Narcissistic Personality Disorder - NPD Therapy Edgbaston Birmingham

23/10/2025

16/10/2025

A narcissistic man usually has a mother wound. This is one of the most overlooked roots of narcissistic behavior, and yet it often plays the most significant role in shaping who they become. This “mother wound” isn’t always about obvious abuse or abandonment. Sometimes, it’s the subtle, invisible emotional neglect, the lack of true nurturing, or the covert enmeshment with a mother who used the child to meet her own needs. In either case, the boy is left emotionally stunted, disconnected from his authentic self, and burdened with feelings he doesn’t know how to process.

15/10/2025

Insomnia, Sleep Issues , Misophonia
Client referral posted today ,
" Great, and effective hypnotherapist. Stuarts techniques really work and will change you're life for the better.
Hi my name is Neil. I came across Stuart Downing when I found myself seeking out hypnotherapy to treat problems I was having with my sleep due to living next door to previous neighbours who were very noisy and whom had kept me awake. Thankfully, after a couple of months, the neighbours had moved on, but unfortunately as a result, I developed an anxiety about getting to sleep, which in turn lead to me developing an insomnia which was caused by the anxiety. I had also developed Misophonia as a result, and had become hypersensitive to certain noises, such as any bangs or thuds. Even though the neighbours had left, my anxiety still persisted, which only caused me even more anxiety as I couldnt understand why I just couldnt relax as I knew the neighbours were no longer there. It got too the point where the anxiety around my sleep was so bad, that it really started to have a profound effect on my life. I felt I couldnt enjoy life anymore, I just wasnt happy. I had felt like I had lost the ability to relax, as a result it really started to effect my relationships with my family as I just wasnt me anymore, so to speak. Thats when I knew I had to do something as I felt it was destroying my life. I researched hypnotherapy. I was curious as to how it worked, and researched whether or not it would be beneficial for the issues that I was going through. I sought out a few hypnotherapists, thats when I came across Stuart Downing. I did my research on him, and discovered that he could treat issues around sleep/anxiety. I read his reviews, which were all positive. I booked a consultation with Stuart, who was very friendly and reassuring and explained how hypnotherapy worked and the methods he was going to deploy in helping to heal me. In the consultation, Stuart told me that I would only require three to four sessions at the most, which I was surprised about to be honest, as I felt so afflicted by my issues. What can I say? Well, after just one session, I already noticed a vast improvement in my sleep quality. I was sleeping longer and deeper, and waking up totally refreshed. Over the last few weeks of the sessions , my sleep and anxiety has just got better and better. I feel much less anxious, and lot more relaxed, like a weight has been lifted. I am so glad that I decided to invest in the sessions with Stuart, and would recommend it to anyone who is considering hypnotherapy. Stuart helped me learn that a lot of fear is irrational and totally unnessacary, and that I can rationalise with myself that I do not need to feel that fear. I have also learnt extremely effective relaxation techniques, which have really helped me. I f I ever experience any difficulties in the future, I will be sure to utilise these techniques. So, if you have any issue that is effecting you to the point where it is having a profound effect on you're life, then I would highly recommend that you book yourself a consultation with Stuart Downing, it can and will change you're life!
Neil 14/10/25

If you need help with sleep issues , contact Stuart 07825 599340
stuart@hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-services/hypnotherapy-for-sleep-disorders-Sleep Disorders and Insomnia Therapy Birmingham
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/reviews

Stuart Downing is a trusted hypnotherapist helping clients overcome their issues across the UK and worldwide. Read his reviews here.

23/04/2025

Understanding the traits of a narcissist woman

It is important to recognise the key difference between someone with NPD and the narcissistic qualities that can be displayed by anyone (including you!).

Signs of a narcissistic woman/puppet-master
For instance, the signs of a narcissistic woman may be that she uses manipulative tactics to get what she wants. However, this ‘female narcissist’ as she might be labelled, only occasionally does this and does not have any of the other traits defining NPD, so she would not be clinically diagnosed.

The DSM-5 lists nine key narcissistic traits
To be diagnosed at least five of these traits must be present in the individual:

Exaggerated feelings of superiority and self-importance
Regular fantasies about personal power, intelligence, success, or attractiveness
A firm belief in personal specialness
A strong need for attention, praise and admiration from other people
Entitled behaviour, such as a desire for special treatment
A habit of using manipulation tactics
Low empathy or disinterest in the emotional needs of others
A tendency to envy others or assume others envy them
Arrogance and scorn for others.


Giancarlo DiMaggio, psychiatrist and researcher in the treatment of narcissism, identifies seven domains, “maladaptive self–other schemas; poor self-reflection and intellectualising; disturbed agency; maladaptive coping; poor theory of mind and empathy”

This brings up the question…

Are Narcissists born or made?

What causes narcissistic personality disorder?
As with all personality disorders, there are a range of factors that contribute to the development of NPD. Our current understanding identifies inherited traits and early childhood experiences as key contributors to its development.

Now let’s dive into the differences between narcissist traits, female or male.

How female narcissists differ from males
Gender bias is a controversial and widely debated issue in the DSM-5, which currently reports that up to 75% of individuals with NPD are males. Due to discrepancies in socialisation and gendered expectations related to femininity and masculinity, the characteristics of someone with NPD can differ drastically between female and male.

