Inflated Self-Esteem or Delusions of Grandeur?
People withbipolar disorder(BD) may experience this symptom.
Grandiosity can occur during both manic and hypomanic episodes.
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Grandiosity vs. Delusions of Grandeur
Grandiosity is not the same as having delusions of grandeur.
Grandiosity is a feeling of being superior to others or inflated self-esteem.
Grandiose delusions occur in roughly two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder and one-half of people withschizophrenia.
No one knows exactly why these changes happen.
It’s also unclear why some people experience severe symptoms and others do not.
As a symptom, grandiosity exists on a spectrum.
It can range from inflatedself-esteemto sweeping delusions of grandeur.
Grandiosity can be challenging to identify and pin down.
Examples of grandiosity include:
Grandiosity may not be recognized until it becomes extreme.
Delusions of Grandeur
There is a subtle difference between grandiose delusions and delusions of grandeur.
Grandiose delusions are less exaggerated than delusions of grandeur.
If delusions occur during manic episodes, this is a clue that bipolar disorder is involved.
NPD is broadly characterized by self-centeredness and an inability to have empathy for others.
People with NPD manipulate others to get what they want.
Another key differentiator is time.Personality disorderslike NPD are pervasive patterns of interactions with others.
By contrast, bipolar mania or hypomania typically lasts for weeks to months and is not always present.
Grandiosity can make someone seem unforgivably arrogant and rude.
This can affect relationships at home, with friends and family, and at work.
Grandiose delusions can impair judgment and compromise the ability to keep or maintain employment.
Grandiosity rarely occurs on its own in people with BD.
They need medications, psychotherapy, and social support to effectively resolve symptoms, including grandiosity.
This can turn into grandiose delusions or, more rare, delusions of grandeur.
If you or someone you know starts to experience grandiose thought patterns, psychiatric treatment is needed.
There is no one drug or psychotherapeutic approach that treats grandiosity on its own.
Instead, your healthcare provider will aim to deal with the abnormally heightened mood state that defines bipolar mania.
By doing so, behavioral extremes like grandiosity will also be tempered.
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