Does this sound like a description of you?

* Expects to be recognized as superior and special, without superior accomplishments
* Expects constant attention, admiration and positive reinforcement from others
* Envies others and believes others envy him/her
* Is preoccupied with thoughts and fantasies of great success, enormous attractiveness, power, intelligence
* Lacks the ability to empathize with the feelings or desires of others
* Is arrogant in attitudes and behavior
* Has expectations of special treatment that are unrealistic


I'm pretty sure that my dad has narcissistic personality disorder(and that he's a psychopath).

 

It's very common - from what I've read for people with anxiety - to be very inward focused. It's pretty understandable if you think about it - we are so worried about how others perceive us that we can easily be thought of as slightly self-centred.

I doubt you're narcissistic - I think the big one as in Probably Offlines list of criteria above - is the lack of empathy one.

PS. I once had a shrink tell me that I had Narcisssistic Personality Disorder - I was manic at the time ( I'm bipolar) and off my face on Xanax. ( and she had known me for about a week. ) I was displaying some very selfish traits, plus I was arrogant and very strongly disagreeing with her at the time, but I have always had enormous empathy towards other people and their problems.

 

I know someone that is a narcissist, and you don't sound like one to me.

 

I used to work for someone that was like this. She liked me though so I loved working for her.

 

I suspect my friend has this. she's not socially anxious, totally the opposite. She thinks she's better than everyone. Many people think they're better than everyone but she's on a whole different level.

there is another type of narcissist personality disorder though, however, the shy one. but really, many people are self-centered and vain, yet you don't see them worrying about this possibility.

 

mhm. I definitely know someone who is, and I could NEVER believe someone who is narcissistic to have social anxiety because they thrive on attention and being the center of everything. It's truly sickening. I get to work with her every day!

If your family is saying you are self centered, they may be referring to not understanding why you have social anxiety and can't do the things they do, why you can't rise above it and join in on things that they want you to attend or do, etc. Or you may have done some selfish things to offend them.
....but being narcissistic is a different thing.

 

^
that's interesting..imagine a socially anxious narcissist..what a combo!

 

I'd just like to make it clear that this thread is all about me, not you ..

 

Am I one? definitely been accused of it

 

My mother is a narcissist. She's madly in love with herself and blows up if you dare even joke that she's less than perfect. She has no problem telling everyone else exactly what's wrong with them, but she'll never believe she ever does anything wrong. I haven't had any contact with her for three years and I never plan to in the future.

 

Sounds like me.