Do you have an overinflated sense of your own importance? Do you feel that you’re better than everyone else, and have next to no shame about it?

If so, you’d probably be pegged as a “grandiose narcissist” and considered the most obnoxious person in the room.

Resilience against depression

But three British studies now suggest that some amount of narcissism may not be such a bad thing. Why? Because it confers a degree of mental toughness that can be empowering and protective in the face of criticism and self-doubt.

“This work suggests that at least some aspects of narcissism may help individuals to show resilience against certain types of psychopathology, namely, symptoms of depression and perceived stress,” explained Kostas Papageorgiou, the lead author of the new studies.

“Grandiose narcissism appears to correlate positively with healthy self-esteem and extraversion,” added Papageorgiou, an assistant professor in the school of psychology at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

And the bottom line, he said, is an enhanced ability to stay positive, focus on goals, and get things done.

Papageorgiou and his colleagues discuss the results of their three narcissism studies in both Personality and Individual Differences and European Psychiatry.

In total, the studies included roughly 700 participants, at an average age of between 22 and 25.

Degrees of narcissism

All completed questionnaires designed to gauge narcissistic tendencies, mental toughness and stress. Participants were also ranked for more than one type of narcissism.

For example, just as a certain degree of grandiose narcissism is universal, so is “vulnerable narcissism”. But the vulnerable version is rooted in insecurity and feelings of defensiveness that can drive an individual to view the behaviour of others as hostile and threatening.

Having a high level of vulnerable narcissism was not linked to greater mental toughness or a greater ability to develop a bulletproof defence against criticism and depression. Having a relatively high degree of grandiose narcissism was.

But is indulging your narcissistic tendencies the only, or the best, way to achieve success and stave off depression?

Papageorgiou emphasised that his studies did not focus on extreme grandiose narcissism, or a clinical condition known as “narcissistic personality disorder”. Instead, “aspects of the personality trait of narcissism that appear on a spectrum” were studied.

But he agreed that toxic narcissism does not necessarily trump “healthy” self-esteem as “the way to go in most social situations”.

Variety of strategies

“Self-enhancement in the form of narcissism may be a more effective when facing a real challenge,” Papageorgiou added. “To give you an example, people would more often walk than run. Sometimes, though, walking won’t do the trick and running is the preferred option. The idea here is that people need to be flexible. They need to walk when they do not have to run, but be able to run when they have to.”

James Maddux, a professor emeritus of clinical psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, reviewed the studies and agreed. He argued that “there are a variety of strategies for preventing and dealing with depression, including changing the way people think about themselves, the world and relationships.

“I don’t think that the authors of these studies are suggesting that people should strive to be more narcissistic as a way of preventing depression, but only that the personality trait that we call narcissism includes some characteristics that may lower the risk of depression,” Maddux said.

The key is that “people high, but not too high, in narcissism also have high self-esteem”. Why? Because “depression is largely a ‘disorder’ of self-esteem,” Maddux said. Folks who struggle with depression often feel they’re worthless, no one cares about them and they can’t do anything right.

“So, having high self-esteem naturally makes someone less likely to experience depression,” noted Maddux, who is also a senior scholar at Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

The upshot, he said, is that in measured doses the mental toughness that narcissism breeds can be an asset that helps people “roll with life punches and recover from them relatively quickly”.

^{Image credit: iStock}

There was once a wheelchair basketball team in Botshabelo, Free State, but it collapsed after allegations that the managers misused money which was received from private donors, government and competitions.

Thabo Ntsoeu believes all wheelchair-bound persons must be active by being involved in sporting activities rather than being inactive at home.

“We must stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start enjoying life even in a wheelchair,” he says.

Speaking at this years’ Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital Sports Day, Musa Dlamini who plays for the country’s national team AmaWheelaBoys, challenged disabled people to be active in sporting codes of their choice. “When you are disabled it does not mean you cannot do anything; you can do sports which can even take you overseas,” he says. 

