Coping with Chaos in the White House
"'A few days ago, I wrote a post for my Facebook friends about my personal experience with narcissistic personality disorder and how I view the president elect as a result. Unexpectedly, the post traveled widely, and it became clear that many people are struggling with how to understand and deal with this kind of behavior in a position of power. Although several writers, including a few professionals, have publicly offered their thoughts on a diagnosis, I am not a professional and this is not a diagnosis. My post is not intended to persuade anyone or provide a comprehensive description of NPD. I am speaking purely from decades of dealing with NPD and sharing strategies that were helpful for me in coping and predicting behavior. The text below is adapted from my original Facebook post.'
'I want to talk a little about narcissistic personality disorder. Ive unfortunately had a great deal of experience with it, and Im feeling badly for those of you who are trying to grapple with it for the first time because of our president-elect, who almost certainly suffers from it or a similar disorder. If I am correct, it has some very particular implications for the office. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Its not curable and its barely treatable. He is who he is. There is no getting better, or learning, or adapting. Hes not going to rise to the occasion for more than maybe a couple hours. So just put that out of your mind.
2) He will say whatever feels most comfortable or good to him at any given time. He will lie a lot, and say totally different things to different people. Stop being surprised by this. While its important to pretend good faith and remind him of promises, as Bernie Sanders and others are doing, thats for his supporters, so *they* can see the inconsistency as it comes. He wont care. So if youre trying to reconcile or analyze his words, dont. Its 100% not worth your time. Only pay attention to and address his actions.
3) You can influence him by making him feel good. There are already people like Bannon who appear ready to use him for their own ends. The GOP is excited to try. Watch them, not him. President Obama, in his wisdom, may be treating him well in hopes of influencing him and averting the worst. If he gets enough accolades for better behavior, he might continue to try it. But dont count on it.
4) Entitlement is a key aspect of the disorder. As we are already seeing, he will likely not observe traditional boundaries of the office. He has already stated that rules dont apply to him. This particular attribute has huge implications for the presidency and it will be important for everyone who can to hold him to the same standards as previous presidents.
5) We should expect that he only cares about himself and those he views as extensions of himself, like his children. (People with NPD often cant understand others as fully human or distinct.) He desires accumulation of wealth and power because it fills a hole. (Melania is probably an acquired item, not an extension.) He will have no qualms *at all* about stealing everything he can from the country, and hell be happy to help others do so, if they make him feel good. He wont view it as stealing but rather as something hes entitled to do. This is likely the only thing he will intentionally accomplish.'>>>
https://medium.com/@nziehl/coping-with-chaos-in-the-white-house-697fa2ca3ddf#.vcfc8t239
This analysis seems relevant, to me, to this: Surprisingly Easy Way to Get Rid of Donald Trump
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=412476
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
shraby
(21,946 posts)but a step sideways. The only difference is the cash register is a little safer.
elleng
(130,732 posts)but especially considering the NPD article, imo there's a HUGE difference; I opt for sanity.'
TygrBright
(20,755 posts)He has religious delusions, authoritarian fantasies, and a whole range of exploitable anxieties and vulnerabilities of his own.
He's even CREEPIER than Trump, because he can fake it better and would get away with more.
adamantly,
Bright
applegrove
(118,492 posts)disorder is currently in use as a diagnosis.
elleng
(130,732 posts)'The cause of narcissistic personality disorder is unknown.[6] It is a personality disorder classified within cluster B by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.[5] Diagnosis is by a healthcare professional interviewing the person in question.[4] The condition needs to be differentiated from mania and substance use disorder.[5]'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
applegrove
(118,492 posts)Thanks.
napi21
(45,806 posts)Indiana, and I'm not looking for that to happen to the Country! I have real fears of what the Con is going to do, but ZI can't forget he was a Dem his whole life until he decided to run for Prez. HOPEFULLY a a little of that is still there. Pence just does a whole lot of religious injecting into government and THAT I really don't want to see. There's enough there already!
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Trump is easy to work around and I sure Pence will figure out how to do what he needs to do. We learned that from Cheney.
pnwmom
(108,955 posts)and the US is not Indiana writ large. Many of DT's followers would be enraged to have Pence take over, and none of the Hillary voters will be impressed.
enough
(13,255 posts)will have that you-are-my-leader feeling about him.
ancianita
(35,932 posts)elleng
(130,732 posts)and I agree.
SPREAD IT AROUND!
ancianita
(35,932 posts)the topic.