BornAgainYogi
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Would really appreciate a break down of their differences so that I can better understand myself 
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Mental Health What's the diffrence between a healthy self confidence and grandiosity
- Thread starter BornAgainYogi
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silverwheel
Bluelighter
Well, a healthy self-confidence is always tempered by realism, which allows one to genuinely know their own failings and weaknesses. Grandiosity is when one's ego is inflated to the point that the person views others as inferior. Looking at others with disdain is a sign of grandiosity. A healthy self-confidence is much more subtle, and doesn't place the self as superior to others.
This is a question which is hard to parse out the answer to. Doctors tend to err on the side of caution.
I've been in a position wherein I (in retrospect) believe I had maybe a bit of hypo-mania, but the depression was much worse. The doctor didn't see the depression because I covered it up due to not trusting medical professionals (at that time). She prescribed me depakote, which is a mood-stabilizer (it's kind of a fad these days as to how much they prescribe it) that works almost entirely for mania, not depression.
The result is that I became maybe a bit less anxious, but that was overwhelmed by a feeling of increased depression. I have no doubt that it's a very good medication for many, just not for me. It took me opening up a little by saying that it made things okay on the outside, but not the inside, for her to prescribe something that more targeted my symptoms.
I think most would agree that being able to listen to people, and more so, to entertain a conversation with others which partially centers on their experience, is both a sign of beneficial self-confidence and throws grandiosity into doubt. In a general sense, people who are grandiose throw themselves in the spotlight as much as they can. Importantly, though, grandiosity doesn't always feel good. There are plenty of schizophrenics who would rather not believe that they're a target of an advanced governmental operation, who would choose (given the option) that they wouldn't hear people talking about them all the time.
I think self-confidence is a tricky thing to master for people with mental health issues. They're already stigmatized by society. They may be more prone to trying less to succeed because they have an extra issue to deal with which most people don't have to face. They usually have to deal with more environmental stresses than others.
I've been in a position wherein I (in retrospect) believe I had maybe a bit of hypo-mania, but the depression was much worse. The doctor didn't see the depression because I covered it up due to not trusting medical professionals (at that time). She prescribed me depakote, which is a mood-stabilizer (it's kind of a fad these days as to how much they prescribe it) that works almost entirely for mania, not depression.
The result is that I became maybe a bit less anxious, but that was overwhelmed by a feeling of increased depression. I have no doubt that it's a very good medication for many, just not for me. It took me opening up a little by saying that it made things okay on the outside, but not the inside, for her to prescribe something that more targeted my symptoms.
I think most would agree that being able to listen to people, and more so, to entertain a conversation with others which partially centers on their experience, is both a sign of beneficial self-confidence and throws grandiosity into doubt. In a general sense, people who are grandiose throw themselves in the spotlight as much as they can. Importantly, though, grandiosity doesn't always feel good. There are plenty of schizophrenics who would rather not believe that they're a target of an advanced governmental operation, who would choose (given the option) that they wouldn't hear people talking about them all the time.
I think self-confidence is a tricky thing to master for people with mental health issues. They're already stigmatized by society. They may be more prone to trying less to succeed because they have an extra issue to deal with which most people don't have to face. They usually have to deal with more environmental stresses than others.
herbavore
Bluelight Crew
I think it is quite simple: grandiosity is seeing yourself as superior to others whereas a solid self-esteem is seeing yourself and others as human beings that encompass all the strengths and weaknesses that human beings are capable of. In other words it is a strong sense of self based on commonality rather than a hierarchy of judgments in which you place yourself on top. Grandiosity might include denying your own failures and missteps whereas self-confidence allows you to put them in perspective, have compassion and humor when you observe your actions and the ability to forgive yourself and move on, having learned something.
Dresden
Bluelighter
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- Feb 2, 2010
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There's a fine line between the two. Also, it's a subjective assessment. Generally, grandiosity involves thinking you are better than you really are while solid self-esteem refers to recognizing your own, real and good traits, whatever they may be (and we all have at least a few!).
What then about intentional visualization, where you say to yourself "I am confident" or whatever it is that you wish to reach.. imagine yourself there already so you become it? Someone might not be confident, or rich, or famous, or some kind of goal ahead of them.. and no one else may see their potential.. but they may end up reaching it in the end. Or they might not due to circumstances beyond their control. Either way, is one more grandiose in their thinking than the other, due to final outcomes?
If no one ever believed they could be or do more than they are, we wouldn't get very far! My favourite man, Nikola Tesla, believed something about himself and his own invention, was told it was impossible.. extremely grandiose thinking.. but he was actually right, and proved it so. So even in terms of realism.. what he proposed at the time was deemed impossible. Yet he did it and changed the world.
In the terms we're discussing I think grandiosity has more in common with blind arrogance.