We’ve all been there.
I loved the man who everyone thought was a monster.
He was obsessed with his appearance. He had to be the center of attention. He was cold and cruel unless he wanted something from you. His temper was explosive and terrifying.
Your friends are convinced that you are dating a man with narcissistic personality disorder.
They may be right, but it’s important to remember that narcissistic personality disorder is just one possible cause of his behavior.
Not all personality disorders are the same, but they do share some of the same symptoms, and unless you’re a doctor, it can be difficult to recognize them in the person you’re dating.
There are a few other personality disorders that are very similar to narcissistic personality disorder.
Here are four similar personality disorders that share symptoms with narcissistic personality disorder:
1. Borderline personality disorder
A person with borderline personality disorder does not know who he or she is at all.
They always feel empty and panicky about being abandoned.
They follow a sad pattern of intense, unstable relationships, emotional instability, anger, and violence.
A person with narcissistic personality disorder can often explode into a “narcissistic rage” that closely resembles the rage and violence of a person with narcissistic personality disorder.
Related: How Empaths Use (And Narcissists Abuse) The 5 Love Languages Drastically Differently
2. Histrionic personality disorder
People with histrionic personality disorder have no self-worth and depend on the approval and praise of others to make them feel valuable.
They are often very careful about their physical appearance and go beyond their charming personalities.
They are very sensitive to criticism and their honesty is often questioned. It’s easy to confuse their obsession with their appearance and need to be the star of the show with narcissism.
Related: 7 Tiny Signs You’re Caught In A Narcissistic Abandonment Cycle With Your Partner
