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Suggest Treatment For Social Anxiety In A Person With Family History Of OCD
Question: I worry that I might be a narcissist. Can you help me discover if I am or not?
My mother was diagnosed with OCD and not sure if she has narcissism but definitely has a number of these traits.
A few of my symptoms include: social anxiety, general anxiety, have worried about health obsessively, lack confidence, don't use social media to show myself off as worry about what others think, work online (don’t want to work in public), can’t have a relationship, only two real friends (prefer lifelong friends, find it hard to make new ones), prefer being with family, binge drink alcohol once a week.
I can also discuss it with you if it would help identify narcissism or GAD.
My mother was diagnosed with OCD and not sure if she has narcissism but definitely has a number of these traits.
A few of my symptoms include: social anxiety, general anxiety, have worried about health obsessively, lack confidence, don't use social media to show myself off as worry about what others think, work online (don’t want to work in public), can’t have a relationship, only two real friends (prefer lifelong friends, find it hard to make new ones), prefer being with family, binge drink alcohol once a week.
I can also discuss it with you if it would help identify narcissism or GAD.
Brief Answer:
The symptoms suggest anxiety disorders
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have mentioned few of your symptoms like social anxiety, anxiety in general common situations, worries about health or health anxiety, lack of confidence etc. You also don't used social media because you remain worried about what others would think, this symptom is also pointing toward social anxiety. You don't want to work in public and work online which is also most likely due to social anxiety. Inability to make relationships and less friends can also occur in social anxiety, because in social anxiety individual fears to speak and this results in him distancing himself from others.
After reading the history you have mentioned I have not found any point that can be used to make diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. From the symptoms you have mentioned it appears that most likely you have anxiety spectrum disorders and due to that anxiety you have impairment in functioning in social situations. I would like to ask you few things-
- If ever you have feelings that you are always right and other are wrong always. If you have symptoms like exaggerated self appraisal, self adequacy etc?
- If you have ever features like lack of empathy towards others and feelings that you are always right?
- If you always need self approval by others and if anyone dont agree with you then you develop grudges against him?
- If you have grandiose ideas, attention seeking behaviours and frequent breaking relationships due to your bad behaviour?
I dont think you have narcissistic personality disorder. Still please provide me details I have asked so that we can proceed further.
Thanks, Take care
The symptoms suggest anxiety disorders
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have mentioned few of your symptoms like social anxiety, anxiety in general common situations, worries about health or health anxiety, lack of confidence etc. You also don't used social media because you remain worried about what others would think, this symptom is also pointing toward social anxiety. You don't want to work in public and work online which is also most likely due to social anxiety. Inability to make relationships and less friends can also occur in social anxiety, because in social anxiety individual fears to speak and this results in him distancing himself from others.
After reading the history you have mentioned I have not found any point that can be used to make diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. From the symptoms you have mentioned it appears that most likely you have anxiety spectrum disorders and due to that anxiety you have impairment in functioning in social situations. I would like to ask you few things-
- If ever you have feelings that you are always right and other are wrong always. If you have symptoms like exaggerated self appraisal, self adequacy etc?
- If you have ever features like lack of empathy towards others and feelings that you are always right?
- If you always need self approval by others and if anyone dont agree with you then you develop grudges against him?
- If you have grandiose ideas, attention seeking behaviours and frequent breaking relationships due to your bad behaviour?
I dont think you have narcissistic personality disorder. Still please provide me details I have asked so that we can proceed further.
Thanks, Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your reply.
- If ever you have feelings that you are always right and other are wrong always. If you have symptoms like exaggerated self-appraisal, self-adequacy etc?
Sometimes I stick with my views and think they're correct, but also appreciate others views and opinions. I wouldn't say I have exaggerated self-appraisal or self adequacy (although I like to think im doing ok with my business and progressing).
- If you have ever features like lack of empathy towards others and feelings that you are always right?
I guess with the anxiety and depression I would say I do feel a lack of empathy.
- If you always need self-approval by others and if anyone don’t agree with you then you develop grudges against him?
I think it is easier to socialise with people who accept you and know you. If I disagree then I wouldn't hold it as a grudge or break a relationship over something so trivial. My mother has done this with the family.
