrum. People who are at the highest end of the spectrum are those that are classified as NPD, but others, still with narcissistic traits, may fall on the lower end of the narcissistic spectrum.
The person with OCD may go to great lengths to pursue the person to ask their relentless questions, and I have seen several cases where they would even manipulate to the point of threatening to harm themselves or do desperate things if their questions went unanswered.
Specific Personality Traits That Are Prevalent in OCD
Perfectionism: A need to have situations and objects exactly right. Indecisiveness: An inability to make decisions or needing a lot of time to decide. Impulsivity: An inclination to do what feels good at the moment without thinking about future consequences.
Constantly seeking approval or reassurance. Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, repeating, excessively preferencing or avoiding certain numbers. People with OCD may also avoid certain people, places, or situations that cause them distress and trigger obsessions and/or compulsions.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
It's common for people with OCD to think in extremes, known as black-and-white thinking. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious mental health condition that affects your thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).
Overall, the general population, physicians, and mental health practitioners alike have a high rate of misdiagnosing cases of OCD, and there is substantial evidence of the detriment these misdiagnoses have in the lives of the participants.
Someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) may or may not be aware of what they're doing. “When it cuts into an antisocial personality or sociopathic personality, some of them are very well aware," says Peykar. "For others, it may just be how they show up in relationships.
An inadvertent narcissist is a person who behaves in highly egocentric and self-focused ways without having any insight into the source of these behaviors as coming from one's own personality. One very obvious route to gaining this understanding comes from listening to yourself speak.
Some people with narcissistic traits can behave very charmingly or even charismatically in front of the public, but in close relationships, narcissism almost always promises toxicity.
Mild: A mildly narcissistic person might be egotistical or boastful about their accomplishments but still function well in society.
Introverted narcissists turn their low self-esteem inwards, often judging themselves way too harshly. Introverted narcissists believe they will never be good enough for themselves or for others. So, to save themselves the humiliation of defeat or failure, they simply give up on trying.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that most narcissists are actually aware that they are narcissists, but rather than see it as a problem, they embrace it and take pride in it. (Of course.) However, a self-aware narcissist can get help through psychotherapy, if they are willing to do it.
When someone with OCD experiences anger or rage, it can be scary and may make them or their loved ones feel unsafe. These bouts can include screaming, hitting, throwing objects, attacking oneself or others and more.
Individuals with OCD are empaths—highly tuned in to the feelings of others—and this allows them to connect deeply, sometimes almost telepathically with others.
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder show higher levels of empathy, that is the increased sharing of others' suffering, compared with healthy individuals in both a traditional self-report and a naturalistic task.