Please, if you can, take a moment to read and share this because I feel like I'm screaming underwater.
NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) stigma is rampant right now, and seems to be getting progressively worse. Everyone is using it as a buzzword in the worst ways possible, spreading misinformation and hatred against a real disorder.
I could go on a long time about how this happened, why it's factually incorrect (and what the disorder actually IS), why it's harmful, and the changes I'd like to see. But to keep this concise, I'll simply link to a few posts under the cut for further reading.
The point of this post is a plea. Please help stop the spread of stigma. Even in mental health communities, even around others with personality disorders, in neurodivergent "safe" spaces, other communities I thought people would be supportive in (e.g. trans support groups, progressive spaces in general), it keeps coming up. So I'm willing to bet that a lot of people on this site need to see this.
Because it's so hard to exist in this world.
My disorder already makes me feel as if I'm worthless and unlovable, like there's something inherently wrong and damaged about me. And it's so much harder to fight that and heal when my daily life consists of:
Laughing and spending time with my friends, doing my utmost best to connect and stay present and focused on them, trying to let my guards down and be real and believe I'm lovable- when suddenly they throw out the word "narcissist" to describe horrible people or someone they hate, or the conversation turns to how evil "people with narcissistic personality disorder" are. (Seriously, you don't know which of your friends might have NPD and feels like shit when you say those things & now knows that you'd hate them if you knew.)
Trying to look up "mental health positivity for people with npd", "mental health positivity cluster bs", only to find a) none of that, and b) more of the same old vile shit that makes me feel terrible about myself.
Having a hard time (which is constant at this point) and trying to look up resources for myself, only to again, find the same stigma. And no resources.
Not having any clue how to help myself, because even the mental health field is spitting so much vitriol at people with DISORDERS (who they're supposed to be helping!) that there's no solid research or therapy programs for people like me.
Losing close friends when they find out, despite us having had a good relationship before, and them KNOWING me and knowing that I'm not like the trending image of pwNPD. Because now they only see me through the lens of stigma and misinformation.
Hearing the same stigma come up literally wherever I go. Clubs. Meetings. Any online space. At the bus stop. At the mall. At a restaurant. At work. Buzzword of the year that everyone loooves loudly throwing around with their friends or over the phone. Feels awesome for me, makes my day so much better/s
I could go on for a long time, but I'm scared no one will read/rb this if it gets too much longer.
So please. Stop using the word "narcissist" as a synonym for "abusive".
Stop bringing up people you hate who you believe to have NPD because of a stigmatizing article full of misinformation whenever someone with actual NPD opens their mouth. (Imagine if people did that with any other disorder! "Hey, I'm autistic." "Oh... my old roommate screamed at me whenever I made noise around him, and didn't understand my needs, which seems like sensory overload and difficulty with social cues. He was definitely autistic. But as long as you're self-aware and always restraining your innate desire to be an abusive asshole, you're okay I guess, maybe." ...See how offensive and ignorant that is?)
Stop preventing healthcare for people with a disorder just because it's trendy to use us as a scapegoat.
If you got this far, thank you for reading, and please share this if you can. Further reading is under the cut.
NPD Criteria, re-written by someone who actually has NPD
Stigma in the DSM
Common perception of the DSM criteria vs how someone may actually experience them (Keep in mind that this is the way I personally experience these symptoms, and that presentation can vary a lot between individuals)
"Idk, the stigma is right though, because I've known a lot of people with NPD who are jerks, so I'm going to continue to support the blockage of treatment for this condition."
(All of these were written by me, because I didn't want to link to other folks' posts without permission, but if you want to add your own links in reblogs or replies please feel free <3)
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WAR AND BEAUTY
WARNINGS: Just cuss words and Clarisse getting jealous.
Pairing: Clarisse x Child of Aphrodite Reader
Summary: Clarrise gets jealous because Percy is in love with her girlfriend.
REQUESTED?: YES
Requested by: @kitten-reader
You were the daughter of Aphrodite, the Goddess of beauty and love. And you fell in love with Clarisse, the daughter of Ares, the God of war.
It's basically you fell first but she fell harder.
Most people might say that you both were not a good match, but don't worry, Clarisse had a little "chat" with them.
You love Clarisse, and she loves you too.
....
You were walking with Clarisse, side-by-side. You liked the little strolls around camp-half blood with her.
"Hey!-"
You turned your head around to see a blonde-haired boy. Your girlfriend just bumped into him.
Clarisse pushed him to the ground, making him fall on his back. "Hey- Why you did do that?" You asked grabbing her arm gently, making her face you.
Before she could speak, Luke caught her off.
"Woah- Hey! Knock it off Clarrise, it's like his first day come on." Said Luke making Clarisse look at him.
"So this is the kid who killed the minotaur, is that right?" She asked, walking a little closer to the blonde boy.
"Yeah?" He said, looking nervous.
"I'll bet."
Said Clarisse making the new kid walk backward, trying to get away.
"Like you want attention around here Dummy? Better be ready for it when it comes."
"Clarisse-"
She jerked her head toward the new kid, making him flinch.
She and her friends laughed, walking away. You walked behind her, trying to catch up.
"Clarisse, that was mean," You said putting your hand on her shoulder. "He deserved it" She replied, she looked angry.
"Why?" You asked, "What did he do wrong?"
"He lied about killing the minotaur, he wants attention." Said Clarisse, answering your question. "How do you even know he did?" You asked.