- If you have grandiose ideas, attention seeking behaviours and frequent breaking relationships due to your bad behaviour?
I try to think big with my ideas with online projects but other than this don't feel that I do attention seeking behaviours and I try to keep the few relationships I've got. Although, my mother has fallen out with the family I’ve tried to not do this.
A few other things include: avoid answering the phone, although not afraid to text chat, avoid social media sites, hated it when was on Facebook as was worried what people might think about picture (wouldn't post very often or update pictures, but be very inactive). Just walking out to the car can cause anxiety as it’s the feeling of everyone looking at you, same as in a public space, like avoid all supermarkets unless with a long known friend.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
- If ever you have feelings that you are always right and other are wrong always. If you have symptoms like exaggerated self-appraisal, self-adequacy etc?
Sometimes I stick with my views and think they're correct, but also appreciate others views and opinions. I wouldn't say I have exaggerated self-appraisal or self adequacy (although I like to think im doing ok with my business and progressing).
- If you have ever features like lack of empathy towards others and feelings that you are always right?
I guess with the anxiety and depression I would say I do feel a lack of empathy.
- If you always need self-approval by others and if anyone don’t agree with you then you develop grudges against him?
I think it is easier to socialise with people who accept you and know you. If I disagree then I wouldn't hold it as a grudge or break a relationship over something so trivial. My mother has done this with the family.
- If you have grandiose ideas, attention seeking behaviours and frequent breaking relationships due to your bad behaviour?
I try to think big with my ideas with online projects but other than this don't feel that I do attention seeking behaviours and I try to keep the few relationships I've got. Although, my mother has fallen out with the family I’ve tried to not do this.
A few other things include: avoid answering the phone, although not afraid to text chat, avoid social media sites, hated it when was on Facebook as was worried what people might think about picture (wouldn't post very often or update pictures, but be very inactive). Just walking out to the car can cause anxiety as it’s the feeling of everyone looking at you, same as in a public space, like avoid all supermarkets unless with a long known friend.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
These symptoms suggest that you have social anxiety disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for providing me detailed history
-> Any normal individuals sticks to his/her views and but sticking to views to such extent that views of others are neglected totally is commonly seen in narcissistic personality disorder. You are doing good in business and this is also a normal thing. You haven't mentioned any thing that can be used to make diagnosis of Narcissistic PD.
-> This is the symptom of anxiety and not due to narcissism. Any individual with anxiety develop some sort of apathetic attitude and this is pretty normal.
-> Lack of grudges and accepting mistakes of self rules out narcissism.
-> Thinking big is different than grandiosity. In this point also you haven't shown any symptom of narcissistic personality disorder.
Avoiding phone but preferring text chats, avoiding social media, thinkings of judgement by others, feelings that everyone is looking at you, avoiding public places except with some familiar person all things put you in social anxiety disorder. In my opinion you have NO symptoms of NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.
Thanks, Hope this helps. Take care. Please dont hesitate to ask again for more doubts or if you need more clarifications.
These symptoms suggest that you have social anxiety disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for providing me detailed history
-> Any normal individuals sticks to his/her views and but sticking to views to such extent that views of others are neglected totally is commonly seen in narcissistic personality disorder. You are doing good in business and this is also a normal thing. You haven't mentioned any thing that can be used to make diagnosis of Narcissistic PD.
-> This is the symptom of anxiety and not due to narcissism. Any individual with anxiety develop some sort of apathetic attitude and this is pretty normal.
-> Lack of grudges and accepting mistakes of self rules out narcissism.
-> Thinking big is different than grandiosity. In this point also you haven't shown any symptom of narcissistic personality disorder.
Avoiding phone but preferring text chats, avoiding social media, thinkings of judgement by others, feelings that everyone is looking at you, avoiding public places except with some familiar person all things put you in social anxiety disorder. In my opinion you have NO symptoms of NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.
Thanks, Hope this helps. Take care. Please dont hesitate to ask again for more doubts or if you need more clarifications.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks very much for your help and for helping to rule out narcissistic personality disorder.
Brief Answer:
Thanks, wish you a good health
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation. In future if you have any doubts regarding health please use HCM again
Take care
Thanks, wish you a good health
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation. In future if you have any doubts regarding health please use HCM again
Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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