Mirror Episodes

All my life I've loved my own reflection. Everytime I pass by a mirror or store window I have to look. But lately looking in the mirror has become an obsession for me. Most people look in mirrors and hate what is staring back at them. I look and see perfection and I get into this state of mind, that everything about me is perfect. So I talked to my therapist about this and she said that this is called "hypomania" where you have grandiose thinking, btw is that common with NPD? The other day I looked in the mirror for 3 hrs, I just couldn't stop staring. I called my friend to tell her about this and she said that I'm gonna be just like Narcissus and die by looking at my own reflection. I see why he does it though. Do any of you do this? Thoughts are appreciated.

44

Well, I myself exhibit some symptoms of NPD but I do not consider myself to know much about the disorder in general. Depending on my mood, I either see a handsome young man or an ugly fat troll in the mirror. When I am in the 'handsome young man' mood I look at myself in every possible place. Sometimes, I just gaze at my face... ...It doesn't help my thinking when people actually call me beautiful, cute, and handsome.

Did you ever read The Portrait of Dorian Gray? Basicaly, it's about a guy who is so handsome that he's driven to despair. Someone paints a portrait of him - a beautiful portrait - and he then becomes so worried about losing his features that he makes a wish: The face in his portrait grows old, but his real-life face never ages.

Kevin.

A'ine wrote:I vascillate, too, like Chucky, and find it interesting that i see myself as beautiful sometimes and then think of myself as ugly looking, other times.

Is there a reason why you change your view of yourself? For me, my mood is in direct proportion to my weight.

A'ine wrote:I also am interested in my aging process. I think my crows feet are lovely....and my skin is for some reason taking on a glowing quality.

Would you beleive me if I told you this: I grow younger. Well okay - I don't grow younger but some people have looked at pictures of me from the past and they think that I look exactly the same. I am 24, but people still think I look 17 or 18.


Kevin

For me dialogue is basically positive self affirmations like that I am the most beautiful thing that walked the earth etc... that I am the most talented, intelligent etc. When I am in front of the mirror no one else exists, I am the center and the focus of everything. It's rather confusing but very real to me. I focus on my face and its features and then I move to my body- I love my body I weigh 98 lbs and think I look fabulous. and keep moving down etc. I love who I am, and love life right now. yeah ppl say I look young for my age, like 14, 15 really I am a 21 yr old female.
that book does sound interesting, I shall check it out.

44

44, you strike me as the worst kind of narcissist.

All you talk about is your appearence. Out of curiosity, what are your other qualities that make you think you are, "the most intelligent and talented"

Also, 44, you've mentioned before that you don't want to show people on here what you look like. Just wondering, if you are proud of your appearence, what are you afraid of?

When I was filling out my profile, I included my myspace profile with out even thinking about it.

44 wrote: Most people look in mirrors and hate what is staring back at them.
44

Oh, do they? I would have said most people would consider themselves reasonably satisfied with what is reflected back on a physical level.

Your therapist is right, if you have NPD like she says you do, then youre 'out of balance' pre-occupation with your physical appearance would have you classed as a somatic NPD.

Cerebral one's aren't particularly interested in their appearance. Doing things like washing hair, scrubbing, teeth cleaning and nail cleaning are 'chores' to be skimped on, if possible.

When I was in my teens and early 20's I absolutely loved my physical appearance, particularly my face with my large blue eyes, I was very photogenic and loved having my photo taken. At the age of 28 I also entered the Amateur Body Building Championships too, and did very well for myself. Man, those were good days.

But as life goes on, gravity and child bearing have taken some toll, so what, $#%^ happens. It's what is inside that counts.

44, if you NEVER stop admiring yourself in excess during your life, you'll find it empty and unfulfilling. Fact. But in the meantime, feel free to knock yourself out with all those hours in front of the mirror. You're not harming anyone while you are there.

lynn0407 wrote:

44 wrote: Most people look in mirrors and hate what is staring back at them.

Oh, do they? I would have said most people would consider themselves reasonably satisfied with what is reflected back on a physical level.

I think that really depends on what age-group we are talking about; and what their cultural background is. I think you will find that more young people are unhappy with their body than mature people. There was a survey done a while ago in the UK & Ireland that asked the question: Are You happy with your body? In the young teenage girl group the result was that about 80% were unhappy.


It's even happening to me now: I'm 24 years old and am caring less about my body than I used too. This doesn't mean that I don't shower as often though!

Hey Chucky, only 24 and letting yourself go huh? tsk, tsk,

I was taking 44's use of the word 'hate' literally. Unhappy doesn't necessarily relate to 'hate'. Using the term, 'reasonably satisfied' would mean that the majority of people, would look and say, hmmm, would like a nose job, but everything else is looking ok.

I'm not surprised that 80% of teenage girls returned that statistic.. It takes time to get used to the vast amount of changes that occur.

First of all what do you mean I'm the worst kind of narcissist? and second I am not putting my pic on here because I've had some bad experiences with that, men caliing me etc, stalking etc. Someone was asking what were my other talents besides looking good. Well I am a very good hiphop dancer, I've been on the drill team in high school. I also act, been in drama for many years now. I love being on stage, love having an audience.