Behavioral issues and mental health struggles can affect both a child and a parent. Navigating the issues together can feel impossible, but it is important to monitor your daughter and her behavior. As a parent, it can be hard to deal with indifference and a negative attitude. In addition to making things difficult for the parental relationship, adolescent narcissism can be detrimental to a child’s life trajectory. Adolescent narcissism can lead to difficulty with making friends as well as poor or unsafe decision-making.

Adolescent narcissism is different from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD is a serious mental health problem that requires professional intervention. Monitoring your daughter and recognizing the difference between narcissism and NPD will allow you to intervene with professional help if necessary. At Clearview, we believe that working as a team to address narcissistic behavior is the best way to move forward alongside your child.

Adolescent Narcissism

Instances of narcissism in adolescence can be difficult to deal with as a parent. Narcissistic behaviors can cause interpersonal issues with peers and affect the trajectory of a child’s future due to academic or personal issues. 

However, it is important to recognize that all children will go through periods of narcissistic behavior and that this isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. When the behavior starts to affect a girl’s social life, academics, or health, it is important to have a plan ready and work alongside a care team or support network. The good news is that narcissistic behavior tends to decrease as the adolescent grows out of the teenage years.

Risks of Narcissistic Behavior

Adolescent narcissism can be linked to risky or unsafe behavior. Narcissism during teen years can be linked to aggression, depression, anxiety, and criminal or delinquent behavior. Teens with narcissistic traits or behavior may be perceived negatively by friends and peers. These teens may be seen as difficult to get along with or manipulative by peers or by other adults, which can lead to social isolation.

These adolescents may also be at risk of engaging in dangerous or unsafe behavior, such as poor life choices, delinquency, criminal activity, and more. This behavior puts the teenager at risk of physical harm, as impulse control decreases with mental health issues. When narcissistic behavior becomes disordered or interferes with multiple areas of a child’s life, it may be helpful to explore this behavior with a specialist.

Adolescent Narcissism vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissism in adolescence can be difficult to deal with, but it can also be normal. However, it is important to consider the possibility of NPD. According to Health Direct Australia, NPD is “a mental health condition in which a person believes they are better than everyone else. While many people have narcissistic traits, people with NPD have problems that affect their lives, relationships, and everyday life.”

NPD can be at play when narcissism affects one’s life to a significant degree. In such cases, professional intervention is recommended.

While adolescent narcissistic traits can interfere with a teen’s life, NPD may affect them for the rest of their lives. It is important for people who are suffering a great deal to receive treatment to help them find coping strategies. Watching for the signs in your daughter is important in knowing whether she needs further treatment.

Recognizing the Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

NPD can cause an exaggerated sense of a teen’s importance to themselves. The symptoms tend to interfere with a girl’s ability to live her life, have healthy relationships, and experience success. Symptoms to watch for include:

  • A grandiose sense of importance
  • Frequent fantasies about having or deserving more
  • A feeling of self-superiority
  • Incessant needs for admiration
  • Entitlement
  • A willingness to exploit others
  • Lack of empathy for others
  • Frequent envy of peers or others
  • Arrogance

Teens with NPD will also have trouble handling criticism and feel hurt easily. It may be hard for them to admit they have done wrong. They can get very angry at others when they feel they are not being listened to. They also have problems with relationships due to their behavior which puts them at risk of social withdrawal and isolation.

These symptoms will all be more pronounced than just occasional narcissistic tendencies or behavior. They will interfere with a teen’s ability to live a normal life. It is important to watch for these signs to seek treatment for your daughter if necessary.

Moving Toward a Happy and Healthy Future

Whether or not your daughter suffers from NPD or disruptive narcissistic behavior, it is important to stay connected and monitor her progress. Teenagers can grow out of this narcissistic behavior as they become young adults and learn more about the world and their place in it. They can grow and change as they learn more empathy, and you can guide them.

Whether something greater is going on or not, therapy and treatment programs like Clearview Horizon can also be an option to better assist your daughter as she goes through the tumultuous teenage years. Involvement and personal support are also important as you model the best way to interact with others in a constantly changing world. Parental support and therapy, if necessary, will help your daughter create a brighter future for herself.

Adolescent narcissism can cause issues in your relationship with your child as well as interpersonal issues with your daughter’s peers. Manipulative or destructive behavior can affect your daughter’s future as well as her health. While it is frustrating to deal with, adolescent narcissism often subsides over time. You can teach your daughter stronger empathy skills and work through her symptoms with therapy and a care team. If her narcissistic traits are growing disordered and are significantly affecting various areas of her life, she may have narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD requires intervention right away. If your daughter is struggling with adolescent narcissistic behavior, Clearview can help. Call us today at 866-584-4788.