BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Narcissism.” The word rolls off our tongues with alarming frequency these days. It’s become the trendy diagnosis, a label slapped on anyone who seems a bit too confident, a bit too self-absorbed, but are we truly understanding the nuances of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), or are we simply using it as a catch-all for anyone who rubs us the wrong way?

This week, I delve deeper. I will explore the fine line between healthy self-esteem and the dangerous territory of self-importance. I attended a lecture by renowned psychologist Igor Weinberg, PhD, and he provided invaluable insights, breaking down the complexities of NPD while challenging the stigma that shrouds this disorder.

Dr. Weinberg addressed critical questions: How do we distinguish between genuine confidence and the inflated ego characteristic of NPD? What are the real-world impacts of these differing self-perceptions, and most importantly, how can we navigate relationships with individuals who may be struggling with this disorder?

I took the time to meticulously research the questions posed by other attendees at Dr. Weinberg’s lecture; today, I will be providing valuable answers and guidance for those who suspect a loved one may be grappling with NPD. Join me as we shed light on this often-misunderstood condition and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and those around us.

Narcissism refers to feelings and attitudes towards one’s own self. It is the core of self-esteem and emotions, which influence the way one perceives and relates to others.

One thing that needs to be cleared up is that we all have some narcissistic tendencies. Normal narcissism involves a healthy, positive sense of self-worth and self-regard with self-acceptance, curiosity, and compassion, including pride and enjoyment. Interpersonally, healthy narcissism motivates regard and connection with others, as well as reciprocal sharing with genuine interest in others’ thoughts and feelings, (i.e., commitment and empathy). It promotes an ability to handle challenging situations; to tolerate both criticism and defeats, as well as self-conscious emotions, such as shame, envy, humiliation, frustration, and guilt.

Then, there is an unhealthy narcissism, which is what many of you have come here to understand. Pathological narcissism differs from normal, healthy, or exaggerated narcissism foremost because of fluctuating, or dysregulated self-esteem and emotions. People struggling with pathological narcissism make considerable efforts to enhance themselves to protect and support a special, or amplified, but at the same time, fragile or negative sense of self. They strive to avoid threats and inferiority caused by adverse feelings and experiences, especially reflecting upon the self. Interpersonal closeness and intimacy are usually impaired due to compromised genuine interest in others’ experiences, or reactions, except when it is important for one’s own concerns or gains.

Self-centeredness and the need for personal benefits are additional predominant features. Empathy, including attention to and ability to identify with others’ feelings and needs, is impaired and accompanied by misjudgments of own influence on others. When the level of pathological narcissism is less severe, triggered in certain situations, or limited to a set of specific character features (something that I personally deal with), it is referred to as narcissistic pathology, or narcissistic traits.

The diagnostic term NPD refers to a stable long-term personality functioning that meets the DSM-5 section II, or III criteria for NPD or any other comprehensive diagnostic description. Just to bring everyone up to speed, The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) is a comprehensive guide used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders.

According to the DSM-5 section II, striking characteristics of NPD include: self-enhancement and self-centeredness, with interpersonal insensitivity and critical, competitive, or provocative behavior, along with compromised ability for commitment, collaboration, closeness, and mutuality.

The manual also speaks to the fact that NPD has a genetic origin with inherited hypersensitivity, low frustration tolerance, compromised emotion tolerance, and regulation. Early interactions between child and caregivers are influenced by overprotection, leniency, and overvaluation, or alternatively by: inconsistency, dismissiveness, and unreliability.

Both clinical and empirical studies have confirmed that: emotional distress, interpersonal vulnerability, a sense of inadequacy, need for control, avoidance, and fear, pain, shame, and anxiety are important facets of narcissistic personality functioning.

For some patients, the possibility of confirming narcissistic pathology, or receiving the NPD diagnosis when starting treatment can be extremely challenging and evoke deep shame and hopelessness. Others may have deeply rooted negative experiences or trauma that caused the development of narcissistic pathological functioning, and it may take significant time of building alliance and trust until those can be accessible to process in psychotherapy.

A flexible, nonjudgmental, collaborative, and exploratory treatment approach, adjusted to the individual patient’s: functioning, motivation, and degree of self-awareness and self-reflective ability, is strongly recommended. It is necessary to balance patients’ urges to reject and devalue the therapist and drop out of treatment with efforts to encourage and support them to face, explore, and reflect upon their own experiences and behavior.

There is so much to be said about this topic, but for my readers remember that you are not alone. Dealing with someone who has NPD can be incredibly challenging. Prioritize your own well-being. Establish and maintain healthy boundaries. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Educate yourself about NPD to better understand the dynamics at play. Focus on self-care and nurture your own needs. Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

REFERENCES:

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/dbt-skills-value-validation

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/narcissistic-personality-disorder

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/npd-provider-guide

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/it-self-esteem-or-self-importance-exploring-narcissistic-personality-disorder?hsCtaTracking=af60afa0-8d6d-458d-8bbf-88225a8eb3fe%7C89619a95-df79-420f-a553-ecdec8643fbd

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Crest, Colgate/Tom’s of Maine, and Hello; I want you to take a look in your medicine cabinet or on top of your bathroom sink and tell me if you see these products. More importantly, I want you to look at them, especially if you are allowing your children to use these products. I have some news for you that is not going to be exciting to read.

