Rethinking Narcissism: What Social Media Gets Wrong

About this episode

This episode explores the misconceptions of narcissism in the context of social media and mental health.

Narcissism has become one of the most misused words in mental health — and social media hasn’t helped. In this episode, host Gabe Howard is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton to separate clinical reality from internet myth. Together, they break down what narcissistic personality disorder actually is, why confidence and disagreement don’t equal narcissism, and how terms like “gaslighting” and “love bombing” get distorted online.We answer common questions like: Can people with narcissistic personality disorder learn empathy? How can loved ones’ support change without sacrificing their safety or boundaries? If narcissism is a mental illness, why do we have trouble feeling compassion for people who have it? Finally, Gabe and Kati discuss whether people with narcissistic personality disorder can change, what meaningful treatment actually looks like, and how loved ones can protect themselves while setting healthy boundaries. “If social media were accurate, narcissism would describe anyone who annoys us. But clinically? It’s something very different.” ~Kati Morton, author of “Why Do I Keep Doing This? Unlearn the Habits That Keep You Stuck and Unhappy” Our…

People in this episode

Host: Gabe Howard

Guest: Kati Morton

Topics covered

• narcissism
• mental health
• social media
• empathy
• boundaries
• treatment

Keywords

• narcissistic personality disorder
• gaslighting
• love bombing
• empathy
• mental illness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Healthline Media

Books & works: Why Do I Keep Doing This? Unlearn the Habits That Keep You Stuck and Unhappy

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