Most gender stereotypes are defined within two categories. The first is reflective of ‘agentic characteristics’, defined as dominance, assertiveness, competitiveness and need for achievement. The second are ‘communal characteristics’, defined as tenderness, selflessness and nurturance. Agentic characteristics have been closely correlated with the narcissistic personality and the masculine stereotype, whereas communal characteristics are more likely to be typical of women and the feminine stereotype (Grijalva et al., 2015).

Males with NPD often score higher in entitlement, exploitativeness and a lack of empathy (Richman and Flaherty, 1990), being more likely to express overt “grandiose” narcissism. To the contrary, females with NPD use more indirect and discreet ways to fulfil their narcissistic goals, often displaying the covert “vulnerable” narcissism subtype (Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001).

When angered by a slight provocation, what is defined as ‘narcissistic rage’, the behaviours exhibited can also illuminate the distinct differences between genders. Whilst men tend to be aggressive and explosive (malignant), narcissist women will often withhold attention and withdraw affection, again characteristic of the “vulnerable” narcissist subtype. This subtype can be missed by the DSM-5 because of its current overemphasis on capturing grandiose themes (Green et al., 2023).

What is Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) sits on a broad spectrum of severity, those with it often being unaware, or in denial, that they have it. It is prevalent, highly comorbid with other disorders and very variable in its characteristics. Whilst the underlying pathology remains the same, its presentation falls into three broadly accepted subtypes:

The grandiose “overt” narcissist,
The vulnerable “covert” narcissist
The “malignant” narcissist.


It is within these subtypes that we can identify gender differences.

If you are recovering or attempting to distance from a NPD relationship and need help ,call ;
Stuart - 07825 599340 or email for a free consultation call
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

18/04/2025

You can be a great father and still lose your family, because in today’s world, effort means nothing if you’re a man.

You wake up early.
You go to work.
You pay the rent.
You stay loyal.
You pray for the family.

Still - you lose them.

Not because you failed but because modern fatherhood is built like a trap.

You do everything right…
and still end up wrong.

She leaves. The kids follow. The house becomes a memory.

You keep paying bills.
She keeps changing the narrative.

And if you dare raise your voice?

You’re “toxic.”
You’re “unstable.”
You’re “the reason she left.”

You paid for the piper—
but she still dictates the tune.

You followed the rules. But that’s the problem.

Because if you follow the rules, you’re not a leader. If you’re loyal, you become a simp.

You were told to protect her. So you did!

You were told to provide. So you did!

You were told to stay faithful. So you did!

And now?
You’re divorced.
You’re depressed.
You’re disposable.

The court says, “You are not the father.”

But the damage is already done.
Your heart? Shattered.
Your name? Stained.
Your wallet? Still responsible.

They call it “in the best interest of the child.”
A child she won’t even let you see...

Meanwhile, she smiles in silence.

Because she already won.

The lie worked.
The system backed her.
And society cheered her on.

You?
You’re on your fourth therapy.
And nobody clapped you for surviving.

Let’s talk facts.

80% of divorces are initiated by women.
1 in 3 DNA tests come back negative.
Thousands of men are behind bars - not for crime - but for not being able to keep up with court-mandated payments…
for children that might not even be theirs.

Let that marinate.

You lose your family … and they still blame you.

“She probably warned him.”
“He chose beauty, not brains.”
“He didn’t discern well enough.”

Really?

So when men of God...
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome,
Benny Hinn,
Kenneth Copeland...
end up separated or divorced…
they didn’t hear God?

They didn’t fast enough?
They didn’t have spiritual eyes?

Or maybe…
just maybe…
they married women who were experts at hiding their true nature.

Until one day - they woke up, and switched.

No warning.
No remorse.
Just “I’ve changed.”

Modern women don’t leave you for cheating.

They leave because your timeline expired.
You don't tickle their fancy and fantasy again.
You couldn’t afford the soft life package again.
So they 'cut their losses' & shoot for the streets.

You were good. But you weren’t enough.

Not rich enough.
Not fun enough.
Not trendy enough.

And now the kids are gone.
The house is quiet.
Your heart is tired.

And all you hear is:

“Real men fight for their families.”

As if you didn’t already bleed trying.

Let me be clear.

You can be a great father and still lose all.

Not because you didn’t love enough.
But because love doesn’t matter anymore.

Not if you’re a man.

Let the keypad warriors flood the comments.
Let the women say “not all of us.”
Let the deniers come swinging.

But the real men know.

They’ve lived it.
They’ve bled it.
They’ve buried it.

Say nothing and move on.

22/03/2025

A narcissist doesn't love anyone, they manipulate. They don't seek healing, just safe places to return to when things go left. They use their past as a crutch, expecting pity while repeating the same toxic cycles. You could pour every ounce of love into them, and they'd still have a backup plan. They chase attention for power, never feeling satisfied. In the end, they'll drain you mentally, leaving you empty while they move on like nothing happened.

20/03/2025

A narcissist mindset, that didn't happen, and if it did, it wasn't that bad, and if it was, it's not a big deal, and if it is, it's not my fault and if it was, I didn't mean it, and if I did, you made me do it.