Megalomania

Generality

Megalomania is a psychopathological manifestation characterized by an exaggerated appreciation of oneself and one's abilities.
The megalomaniac subject typically assumes attitudes of superiority, tends to excel and undertakes to carry out feats that are disproportionate to his own strength.

Megalomania is an expression of a pathological desire to feel worthy of admiration in the eyes of the people with whom you establish relationships. Contrary to what appears, these subjects hide an extreme fragility.
A useful approach to overcome this attitude is psychotherapy.

Causes

In some cases, megalomania originates from a conflictual relationship with self-image; this can manifest itself from "childhood" due to exposure to very negative judgments, accompanied by derision, contempt or compassion of others. The megalomania would be, therefore, a sort of shield with respect to the negative image that the subject has of himself, determined by low self-esteem and profound insecurity.
At other times, self-exaltation depends on a conception of individual greatness that torments the megalomaniac and may arise as a consequence of too high expectations from the reference models.
Megalomania can be a symptom of paranoid and manic disorders. In most cases, however, there are no real underlying pathologies, but character tendencies towards arrogance and the will to impose one's own image and thought in an authoritarian way.

How it manifests itself

Megalomania manifests itself with the conception of considering oneself at all costs superior to any other person. This induces the subject who suffers from it to seek confirmation of his own qualities in others; the direct consequence of this attitude is the will not to accept or oppose anyone who has talent or who demonstrates an "intelligence close to" the idealized image.
The megalomaniac also lives in a state of permanent manic excess, that is, of exasperated enthusiasm and an "exaggerated self-esteem. This behavior makes him presumptuous, arrogant, selfish and exhibitionist.
In reality, the megalomaniac has very low self-esteem and is vulnerable to the slightest criticism. If the level of stress increases, he can easily have a depressive breakdown and run into a state of inertia or, on the contrary, can manifest a tendency to challenge the world (manic hyperactivity).
Over time, megalomania can determine a distance between the reality of the surrounding world and the subject, who loses the right measure of the values ​​of people, things and their actions.

Diagnosis and treatment

On the diagnostic level, the megalomaniac has both histrionic and narcissistic personality traits.
The histrionic does everything to attract attention to himself and gain the admiration of others, while the narcissist has an inordinate self-esteem and considers himself an extraordinary individual.
Megalomania can be treated with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.
The aim of this intervention is to investigate the origins of this attitude and understand where the conception of the negative self-image derives from.
Psychotherapy will also have to address the defense mechanisms that can arise in opposition to grandiosity, such as the state of inertia or manic hyperactivity. Finally, the treatment will have to resolve the subject's deep-rooted dependence on the opinion of others, helping him to overcome the conflict between the social image visible to others and the internalized one which coincides with his identity.
Furthermore, according to the specific needs of the patient, the doctor may indicate a drug treatment based on antidepressants or mood stabilizers. If the subject is the victim of delusional ideas, however, antipsychotics may be prescribed.