How is self love different from narcissism?

If I’m narcissistic, I think I’m totally swell. See how swell I am? Nobody is sweller than me.

If I love myself, I’m apt to take care of myself, eat better, stand up for myself, and treat myself like anyone else I really love.

Clinical narcissism has a number of diagnostic criteria, and has nothing to do with self love. In fact, it is a form of self loathing. The diagnostic criteria from the DSM IV are

1. An exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

3. Believes he is “special” and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

4. Requires excessive admiration

5. Has a sense of entitlement

6. Selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends

7. Lacks empathy

8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him

9. Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes

I’m really starting to dislike the word narcissism because apparently no one knows that narcissism is self love to the most extreme degree and subsequently use the word incorrectly.

Balanced self-love involves honest self-assessment and appropriate self-care but not at the expense of others.

Out of control narcissism is a psychiatric disorder… and @dpworkin just save me loads of typing :P

I love myself, but I don’t tell the world what an awesome person I am.
I tell myself.
That’s self love, IMO.

I’m not liking this opinion that unless you hate yourself and think you’re a piece of shit, you’re an arrogant egotistical asshole.

The line is not that abrupt. At all.

Narcissism is a real disorder and involves extreme self-love to the point where it’s absurd. Self-love doesn’t mean that you think you’re better than everyone and have delusions of grandeur, it means you think positively about yourself and embrace yourself for who you are and have a decent amount of confidence.

Self love doesn’t happen when you add yourself to your fluther.

Narcissism;

“an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself; “self-love that shut out everyone else”

“The term narcissism refers to the personality trait of self-esteem, which includes the set of character traits concerned with self-image ego. The terms narcissism, ’, and ’ are often used as pejoratives, denoting vanity, conceit, egotism or simple selfishness.”

“Love of oneself; Sexual desire for one’s own body”

“narcissist – someone in love with themselves”

“narcissistic – egotistic: characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance”

Self-love

The instinct or desire to promote one’s own well-being.
———————————————————————————————————————-

It’s important to love yourself, or course to a certain limit, to know what your interest are, what you love in life and to be able to have love for others. If you have self-love you take care of yourself, but you also love others and have regard for them and their feelings, you can have self-love without being selfish.

Narcissism is a disorder. Self love is a new age version of self respect or self esteem. If one is an effective and successful human being, it is normal to experience self respect and self esteem. It is possible, however, to be a total loser, and imagine that you are great. That is a symptom of narcissism. It is also possible to be an effective human being and imagine that you are god-like. This is also narcissism. Either way, it is abnormal.

I’ve been staring at my reflection in a mirror for 10 minutes while trying to come up with an answer to this question and I’m afraid I can’t tell the diference between self love and narcissim. I’m too distracted by the image of myself that I’m looking at.

“Self love” is intuitive. Narcissism is forced out of desperation. They are less similar the more you compare the two.

Narcissim-can only love your self
Self love-can love your self and love others.

it depends on the degree. narcissism is extreme self love, which makes the person care less about anyone else. even uses other people to satisfy the desire for self-importance.

everyone, it got me thinking. is there even a cure for this disorder?

Narcissitic people are convinced the rest of the world loves them as much as they love themselves…self love is more of a solo adventure and a lot less stressful.

There is a huge difference between loving yourself and thinking you are the center of the universe, that everyone else’s actions and emotions should revolve around you. Loving yourself means accepting yourself as you are, finding your passion and living it with gusto. Narcissism means believing that everyone else should think of YOUR interests before their own.

Self-love is about appreciation .

Narcissism is about obsession .

Narcissim=Paris Hilton

Self Love=Maya Angelou

The difference between self-love and narcissism is like the difference between confidence and arrogance. I love myself, but I don’t consider myself better than or more entitled than any other human being. A narcissist thinks everyone else is supposed to acknowledge their superiority and that the world is supposed to revolve around them.