Thank you for sharing C. M. Barrett. I can’t imagine what it’s like to grow up with a narcissistic father. The article is in response to the common critique of millennials being all about themselves and too narcissistic — a critique that I wished to explore and counter for a bit as a generational problem. The advent of social media and our common need for admiration at the expense of needing to have empathy for others makes us a “Me” generation on the surface level, but I always felt like it meant more than that.

Within the family structure, I’m far too familiar with how narcissism can destroy families as well. I have a well-intentioned relative who has pushed my brother and is trying to push me into the ground by forcing us to become doctors, even if we aren’t suited for it. The relative often uses anger and “look at everything I’ve done for you and you owe me” to coerce us into that direction in our lives — which I’m gradually becoming more and more free from.