This type of personality disorder often causes you to put your needs above the needs of others, making you appear to be selfish to other people. You may also hold beliefs that there are legitimate reasons why you are different or better than other people. However, you may also find that your self-esteem and self-worth is dependent on other people’s opinions of you, and their recognition of your values and attributes.

Symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder include:

• Inflated sense of self-importance and believing that you are ‘special’
• Having a sense of entitlement and believing that you deserve favourable treatment
• Grandiose thinking, including fantasies about success, wealth, fame or beauty
• Needing constant praise and admiration
• Being unable to empathise with the feelings and views of others
• Taking advantage of, or exploiting other people, without feeling guilty about this
• Frequently belittling or bullying other people to make yourself look better