What Is A Megalomaniac? And, How Can You Deal With One?

Define megalomaniac

Megalomaniacs are people with a narcissistic personality disorder. Usually, they exaggerate their achievements and think they’re unique, special or better than others.

➜ But why?

The psychiatrist Laurent Schmitt explains that megalomaniacs behave in this way after experiencing trauma. For example, not having received enough love during childhood contributes to making a person egocentric. Indeed, for a megalomaniac, a high self-esteem helps to compensate.

💥 However, this kind of person is a nightmare to live with for others, because megalomaniacs assert themselves at the expense of others! Between feelings of inferiority, injustice and humiliation, it’s not easy to deal with someone with an overinflated ego.

How can you recognize a megalomaniac?

It’s important to define the characteristics of megalomaniacs before being able to act. This psychological illness has this type of behavior. Here’s how to recognize a megalomaniac:

• an overestimation of themselves;
• delusions of grandeur;
• delusions of power;
• self-attribution of extraordinary abilities;
• an immense desire for glory;
• inordinate pride.

➜ Megalomaniacs are often narcissistic perverts, that’s why it’s important to recognize them. However, not all are; some of them aren’t manipulative.

You may be interested in this article >>> How to break up with a narcissistic pervert

How to react to a megalomaniac?

Whether in a relationship, with a friend or at work, you must react to megalomaniacs. The problem is that an individual with a huge ego will not take criticism well, even if it’s constructive.

You should therefore not attack a megalomaniac head-on, especially not aggressively. Indeed, this kind of person is rather formidable in a confrontation. You should therefore express your opinion while remaining respectful. Putting your emotions into words is a good way to make an egocentric person realize they’ve gone too far.

• 💬 For example, someone tells you:  

“Your meal was okay, but I think I could have done better. After all, my father owns a restaurant and I know I’ve got the basics better than you.”

• ❌ Instead of replying:

“Your remarks are annoying! I feel like you always think you’re best! If you think you can do better, you cook next time, eh!”

• ✅ Answer instead:

“I’m sad and angry after your remarks about my cooking. I just wanted to please you.”

It’s impossible to deny what others are feeling, unless you’re dealing with a very toxic person. After you’ve expressed your feelings, it’s good to tell the other person that you understand their point of view to show that you’ve listened to them. And the last point to remember is to propose a solution.

In the case of example, you can add this:

“I know you’re better in the kitchen than me. If you want, next time you can show me how to do it, okay?”

Get help

Depending on the context, it’s possible to get help from a therapist. For example, if you’re in a relationship with a megalomaniac, and you’ve already tried to improve the situation. Indeed, expressing your suffering to a psychologist can be very liberating. It’s sometimes necessary to have someone neutral to identify the attitudes to be improved on both sides.

If you’re confronted with a megalomaniac in another situation (friends, work or family), expressing your emotions is a good solution. It’s not always possible to do this with the person concerned, which is why psychological support should be considered so that it doesn’t affect your mental health.

Is a megalomaniac a narcissist?

The terms "narcissist" and "megalomaniac" are often used to describe specific personality traits, but they have different meanings:

• Narcissism: Narcissism refers to excessive preoccupation with oneself, excessive self-love and high self-esteem. A narcissistic person tends to be egocentric, seeking the admiration of others and having a sense of superiority. Narcissism can manifest itself in arrogant attitudes and a constant need to be admired and validated.
  
• Megalomania: Megalomania is a specific aspect of narcissism, but is characterized by a delusional obsession with power, grandeur and self-importance. A megalomaniac may have fantasies of unlimited power, world fame or historical greatness. This condition goes beyond simple narcissism and can lead to delusional behavior and grandiose self-perceptions.

In short, a narcissistic person is generally preoccupied with himself or herself and may seek to be admired, but may not necessarily be a megalomaniac. Megalomania is a more extreme form of narcissism, characterized by delusional fantasies of grandeur and power. It's important to note that these terms are used in the context of psychology and psychiatry to describe certain behaviors or personality traits, and should not be used lightly to label someone without proper professional assessment.

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