ASDs and Narcissism

Post Reply New Topic

Hi, this is my first post here, I'm not good with forums. I have Asperger's syndrome (self-diagnosed last year)

Since I started uni, I have been fortunate enough to overcome many of the negative aspects of AS, including the anxiety and ADD-/bipolar-type tendencies I developed during my teen years. However, one issue I am having difficulty in leaving behind is Narcissism.

Narcissism and AS is a particularly pathetic combination. In addition to typical narcissistic preoccupations such as fame, beauty and power, as an Aspie teen I used to indulge in fantasies of having excellent social skills/a wide circle of friends/a girlfriend/a cool/rebellious attitude etc. I was obsessed with my appearance. These fantasies were pathological as they preoccupied me for hours on end and affected my behaviour and personal development in ways I can't begin to describe.
I suspect that this must be a relatively common problem among young Aspies trying to cope with social isolation, rejection and alienation.

I have had a hard time admitting to myself the extent of my narcissism, as narcissism and vanity are traits I DESPISE in other people. Even after overcoming the worst of my AS symptoms, I find that it is all too easy to fall into the trap of self-centered thought processes, the legacy of my teenage narcissism. Can anyone offer me any advice?

It took me many years to realize that 'I' wasn't the center of the universe. It still seems illogical that this is the case but over time you'll adapt and adopt and get used to being just another person on this rock hurling thru space.

Narcissism is the only thing that will keep you going. I don't think other people really care if you're narcissistic or not, they just want to use it as something to try and undermine you.

Recently I've come to find that I'm quite narcissistic myself. I think I'm level headed about it though since I'm well aware that I'm hardly the best at anything and that while I certainly fantasize about greatness one day I'm not so deluded as to think such an outcome is probable (though I have to admit when you fantasize about something often enough it starts to become ingrained in your subconscious psyche no matter how much you fight it). I also do my best to avoid bragging or otherwise coming off as self-absorbed. Really bragging is something that I've never been very big on...well at least in real life. Online I find myself trying to brag like crazy, though usually I'll look at something I'm about to post and ask myself if any bragging I put it in is actually relevant and/or constructive to what the topic is about, or if I'm just feeding my ego.

I've never been diagnosed though and I don't really care to be (since there's really no effective treatment for personality disorders) unless it starts to become a serious problem. And for all I know I may not even have NPD though the amount of fantasizing I do seems to suggest otherwise. Regardless, I don't think it's become too much of an issue. If anything it's probably been somewhat beneficial since it's helped soften the effects of my depression (I read a study a couple years ago that actually looked into that hypothesis and came to the same conclusion). And besides, considering all the other disorders I have I'd have to say that NPD would probably be the most preferable. I mean, hey, if you're going to have a mental disorder it may as well be one that makes you feel really ****ing good about yourself.

Narcissm is defialy not somthing that is absent in those that do not have aspergers. Trust me. t can be a good thing, it can lead to self confidence, a feeling of self worth, and loving onesself can help one love others

Alot of us are perfectionists, and most of those qualities are what I would consider perfectionism(is that a word?). That being said, I agree with those above who do not label those habits narcissistic.

Narcissm is a trait that transcends autism and NTs its part of both of peoples in roughly equal percentages.

I'm not a psych pro, but from reading these posts, I doubt that anyone in this thread has anything approaching NPD. Why? You all sound too self aware. True narcissists are unable to reflect upon themselves in this way, which can make them dangerous. At least that's what the literature tends to say.

If we prop ourselves up in our minds, maybe it's a way of coping. Nothing more.

I don't know - it's generally assumed that narcissists aren't self-aware, but then similar things have been assumed about many different groups and proven wrong. One example is the idea that an autistic person wouldn't have the necessary social awareness to realize they're autistic.

They say the things we don't like about ourselves bugs us about others, but if you are bugged all the time, then..

Extremely self involved people (narcissists) are everywhere, interacting in every medium. Look at all the thread hijacking that goes on online on all kinds of forums. I kind of think that if you are worried you are a narcissist, then you aren't one, but what do I know?

Copernicus hasn't called me to tell me I am not the centre of the universe and till he does I refuse to accept the universe doesn't revolve around me since people can only accept the word of scientists :p

Self-centered thinking is an autism thing, I suffer with the same issue.

If something is bothering me, I sometimes expect other people to drop everything and help me feel better.

At the same time I know that's never gonna happen.

And yeah as for the fantasizing about being famous and rich and having everything I want, I think about that constantly like one day I will be famous.

Another Aspie thing I have trouble with is I don't like being corrected, at all or told I'm wrong I take if very personally.

When someone tells me I'm wrong I feel like punching them in the face because usually when I talk about something it's a subject I know really well and correcting me on said subject is ignorance to the fact that just maybe I know alot more than that person.

I have a bit of an ego, but I'm definitely not narcissistic.

Way to dig up an older thread, Sammich.

I'd say I'm a little egotistic. But I would never poison the world with one more narcissist.

Wasn't me; if you look at the dates it was safffron.

Way to call me out for something I didn't do.