The term 'narcissist' gets bandied about a lot these days, but there are people presenting with typical behaviours of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) who are not clinically diagnosed, causing havoc in the lives of those around them. You may have suffered a narcissistic parent or partner, but more rarely discussed is the narcissistic child.
![[A narcissist has an obsession with dominating decisions to maintain control]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/27/11/94554883-14328957-image-a-15_1737976460553.jpg)
Do you ever look at your offspring and wonder if they are more than just difficult? Do you ever listen to them blame you for all manner of infractions and wonder whether there's some other reason they are the way they are?. Parents may grapple with the stark contrast between the loving children they once envisioned and the harsh reality of who they've become.
Narcissistic adult children are often emotionally volatile, leaving chaos and disruption in their wake. I should know – I've dealt with the fallout from narcissism both in my personal and professional experience, and helped clients cope with the same issues time and again over the years.
It's important to recognise narcissism's origins in Greek mythology, where Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection – a metaphor that captures the self-absorption at the heart of this personality trait. Psychologically, adult narcissistic children often project their unhappiness and inner turmoil onto their parents, blaming them for dissatisfaction in their lives. Parenting an adult child with narcissistic traits is an emotionally exhausting journey, fraught with layers of pain and complexity.
