Madison Page
Marcia Hughes
ENG. 1201-517
March 23, 2020
How having a narcissistic parent affects a young persons’ life and mental health
Many young people have no idea that the way they act and behave may be because of
how they were raised. People can be blindsided by a narcissists charm. That being said they
don’t take the time to recognize how they are being affected by their parents. Being raised by a
narcissist can be hard and sometimes one doesn’t see the underlying effects it has on them. My
topic is “How does having a narcissistic parent affect a young persons’ life and mental health?”.
I chose this based off my own personal experience with a narcissistic parent. I have gone through
years of his narcissism and need to prepare myself for the effects I am and will be facing.
Narcissists tend to put others in a place where they feel below them. They do this to put
themselves in a position where they are under more control. Many articles will mention
gaslighting and feelings of unworthiness. A common key point that gets mention in every article
is how a narcissist will manipulate you, to help yourself you need to recognize them for what
they are and take the time to recognize your own worth.
Things that differ between different articles is how to handle the narcissism. Some will
say to let it slide and do your own thing. While others say to stand your ground. For example,
this author tells her audience how to deal with their own emotions instead, “let’s examine ways
that you can manage your own emotions when you’re dealing with people high in narcissism”
(Susan Krauss Whitbourne).
Misconceptions that surround this topic. Narcissism isn’t just an ego
A big misconception behind narcissism is that it is just a few simple annoying traits. It is a lot
more than just an annoyance. People dealing with a narcissistic parent face issues mentally.
According to McBride, “Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is misunderstood when applied
to someone who is just boastful, arrogant, and all about themselves. While these traits are
annoying and not fun to be around, narcissism is a deeper, more destructive disorder that has
devastating effects on the people in relationships with the individual” (Karyl McBride Ph. D).
There is no specific answer other than to get help. Seek a therapist and cope in the ways
you need to cope. Everyone deals with this in their own way depending on their circumstance.
Once I reached the final essay, I had found many more valuable sources. I also changed my
thesis and header. Still the same goal, just a lot I had to fix.
Works Cited
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