On Monday January 13^th, 2025, six class action lawsuits were filed accusing major dental product manufacturers of deceptively marketing products containing fluoride to young children, and misleading parents to believe the products are safe for toddlers. The lawsuits also allege the companies fail to adequately flag instructions for proper use, as mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Well, this news would make sense for a parent living in the United States, but why does that concern a parent living here in Canada. By and large, Crest manufactures most of its toothpaste at its plant in Greensboro. However, they do manufacture some of the toothpaste in Naucalpan, Mexico. To be more specific, Kid’s Crest Cavity Prevention is manufactured in Mexico. (For anyone concerned, check the packaging ahead of time to see that it says, “Made in the USA.”).

Colgate toothpaste is made in the United States, Mexico, and other countries around the world. The Colgate Total line is manufactured in Morristown, Tennessee. (Their toothpaste that is made in the USA is usually clearly marked with “made in the USA” or “proudly made by American workers). Hello company is a natural oral care brand that was founded in 2015. The company is based in San Francisco, California, and is committed to making oral care products that are both effective and good for the environment.

According to the parents who came forward, the companies design their product labels with candy and fruit juice flavors and images and cartoon characters to appeal to young children, often misleading them to think the products are meant to be consumed as food. The complaints highlight the serious risks to children’s health from ingesting excess fluoride. These include flu-like symptoms from: acute toxicity, dental fluorosis, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption and even death.

Colgate Kids natural product, marketed as “Silly Strawberry” by Tom’s of Maine, also features the word “natural,” implying that the product is free from toxic ingredients — which it isn’t — and that there is no need to limit how much paste goes on the brush. Crest offers flavors like “Bubblegum” and “Sparkle Fun” with cartoon animals on the box. Candy flavors and cartoons make it tempting for children to eat toothpaste, plus ask a child how good it tastes, and they will tell you.  Children under age six lack the developed swallowing reflexes that allow them to control how much they ingest, increasing the likelihood they will swallow the products.

Research details that excessive fluoride intake can lead to dental fluorosis, a tooth discoloration caused by overexposure during childhood. Since the introduction of candy-like fluoride products in the 1980s, the rate of dental fluorosis among U.S. schoolchildren has skyrocketed. Rates rose from 23% of children in 1986-87 to “a staggering 68%” of children by 2015-16, the complaint alleges.

Each year, Poison Control receives between 10,000 and 15,000 calls due to excess consumption of fluoride toothpaste, and there are also thousands of calls related to the ingestion of mouth rinse most of which involve young children and hundreds of which result in hospitalization.

Ingesting too much fluoride can also cause acute toxicity, with flu-like symptoms such as nausea, stomach upset and vomiting — symptoms that parents may not recognize as being related to fluoride. The complaints note that swallowing just one full strip of toothpaste can cause these effects in toddlers.

Disturbingly, the evidence supporting these claims is growing. Scientists at the National Toxicology Program last week published a meta-analysis in the JAMA Pediatrics linking fluoridated water and IQ loss in children. It “found significant inverse associations between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores.”

Attorney Michael Connett, partner at Siri & Glimstad, is representing the plaintiffs. Connett successfully represented plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over water fluoridation. In that case, a federal judge ruled in September 2024 that water fluoridation at current U.S. levels poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children and ordered the EPA to take regulatory action.

The lawsuits seek to hold the companies accountable for including packaging elements on their products that allegedly mislead consumers and violate the act. Plaintiffs seek statutory damages to compensate for their financial loss incurred by purchasing more of the products than they needed because they were misled to overuse them. They also seek punitive damages.

REFERENCES:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2828425

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BY PAUL JUNOR

The announcement that school boards have resorted to hiring private investigators to deal with rising rates of teachers’ absenteeism came as a surprise. It was revealed that a memo was sent out to the over 4,000 teachers of the Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers union alerting them of what the TCDSB is doing. The memo states, “It is essential to use sick days only as intended under the collective agreement. The board has hired private investigators to observe members, attempting to identify what they deem as misuse of sick days. This has led to disciplinary actions, up to and including termination. Protect yourself by adhering to the (collective agreement) guidelines.”

The TCDSB hired two investigators who were part of an investigation that resulted in five teachers from one school being fired. The teachers took time off for sick days but went to the Niagara casino instead. In addition, the teachers and the vice-principal were also fired as he had prior knowledge of the trip. There is an investigation unit that is a part of the board as well as outside investigators that are often used. They investigate sick leave abuse as well as claims of misconduct.

In June 2023, the Ministry of Education informed school boards across Ontario that they should implement attendance support programs in light of chronic shortage of teachers. The memo notes that “Absenteeism not only creates operational priorities, but it also adds financial pressure on school boards.”

In an article titled, “The Party’s Over: Toronto School Boards Cut Down On Sick Leave Abuse,” Deborah Karam, President of Toronto Elementary Catholic Teacher states, “If the (board) truly cared about the quality of student education and the welfare of school staff, it would focus on understanding and addressing why teachers are reporting higher levels of stress burnout than ever.”

“There have been several teachers who have received letters from the board requesting that they justify sick days that they have taken,” according to Antonella Di Carlo, President of the Toronto Catholic Teachers’ Secondary Unit. She states, “You’re terrorizing a profession right…now. For the minority.”

The TCDSB is facing a $66 million deficit and with sick leave costs representing about $44 million of it the board is trying to be fiscally responsible. Chair Markus de Domenico notes, “We just have to ensure that the system is being used for what it’s designed-to assist people that are ill or have reason to be off. There are, as there are in any large organizations, occasionally people that choose to abuse that, but they don’t represent the very vast majority of our staff.”