Not sure where to post this, I chose this sub forum because many people here have been victims of narc abuse. I would argue that most abusers are narcissists, as NPDs are without empathy, they do not feel anothers hurt.

I am surprised that so many mental health 'professionals' still belive the old, tired 101 year old theroies of Freud, like in this post by
Secretum
My therapist is really interested in PDs, and we have had some discussions on them before, which I find interesting.

She told me that Narcissists actually feel really insecure and hide that insecurity by "putting up a front" of extreme confidence and self-worship. From reading posts from you all here, I've decided that is probably not true, haha...but still. I imagine that it must be very painful to be a Narcissist. To have endured whatever it was you suffered with as a child, and then to grow up with a certain defense mechanism that keeps you from connecting from others on a meaningful level...

Why have things not moved on, I dont get it.

100 years ago, no TV, no computors, few vaccines, no penicillin.
How things have changed, but not apparently Freuds ideas on NPD! The cocaine taking, Freud as clever as he was did not get this right, I mean, come on! do we still believe in 'Penis envy' ?? Do we still belive the Earth is flat?

Freud was wrong.

Narcs are born not made. They are not the product of abuse per say.

My mother NPD, not abused, my partners lad, a clever, confident, arty, successful high flier, not abused (but very much a narc)
Lots of successful people are/were narcs. Margaret Thatcher, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Joan Crawford etc.
Margaret Thatcher enjoyed her life, the cut and thrust of politics the control, the power.
I do not believe for one moment all these people were 'hurting and insecure'

Abuse can certainly cause damage that is presents similar to NPD. But traits are not the same as a PD. Traits, learned behaviours can be treated.
Personality disorders are something you are born with, thats why they cannot be treated.
Like brown or blue eyes.

Its odd to believe a idea that someone cobbled togeather 101 years ago.