During the interview with OurHealth, a resilient Ntsoeu insisted on showing off some of his basketball skills like how to pick up the ball from the floor. With a smile on his face, he borrows a ball from Kabelo Molehe who is the Mpintshi for physical fitness at Botshabelo LoveLife Y Centre, he begins to block the ball on the floor against the rear wheel of his wheelchair with the right hand and then wheels on with the left hand.

As the wheelchair moves forward, the wheel turns with the ball thus lifting it from the ground until he can put it on his lap with ease. Young people who watch him are amazed and applaud. “Our life has not ended here in the wheelchair; there are a lot of opportunities out there waiting to be explored,” he says.

How NGOs cope 

Edu-Hope Africa Foundation has just started training 300 non-governmental organisations in Botshabelo to improve their administration so that they comply with all the requirements when making applications for funding.

Molefe Letuka from Edu-Hope Africa says they also train non-governmental organisations (NGO) directors in various business opportunities so that they can have income without collapsing the organisations. “In the next six months we will be making sure that the organisations comply with requirements and that nobody will say they cannot help NGOs in Botshabelo because they are not complying,” she says. 

Palesa Lephephelo, the founding director of Amohelang Lesedi, a non-profit organisation (NPO), says they use their own funds to support their organisation. “We prioritise the people that we serve to the extent of using our family resources to do the work of the NGO, but I am glad to know of other business opportunities that will generate income for us because working with the community is a burdening task,” she says.

While Ntsoeu has recruited enough wheelchair basketball players, his biggest challenge remains to source sponsorship for athletic wheelchairs, playing kits, and basketball balls. Athletic wheelchairs are custom made to fit an individual and this makes it very expensive.

– Health-e

Teboho Setlofane

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The coldest chemical reaction in the known universe took place in what appears to be a chaotic mess of lasers. The appearance deceives: Deep within that painstakingly organized chaos, in temperatures millions of times colder than interstellar space, Kang-Kuen Ni achieved a feat of precision. Forcing two ultracold molecules to meet and react, she broke and formed the coldest bonds in the history of molecular couplings.

From sitting over a pot of boiling water to steam the vagina, to sticking jade eggs you-know-where, “wellness” trends involving the genitals don’t seem to want to die. Now, there’s another one to add to that list: “perineum sunning.”

Yes, you heard that right. In recent months, the new “self-care” method—aka “butthole sunning”—has started to gain momentum, mostly thanks to a few social media influencers whose photos and videos have gone viral.

Apparently, an Instagram video by user @ra_of_earth came first in October, showing three completely nude men lying down on their backs, butts to the sky, to soak up some rays.

“In a mere 30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole, you will receive more energy from this electric node than you would in an entire day being outside with your clothes on,” he said in the video.

RELATED: 5 Things You Definitely Should Not Be Doing to Your Vagina

Then came another backside sun worshipper, @metaphysicalmeagen, who shared a photo of herself perineum sunning later in October.

“Perineum sunning is an ancient Taoist practice that originated in the Far East,” she wrote in the Instagram post, explaining that in the religion, the perineum (or Hui Yin) is called the “Gate of Life and Death” and “is a gateway where energy enters & exits the body.”

According to Meagan, the benefits of perineum sunning are extensive. She says it “strengthens the organs,” “sustains health & longevity,” “aids in a healthy libido & balanced sexual energy,” and can promote “better sleep,” among other things.

“My experience with perineum sunning has been profound,” she claims. “I have been practicing this for a few months now. I start my day with 5 minutes of perineum sunning & feel energized for hours. I no longer rely on coffee for energy to start my day because I am getting my energy from the sun. I also am experiencing better sleep and require less sleep due to boost of overall energy.”

Um, “perineum sunning” can’t be safe…right?

So, just a super-quick clarification: Your perineum is the super-thin area of skin and tissue between your vagina (or, in men, the penis) and the anus—and no, you definitely shouldn’t be exposing it to sun light, according to those with actual medical degrees.

