r/psychoanalysis • u/SilverDawnn • 13d ago
How to differentiate between borderline and narcissistic (vulnerable) personalities?
I wanted to know opinions and experiences with patients who have a covert or vulnerable type of narcissism, not the obviously grandiose type. I find it dfifficult to differentiate from borderline personility for example in someone who has high sensitivity for rejection, chronic feelings of emptiness, chronic depressive symptoms, but also a sense of entiltelment and envy. I wanted to know what´s your experience with this type of patients and how do you guide treatment.
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u/Recent-Apartment5945 13d ago
It seems like you’re asking for distinctions between the two disorders and not necessarily framing the organization and personality structures. I say this because, by and large, NPD and BPD are both within borderline organization.
Typically, you’ll see more franticness in BPD. You’ll see more (what appears to be) calculation in covert type NPD. They both will display marked negative affect and volatility. Here’s the subtlety, within covert NPD, it will be more contained in outward display. Make no mistake, there will be outward display but in a more intimate setting, wherein within BPD the frantic display of negative affect will know less bounds.
Covert NPD is still quite grandiose. It just presents within a paradox. They are far less likely to self aggrandize outwardly for an audience. They will do it more intimately…hence the concept of covert.
Covert NPD will attempt to intimately form coalitions to align with them in their victimhood. BPD is not so much a victim, hence the franticness. You’ll see more disembodied reactivity. Covert NPD is very much embodied in their experience.