I think it is important to realize that "most" people use the 4 F's to some degree.
However, when someone has PTSD or complex PTSD, they are much more "sensitive" so that will mean that average reactions are much more "magnified" with PTSD.

I agree with you HealingNSuffering, when people hear the word "narcissism" they often think of it as something "bad". We all need to have "some narcissism to thrive and NPD is a "disorder" when someone is so narcissistic that it affects/harms others and even themselves. When someone has NPD they are "very self absorbed" and they demand a lot of "adoration" because they are actually "insecure" however they do not even realize it. They are often "very controlling" and are quick to "eliminate' people whom they may feel "threatened by". They can be "very dismissive" even mean and vindictive because they do not know how to "help, nurture, care for, others" so they tend to "avoid" or get angry if they are actually "asked to care or respect" the boundaries of others.

It is important that if you read about the 4 F's that you do not determine yourself a "failure", it is always important to remember that with PTSD everything is often "magnified" and that includes "self criticism".

OE