“As a dermatologist, I cannot recommend any sun exposure without sun protection,” Nazanin Saedi, MD, Director, Jefferson Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology Center, tells Health.com. “These areas just like other areas of the body do need sun protection and clothing tends to provide that.”

RELATED: 5 Signs of Skin Cancer Other Than an Abnormal Mole

David E. Bank, MD, founder of Mount Kisco's The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, takes it a step further: “It’s actually dangerous,” he explains. “This skin is particularly sensitive.” Over time, it could result in an increased risk of skin cancer, he adds.

Both physicians point out that there is no scientific evidence to support this behavior promotes and sort of wellbeing—which can be attained through other safer options like “relaxing, meditation, and mindfulness,” says Dr. Saedi.

And if you’re truly worried about your vitamin D intake, you may want to consider taking a vitamin—not totally exposing yourself to the sun. "The recommended amount of vitamin D is easy to get from a healthy diet or supplements," Anna Karp, DO, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health, tells Health.

Overall though, definitely keep your bottoms on when you’re out in the sun—for your sake, and honestly, the sake of others.

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Health's series This Is Me is about owning who you are and defying ridiculous societal expectations of beauty. We're not here to meet your standards, we're here to break them. Show us how beautiful you are! Tag us on Instagram: @healthmagazine  #ThisIsMe 

Janira Obregon has spent her entire life proving that just because she uses a wheelchair, her drive to reach her goals and dreams shouldn't be underestimated. 

The 23-year-old from New York has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, which means she has difficulty using all four of her limbs. The condition might sound like a setback. But Obregon has succeeded at pretty much everything she's set her sights on, including modeling—she's now a model at the We Speak Model Management. Here, she talks to Health about her journey so far. 

At six months old, Obregon was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, after her mother noticed she wasn't developing the way other babies her age were supposed to. Relying on a wheelchair for mobility, she attended a school for children with special needs until high school, when she decided to switch to a public high school. 

RELATED: How This Woman Quit Being Self-Conscious of Her Cerebral Palsy: ‘I Used to Hide Away’

"When I got to high school, I went to a local high school because I wanted to get my diploma like any regular student," says Obregon. "So I kind of had to work harder and go the extra mile to get my high school diploma. And despite everything, I graduated in the top four of my class."

After getting the accommodations she needed in college, she excelled in all her classes and even made the National Honor Society. But one of her proudest moments came when she realized the difference she could make by changing the perception of disabled people. 

RELATED: This Video of a 4-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Walking on Her Own for the First Time Will Make Your Day

"I had a teacher in one of my classes who apologized at the end of one of the semesters because he said he underestimated me and didn’t know how much a person with disabilities could succeed the way I did," she says. "With his apology, it really made me realize that I could change someone’s thoughts and views on people with disabilities."

With that, Obregon began looking for ways represent others with disabilities—and the perfect opportunity found her. In 2017, an agency called Runway of Dreams reached out ot her about doing a photo shoot. The organization advocates for people with disabilities in the fashion industry, and Obregon was excited about the opportunity to get involved. 

After her shoot, the organization reached out again and asked her about participating in their New York Fashion Week show in September 2018. Obregon landed a spot on Nike's runway, modeling their adaptive clothing line. This was her first time on the runway, and it set her on the model track she's on today. 

"Growing up, I never saw other kids like me in such events, or movies, magazines, etc," she says. "I'm glad I get to be a model, to show that people with disabilities can do anything we set our minds to."

RELATED: This Underwear Model Posing in a Wheelchair Is Breaking Stereotypes and We Couldn't Be Happier

Obregon currently works with We Speak Model Management, an agency that represents models of all sizes, shapes, and backgrounds. Her current goal is to continue to grow in the modeling industry and encourage people to accept different types of beauty.

"When someone sees a model who looks like them, they’re not just seeing a model, they’re seeing a part of themselves," says Obregon. "They see possibilities for their future in a world that’s saying yes, we want you here. You are wanted. Representation is important. And it’s why modeling is so essential to me."

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