20 Shocking Truths About Narcissism: A Twisty Tour through Diagnosis and Treatment

Katherine MacAulay

18. The Façade of Perfection: Hiding the True Self

Young woman looking at her face in bathroom mirror. Photo Credit: Envato @valeriygoncharukphoto

Individuals with NPD construct an elaborate facade of perfection and superiority, a shocking truth that masks their profound inner turmoil. This public persona is meticulously curated to gain admiration and avoid exposing their deeply buried fears and insecurities. The true self, with its flaws and vulnerabilities, is carefully hidden, even from themselves. This constant performance is exhausting and explains their resistance to therapy, which threatens to dismantle their carefully constructed, yet ultimately hollow, external image.

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18. The Façade of Perfection: Hiding the True Self

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