Autism, Borderline, Narcissism: Some Similarities and Differences

Comorbidities and Differential Diagnoses playlist There is an affinity between low functioning autism and borderline personality disorder. In both cases, the sufferer is overwhelmed by stimuli, external (autism) or internal (the borderline’s dysregulated affects). In both cases, self-harm serves to fulfill three self-soothing functions: 1. Reassert control over the dynamic of irritation and aggravation (via the elective act of self-mutilation); 2. Drown out sources of frustration and pain with even greater agony; and 3. Reawaken and feel alive as the self-inflicted hurt negates the erstwhile numbing. The narcissist experiences periods of collapse: failure to obtain narcissistic supply. The collapse can be subclinical (protracted and incremental as barely sufficient maintenance levels of supply are at hand) or traumatic (when he loses all his sources of supply sim