Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Diagnosis of Mike Francesa

Hi all! I've missed you!

There will be a post coming soon recapping this off-season's fun and frivolity, I promise you. Right now, however, we are suffering from a severe case of Jets fever (which differs from our children's cases of bronchitis-caused fever, but that's another story) and are not tuned in to Mets drama at the moment. I am going to give you all something to ponder, however, which spans both Mets and Jets fandom. As some of you know, I am employed in the mental health field (insert your own joke here) and have come to a conclusion about our favorite NY sports radio host after listening to his anti-Jets bluster all week. Check out the official DSM-IV-TR diagnosis criteria for Narcisstic Personality Disorder, and tell me he isn't a poster child for this condition:

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

requires excessive admiration

has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes



Help is available, Mike. Contact me for a referral.


Kisses!

LadyMet