Anxiety attacks, also known as panic attacks, are sudden and intense feelings of fear and anxiety that can occur without warning. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, but anxiety attacks are more severe and often happen unexpectedly. Some key questions about whether narcissists experience anxiety attacks include:
What are the symptoms of an anxiety attack?
An anxiety attack usually peaks within 10 minutes and has a number of physical and psychological symptoms. These can include:
- Racing heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Shortness of breath
- Trembling or shaking
- Nausea
- Feeling detached from reality or oneself
- Fear of losing control or death
- Numbness or tingling
- Chills or hot flashes
Anxiety attacks are often accompanied by an intense feeling of doom or danger. The physical symptoms can feel frightening and make a person feel like something terrible is about to happen.
What causes anxiety attacks?
Anxiety attacks can be caused by a number of underlying factors, including:
- Stress
- Trauma or distressing experiences
- Some medical conditions like thyroid disorders
- Mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD
- Substance use disorders
- Sudden panic or fear
In many cases, anxiety attacks occur without any identifiable cause. The combination of physical symptoms and fearful thoughts can spiral out of control, making the attack feel unbearable.
Do narcissists experience anxiety?
Narcissists are people who have an inflated sense of self-importance, a need for excessive attention and admiration, and a lack of empathy. Despite their confident and self-assured exterior, research indicates that narcissists do experience higher levels of anxiety compared to the general population.
Some key reasons narcissists may be more prone to anxiety include:
- Hypersensitivity to criticism – narcissists have fragile high views of themselves and are highly reactive to feedback that threatens their self-image.
- Feeling insecure deep down – behind their grandiose facade, narcissists often feel insecure and have vulnerable self-esteem.
- Extreme perfectionism – narcissists hold themselves to very high standards and are intensely afraid of failure or imperfection.
- Tumultuous relationships – narcissists struggle to form healthy relationships, leading to isolation and turbulent dynamics that fuel anxiety.
- Addiction issues – narcissistic traits are linked to higher rates of addiction, which is associated with anxiety.
These core issues can make narcissists more prone to anxiety in general. But do they experience full-blown anxiety attacks?
Are anxiety attacks common in narcissists?
There is limited research specifically on anxiety attacks in narcissists, but some studies provide clues:
- A 2016 study found that narcissism was linked to panic disorder symptoms in some individuals. Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.
- A 2020 study showed that covert narcissism (a shy, hypersensitive subtype) was related to anxiety and panic symptoms. Overt narcissism showed no such link.
- Research shows narcissistic leaders and managers are more likely to experience anxiety under stress. Their facade crumbles under pressure.
This research suggests anxiety attacks may occur in certain narcissistic subtypes, especially covert/vulnerable narcissists. But narcissistic traits alone do not necessarily mean someone will experience full-blown panic attacks.
How do narcissists experience anxiety attacks?
If narcissists do experience anxiety attacks, they may exhibit some distinctive features:
- Feeling a loss of control – narcissists intensely fear losing command of themselves or situations.
- Extreme shame about symptoms – may see attacks as proof of weakness or failure.
- Blaming others – narcissists may fault others for somehow causing the anxiety attack.
- Downplaying symptoms – they may try to ignore or deny attack symptoms to preserve self-image.
- Seeking validation during/after attack – needs constant reassurance from others to soothe them.
- Lashing out – may verbally attack loved ones either during or after the panic attack.
Narcissists often struggle to be vulnerable and admit weakness. This can influence how they experience and handle anxiety attacks.
Are anxiety disorders common in narcissistic personality disorder?
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) involves an extreme, rigid pattern of the core narcissistic traits. Research indicates that anxiety disorders are quite prevalent in NPD:
- A 2008 study found that 75% of people with NPD had an anxiety disorder during their lives.
- The most common anxiety disorders seen in NPD are social anxiety, OCD, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder.
- Panic disorder has also been observed in some cases of both overt and covert NPD.
- This anxiety likely relates to the unstable self-esteem and intense fears of failure seen in NPD.
So while narcissism itself does not necessarily lead to anxiety attacks, NPD has a strong association with anxiety disorders that can include panic attacks.
How are anxiety attacks treated in narcissistic personality disorder?
Treating anxiety attacks and panic disorder symptoms in NPD can be challenging. Some treatment considerations include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to modify unhelpful thought and behavior patterns during anxiety attacks.
- Exposure therapy to gradually face feared situations that trigger attacks.
- Anxiety/panic-focused psychotherapy to identify triggers and manage physical symptoms.
- Anti-anxiety medications such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines in severe cases.
- Treatment of co-occurring disorders like PTSD, depression and addiction which exacerbate panic attacks.
- Building emotional resilience and coping strategies to handle narcissistic vulnerabilities.
A key goal is helping narcissistic patients better manage their extreme sensitivity to perceived failures or criticisms that may be provoking anxiety attacks. Supporting vulnerable self-esteem and enhancing thinking patterns can also be helpful.
Conclusion
In summary, narcissists seem prone to anxiety in general, but anxiety attacks specifically may only affect certain narcissistic subtypes. Full-blown NPD has a strong link to anxiety disorders that can include panic attacks. These anxiety symptoms likely relate to the underlying insecurities, perfectionism and fragile self-esteem of true NPD. With professional help, the heightened anxiety and panic attacks experienced by some narcissists can be reduced.