Citation: Vaknin S (2020). Narcissistic Mortification, Shame, and Fear. SunText Rev Neurosci Psychol 1(1): 106. 1 SunText Review of Neuroscience and Psychology Open Access Review Article Volume 1:1 Narcissistic Mortification, Shame, and Fear Sam Vaknin * Visiting Professor of Psychology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don and Professor of Finance and Psychology in SIAS-CIAPS (Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies), USA and Nigeria * Corresponding author: Sam Vaknin, Visiting Professor of Psychology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don and Professor of Finance and Psychology in SIAS-CIAPS (Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies), USA and Nigeria; Tel: +38978319143, +79884640967; E-mail: samvaknin@gmail.com Abstract All mental health issues arise from confusing external and internal objects (examples: that psychosis, narcissism). I suggest that there is a single clinical entity Personality Disorder with overlays (narcissistic, antisocial, borderline, histrionic). Keywords: Narcissistic mortification; Personality disorder; Mental health Introduction Each overlay has 3 states: overt, collapsed, covert. Transition between the states and the overlays is a reaction to gaps (reality intrusion or failure) and narcissistic mortification. Covert states aspire to become overt. Covert states are not self-efficacious. They fail to secure:  Narcissistic Supply (NPD)  Goals (AsPD)  Sex Partners (HPD)  Relationships/intimacy (BPD) Transition from overt to covert and back via collapse and mortification. Covert NPD The Inverted Narcissist is a co-dependent who depends exclusively on narcissists (narcissist-co-dependent). If you are living with a narcissist, have a relationship with one, if you are married to one, if you are working with a narcissist, etc. – it does NOT mean that you are an inverted narcissist. To "qualify" as an inverted narcissist, you must CRAVE to be in a relationship with a narcissist, regardless of any abuse inflicted on you by him/her. You must ACTIVELY seek relationships with narcissists and ONLY with narcissists, no matter what your (bitter and traumatic) past experience has been. You must feel EMPTY and UNHAPPY in relationships with ANY OTHER kind of person. Only then, and if you satisfy the other diagnostic criteria of a Dependent Personality Disorder, can you be safely labelled an "inverted narcissist". Not all covert narcissists are inverted narcissists. But all inverted narcissists are covert (“shy”, “fragile”) narcissists. They are self- centred, sensitive, vulnerable, and defensive, or hostile, and paranoid. They harbour grandiose fantasies and have a strong sense of entitlement. They tend to exploit other, albeit stealthily and subtly. Covert narcissists are aware of their innate limitations and shortcomings and, therefore, constantly fret and stress over their inability to fulfil their unrealistic dreams and expectations. They avoid recognition, competition, and the limelight for fear of being exposed as frauds or failures. They are ostentatiously modest. Covert narcissists often feel guilty over and ashamed of their socially-impermissible aggressive urges and desires. Consequently, they are shy and unassertive and intensely self- critical (perfectionist). This inner conflict between an overwhelming sense of worthlessness and a grandiose False Self results in mood and anxiety disorders. They team up with classic narcissists (see below), but, in secret, resent and envy them. Received date: 28 July 2020; Accepted date: 08 August 2020; Published date: 13 August 2020 Citation: Vaknin S (2020). Narcissistic Mortification, Shame, and Fear. SunText Rev Neurosci Psychol 1(1): 106. Copyright: © 2020 Vaknin S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.