Threatened egotism was listed as a factor that motivated increased alcohol covert narcissist alcoholic use. A 2019 study found a link between vulnerable narcissism, shame, and an increased likelihood of problem drinking and gambling. Vulnerable narcissism features traits like low self-esteem, helplessness, and rejection sensitivity.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are closely linked. Both are mental health conditions that can damage relationships, cause personal distress, and undermine a person’s quality of life and sense of well-being. The more covert form of pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is not expressed the same way in every individual, but there are typical patterns that are very common. If you see many or most of these attitudes and behaviors in a person you know, you’re probably dealing with someone who suffers—and makes others suffer—with covert narcissism. The combination of alcoholism and narcissism can lead to destruction in various aspects of life, including relationships, mental health, and social well-being.

In many cases, the journey to recovery involves understanding the emotional component of addiction. Addressing the underlying depression, denial, or childhood trauma that drives both narcissism and alcohol consumption can provide the clarity needed for lasting change. Alcohol addiction affects behavior and the way other people are treated. This is why it’s hard for narcissists and alcoholics to maintain relationships. In addition, vulnerable narcissism is also a risk factor for alcohol-related problems in the future.

• When confronted, a covert narcissist may initially deny or deflect responsibility, gaslight the accuser, or play the victim to manipulate the situation.
• This means that they don’t like to seriously think about their behaviors.
• You can also join a local support group offered by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), which addresses substance use when NPD and other mental health disorders.
• Set realistic goals for your interactions with them to reduce stress and emotional burden.
• In either case, alcohol use can exaggerate a narcissist’s already fragile sense of self-importance, leading to grandiosity and arrogance.

While grandiose narcissists possess high self-esteem, vulnerable narcissists tend to have low self-esteem. In either case, alcohol use can exaggerate a narcissist’s already fragile sense of self-importance, leading to grandiosity and arrogance. A common experience of those on the path to recovery from an alcoholic narcissist is the rediscovery of empathy. For a narcissist, it can be challenging to maintain a genuine connection with others, as they tend to have a strong need for attention and a sense of entitlement. As they work through their 12-step program, they may begin to confront the manipulative and self-destructive tendencies in their behavior.

Are Martyr Covert Narcissists More Likely to Have Alcoholism or Substance Abuse Issues?

Beginning down the road to recovery from alcohol or drug addiction may feel overwhelming, but that is where we can offer some assistance. Reach out to one of our addiction specialists for alcohol treatment help today. For many of these individuals, alcohol leads to significant disruptions in their everyday life.

Grandiose Narcissism and Alcohol Outcomes

Someone who has a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) experiences grandiose, arrogant behavior patterns that are coupled with a lack of empathy and need to be admired. These behaviors are at the expense of other people, including loved ones. Patience and support are therefore needed to ensure the best possible outcomes. Without treatment, people with NPD have trouble maintaining positive relationships and are vulnerable to misusing drugs and alcohol to cope with difficult emotions. In conclusion, it’s important to recognize the destructive combination of covert narcissism and alcoholism. When dealing with a covert narcissist who is also battling alcoholism, the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’ rings true.

Overlapping symptoms

This can make treatment more challenging than it would be to treat each issue separately. Reach out to loved ones you trust who can walk with you through the recovery journal. Treating each condition independently can sometimes lead people to “choose one over the other,” especially if care is not coordinated. One example is being referred to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) on the presumption of AUD.

• Engage in activities that bring you joy and seek support from trusted friends or a therapist.
• They’ll also deny when they had a drink or that their drinking has negative consequences.
• It can be hard to discern even from a clinical perspective if alcoholism is separate from narcissism.
• On the other hand, alcohol use disorder is a substance use disorder involving an unmanageable compulsion to drink and the inability to stop, despite its negative consequences.
• This makes it hard to tell if the root problem is narcissism or alcoholism.
• Treatment programs for vulnerable narcissists might focus on negative expectations while grandiose narcissists might need to focus more on recognition of problems.

AUD Prognosis

Understanding how these two separate disorders are similar may offer some insight into the type of addiction treatment that would be most beneficial. Narcissism and alcoholism are two distinct conditions but share some traits. Because a person with NPD will often approach therapy with ambivalence or negative feelings, they are more likely to discontinue therapy early or have a harder time tolerating the discomfort of the treatment process. Moreover, each mental health condition must be independently diagnosed. By doing so, a person is less likely to be “over-treated” for a condition they may not actually have. All personality and substance use disorders are diagnosed based on a strict set of criteria described in the DSM-5.

Additionally, 36 participants were excluded from the analysis because they took the survey in less than 600 seconds (10 minutes). The final analysis sample was 345 participants, which represents about 90% of the original 383 participants. Thirteen additional outliers were included but reduced in value to one unit greater than the nearest non-outlying value.42 Variables included in the analyses were relatively normally distributed. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact at

They may also feel like they failed and blame someone else for their failure. A 2019 study looked at the link between narcissism and alcohol consumption in a questionnaire of 345 college students. Both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism were predictors of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental illness characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, and a constant need for admiration. On the other hand, alcohol use disorder is a substance use disorder involving an unmanageable compulsion to drink and the inability to stop, despite its negative consequences. There doesn’t appear to be a significant relationship between narcissistic personality disorder and substance use relapses. But, when people with both AUD and NPD go back to drinking, they will probably hide or deny it.