Narcissism is a psychological term categorized in the DSM as a psychiatric disorder: The DSM clinically outlines it as a mental condition where people have an inflated sense of their importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, has troubled relationships, lacks empathy for others and while displaying extreme confidence they have a fragile self-esteem that overreacts to even the slightest criticism. Only a licensed diagnostician can legitimately apply a label of narcissism.

Out here in the world of laypeople, it is a word that has been bantered about to refer to someone who is self-centered and demanding that all focus be on themselves to the exclusion of the needs of others which leaves people emotionally demolished in their wake. Why is it important for us to understand if we are dealing with a – even – undiagnosed narcissist? Because a) like the sociopath, the narcissist with their specific sense that they can do no wrong is more than not unlikely to attend therapy and, therefore, be diagnosed. And b), the impact of living with or being in a relationship with a narcissist leaves one bewildered, confused, and in emotional agony. To find our way out of that quagmire, we need a framework to be able to pull the pieces apart and then put our lives back together.

In this podcast, Rebecca talks about her first-hand experience of a narcissist. Rebecca is a Vancouver native, who lives just steps from the seawall and Stanley Park. She splits her time between working as a college instructor, running her own business, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and tracking down the best baked goods the city has to offer. We are going to be chatting about her first-hand experience of a narcissist.

(music used "It's Alright by Shari Ulrich)