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elleng

(130,732 posts)
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:39 AM Nov 2016

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. I’ve unfortunately had a great deal of experience with it, and I’m 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) It’s not curable and it’s barely treatable. He is who he is. There is no getting better, or learning, or adapting. He’s 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 it’s important to pretend “good faith” and remind him of promises, as Bernie Sanders and others are doing, that’s for his supporters, so *they* can see the inconsistency as it comes. He won’t care. So if you’re trying to reconcile or analyze his words, don’t. It’s 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 can’t 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 he’ll be happy to help others do so, if they make him feel good. He won’t view it as stealing but rather as something he’s 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

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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shraby

(21,946 posts)
1. I knew of that amendment, but that still leaves us with Pence which is not a step up
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:47 AM
Nov 2016

but a step sideways. The only difference is the cash register is a little safer.

elleng

(130,732 posts)
3. It's true we'd get pence 'instead,'
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:49 AM
Nov 2016

but especially considering the NPD article, imo there's a HUGE difference; I opt for sanity.'

TygrBright

(20,755 posts)
13. Then you do NOT want Pence. He is not "sane" by any definition.
Wed Nov 30, 2016, 04:17 PM
Nov 2016

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)
2. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think narcissistic personality
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:49 AM
Nov 2016

disorder is currently in use as a diagnosis.

elleng

(130,732 posts)
4. It appears to be currently in use.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:53 AM
Nov 2016

'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

napi21

(45,806 posts)
6. Sorry folks, but I believe Pence would be a lot worse! He's already destroyed
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:25 AM
Nov 2016

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)
7. We are gonna get Pence anyhow.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:56 AM
Nov 2016

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)
8. I don't. Pence does not have the ability Trump has to put people under a spell,
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 04:28 AM
Nov 2016

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)
9. Yes, the charisma factor is missing with Pence. Only a small part of the population
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 09:26 AM
Nov 2016

will have that you-are-my-leader feeling about him.

ancianita

(35,932 posts)
12. I will! This is useful, appropriate and the best pathologizing summary I've ever seen on
Tue Nov 29, 2016, 10:25 PM
Nov 2016

the topic.

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