Parenting a teenager can seem like contending with a complex mystery. Teens are going through many changes during this time in their lives; many are emotional or closed-off and hard to communicate with. Many teens can also seem very self-centered during this time in their lives.\
Many parents worry that their teens might be narcissistic because their behavior indicates this condition. However, this is not always fair to assume about your teen. Narcissism can be hard to truly diagnose, and parents should only consider this label to apply to their teens if a professional has diagnosed them with this way of viewing the world.
That being said, the more that you know about narcissism in teens, the better equipped you will be to deal with this behavior if you should see your teen exhibiting it.
Reasons a Teen Might Seem Like a Narcissist
Teens often act like narcissists when they feel they are not good enough to win the affection and support of those around them. This might not necessarily indicate a lack of support from their parents. However, it could be an indicator of the insecurities that the child is experiencing during this time of their life. When kids feel like they are not good enough, they will create a new self that they think is better than their authentic self to try and cover up their insecurities.
The false self is hard to maintain and even more challenging for the child to believe in, so they spend a lot of time and energy every day pumping this self up and promoting it. Narcissistic behavior might also be driven by a need to come first to seek self-affirmation in comparison to other children in the home or other people in the teen’s life.
While this behavior can be difficult to grapple with, and it might cause strife within your home, this does not mean that your child is a true narcissist. Many teens display this kind of behavior without actually having a true narcissistic personality.
Make sure that you are not thinking of your teen as someone with a mental health challenge before this diagnosis is warranted.
How to Deal with Narcissistic Behavior in Teens
It can be hard not to be frustrated with a teen that is being selfish and putting on a phony front.
However, you need to remember that this behavior is driven by fear. You will need to be empathetic and communicative. Let your teen know they are hurting your feelings or the feelings of someone else in the home. Ask them what is going on and why they felt that they needed to lash out or try to take away the spotlight from someone else.
When you open a dialogue with your teen, you can often get to the root of the problem. While this might not immediately resolve the behavior you are not enjoying dealing with, it can help your teen let go of some of their worries.
Things that are discussed in the open are not as scary as secret things. The more relaxed your teen can be about their concerns and fears, the less likely they will be to give in to this second, selfish persona.
If your teen has been struggling with narcissistic behavior, we can help! Contact us today and get the support you and your teen need to be happier and healthier.
