Seeing the Humanity of Persons Suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder

To Whom it may concern,

We are human beings who have been diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), feel we have strong Narcissistic traits, love or care dearly about another human being who carries this label, or simply are concerned about those who meet the current diagnostic critera for NPD.

It is our sincere belief that each and every person who has been labeled with this psychological disorder is first and foremost a human being suffering in a great deal of pain. We are deeply concerned that little progress has been or currently is being made in terms of credible research focused on healing those who by no fault of their own carry a literal title of Narcissist.

Meanwhile these human beings are faced with growing levels of hatred within their communities, often being called un-human or evil. Persons in search of love and acceptance are instead facing rejection and isolation due to a disorder that is drowning in a sea of myths, distortions, half-truths and lies. Persons who are seeking help are instead finding anger directed at them from a society that does not know how to respond to their own deep narcissistic wounds.

It's time for a change in the way the world in general and specifically mental health professionals treat their fellow human beings suffering from this disorder.

We are calling upon the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill to show persons with this disorder the same level of respect and dignity shown to our fellow human beings suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder;

We are calling upon mental health researchers to make finding a therapy that works with NPD one of their highest priorities;

We are calling upon the United States government not to assume all persons with this disorder can function adequately at the work place and to review requests for disability based on need rather than preconceptions regarding how well a person with this label should function in their daily lives;

And we are calling upon members of our communities to give us a chance to show that we are indeed human, and deep inside desire nothing more than love and acceptance.