Kick Narcissism to the Curb: Be Nice and Live Longer

Gordon Gekko (Wall Street). Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men). Patrick Bateman (American Psycho). Jean Dujardin (The Artist -- a great film, and pay attention to the dog; he’s the real hero).

What do these characters have in common? They’re grandiose, feel entitled and can’t empathize with others (narcissists through and through). They’re also on the fast track for heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and the doghouse -- not to mention divorce court.

Narcissistic men crank out a lot of the stress hormone cortisol. (Surprisingly, that’s not true of narcissistic women.) Unchecked, that chemical messenger -- FLEE! FIGHT! -- wreaks havoc on the body and relationships. But you can rein it in and avoid the mess it creates. Find out how changing your mood can help shrink belly fat.

Here are three ways to manage stress and limit narcissism damage:

• Drink tea. No kidding. A daily dose helps your body recover from stress and cools health problems. Certain compounds in tea (e.g., polyphenols, flavonoids, amino acids) calm you down. Discover the many health benefits of tea.
• Change shoes. Choose someone you know (but don’t much like) and imagine being this person. Run through his day and try to see the world through his eyes. If you can empathize, you're not acting like a narcissist, and that helps you manage your stress.
• Get nicely nosy. Personal connections relieve stress, so think about what you don’t know about someone close to you -- then fire away. Ask questions; then listen and absorb. When you aren’t thinking about your grand self, your stress diminishes big time. Here's how socializing can also help you live longer.

Ward off narcissism with these 11 steps for a happier, healthier, less-stressed you..