"I know that kid Is fucking lying, I just know it" Said Clarisse, cussing under her breath.
"Clarisse, language," You said, making her groan and rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," Said Clarisse, walking back to her cabin. You sighed. What are you gonna do with this girl?
...
You were eating breakfast, it was nothing special. It's just toast and fruits.
You looked at your surroundings. You saw the other Cabin kids eating in another table.
"Hey, could I sit here?"
You turned your head only to see the boy from yesterday. "Oh- Yah sure" You replied, scooting over to give him space.
The boy sat beside you, placing his Mac-n-cheese on the table beside your boring toast and fruits'
"My name is Percy," He said taking a spoonful of man-n-cheese. He looked like a chipmunk because of how much food he put in his mouth.
"Nice to meet you, Percy! My name is Y/N" You replied, taking a bite of your half-eaten toast.
"I think I saw you yesterday, with that girl named-"
"Clarisse?" You asked, "Yeah her!" He said. " Why was she so mean? Like what did I even do?!" Percy asked, looking at his ball of Mac-n-cheese.
"Clarisse is like that sometimes, she did not mean it." You lied, knowing that she really meant it. You just wanted to stand up for your girlfriend.
"Are you claimed?" He asked. "Yeah! I'm the daughter of Aphrodite." You replied. "The Goddess of Love and Beauty?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's my mom" You replied, giving a little chuckle. "Well, good thing that you're claimed. My dad has been ignoring me for my whole life." He said sadly.
"Oh..." You did not know what to say or how to react. It took a year for your mother to claim you. You did not really care it took that long for her to notice you.
You missed staying in the Hermes cabin, it was fun when it lasted. "I'm sorry about what happened to you," You said to Percy, putting your hand on his shoulder and giving a warm smile.
"I- uh no- its fine" Stuttered Percy, turning his head away from you, and taking a bite from his food.
You chuckled, taking one last bite of your now cold toasted bread and eating the last piece of fruit.
"See you later Percy" You said before standing up and taking your plate away.
You walked over to the pile of dirty dishes, placing your on one of the stacks.
"Why was he talking to you?" You turned your head to the voice, it was Clarisse. "What do you mean?" You asked turning your body to her.
"I mean why was he talking to you?" She asked once again, clearly getting a little upset. "Why are you asking me this?"
"I asked you first." Said Clarisse, moving closer to you. "He was just being nice" You replied.
"Nice?! You're saying that he was trying to be nice when he was obviously in love with you?!" Said Clarisse.
"What?" You asked. Percy likes you? But how? You just met like yesterday, how can he already like you?
"He's in love with you and I fucking hate it so stop hanging around him!" Said Clarisse walking away from you.
"Clarisse stop acting like this!" You said before running after her.
She ignored you as she walked to her cabin. "Clarisse!" You shouted, but she still did not listen.
Clarisse went inside her cabin, shutting the door. You sighed, you did not know why Clarisse was acting like this, you and Percy are just friends, nothing less nothing more.
...
You were sitting under a tree while writing in the journal Clarisse gifted you for your birthday.
"Hey"
You looked up to see only to see Clarisse standing in front of you. "Hey" You replied, looking back down on your journal.
She sat beside you as she bites her lip. "I'm sorry for what happened yesterday, I just- um... I just felt something that made me act that way," She said looking down.
"You felt jealous?" You asked, looking up at her. She widens her eyes, turning her head to you. "I- uh no" She replied, not knowing how to admit to you that she was jealous of Percy.
You chuckled and closed your journal. "Tell me the truth Clarisse, I know when you lie."
Your words made her groan, "Fine I was, so what!?" She said blushing and covering her face.
"I did not know the daughter of Ares can blush," You said jokingly, making her groan even more.
"Shut up," She said, turning to you with a smile on her face. "Make me." You said as you smirked at her.
"You're truly the daughter of Aphrodite, you're so lovely Dovey," She said, making you both laugh.
She leaned closer to you, her eyes on your soft lips. "I know a way to make you shut up" she said.
"Then do it," you whispered making eye contact with her.
She moved closer, making both of your lips touch. Her lips felt warm and plump against your lips, it felt nice.
"Oh uh-"
You pulled back from the kiss and looked up at the person. "Oh hi Percy" You said, getting embarrassed that he saw what you and Clarisse were doing.
"I did not know you liked girls," He said awkwardly. "I-Uh I did not mean it in a bad way- I just-"
"Get lost dummy" Said Clarisse rolling her eyes. "Clarisse that's mean," You said, making her groan.
"Oh uh- sorry yah I should go" Said Percy before running away. You watched him run away, making Clarisse sigh in relief.
"Good thing his gone, now where were we?" She asked as she smirked, before leaning closer.
You put your finger on her lips, making her look at you confused. "We are not gonna kiss until you say sorry for the mean things that you did to him" You said to Clarisse, making her groan in annoyance.
"Are you seriously making me do that right now?!" She asked, leaning her back on the tree. "Yes, now go and apologise or else no kisses,"
"Ugh fine" muttered Clarisse as she stood up and dusted the dirt from her pants. "But I'm only doing this because I love you," said Clarisse as she started to walk away to find Percy.
"I love you too Clarisse!" You shouted, making her turn her head and smile at you. "Ok now go apologise," You shouted, making her huff in annoyance.
I guess War and Beauty goes well together after all.
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