Anna from The Fosters


In my post about God-narcissists and demon-narcissists, I used Anna from The Fosters (Alexandra Baretto) as an example of a demon-narcissist.

Demon-narcissists are how I describe narcissists who are disliked by most. They're pathetic, desperate, and an embarrassment to their family. They're the type of narcissists who will lie and manipulate their children in order to get money from them.

Anna is a addict who abandoned her twins when they were five. Later she pretends to want a relationship with them, and all along she just wanted money from them...so she could buy drugs.

BUT....

Now Anna has been clean/sober for a few months. She's working on the amends stage of the AA program.  It SEEMS that she might have actually changed.

It makes me wonder.  If a person is a narcissist/toxic person only when using, are they really a narcissist or toxic person?  Or is it just the drugs that make them that way?  Is their need to get high so strong that they'll do ANYTHING to get what they need even if it involves manipulation?

I'm also wondering, are all addicts that desperately manipulative?  Are there some addicts who manage to have standards?  Like, I'll steal to get high. But NOT from my own children!

If some addicts have lower standards and are more manipulative, could these manipulative traits be there before the addiction began and after they've become sober?  Could it simply take a more subtle and different form?

I guess basically what I'm wondering is if some people's narcissism/toxicity is situational and whether their behavior will improve once their situation changes.

The same goes for God-narcissists. These are narcissists, who despite their toxicity, are highly respected by the community. They're wealthy, powerful, charming, etc.  

Would they change if something forced them off their pedestal, and they came down to earth? What if they lost a huge chunk of their fortune?  Or what if they lost some of their prestige? 

For example, let's say a movie director is wealthy, winning awards, and very popular. He's THE big thing in Hollywood.  Everyone adores him.  Not only is he very creative and brilliant, but he's very fun and generous. Yet to members of his family, he's self-centered, arrogant, and manipulative.

If he starts making crap movies and the public loses interest in him, will he lose some of his toxic traits?  Or might he become even worse?

I guess the answer might partly depend on how he was before the fame. If he was non-toxic before; then it could be a simple matter of the fame going to his head.  If he was self-centered and manipulative before the fame; then the narcissism is probably just a permanent part of his personality.  

I think there are also cases where the God-state can actually make a narcissist somewhat less toxic.  Before the fame, they might have boosted their self-esteem by making others else feel small.  They might bully people in their life with cruel jokes, yelling, belittling, teasing, etc.  Then once they start gaining wealth and prestige, they might not need that bullying-self-esteem boost, because they're getting a boost from all the adoration from the public and community. 

Well...I shall see what happens with Anna.

I'm GUESSING her desire for redemption is genuine and not trickery. But I could be wrong.  

And what if Anna starts a YouTube channel about her struggles and it becomes very popular?  What if she has millions of subscribers and makes a ton of money?  Is there a chance she might transform into a God-narcissist?