Narcissism, 3rd Chakra and The Fitzgeralds

Read Nancy Milford's "Zelda" last night. Professor Milford wrote this biography of Zelda Fitzgerald as her master's thesis. Published in 1970, it was considered for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. I watched "Tender Is The Night" on TCM, and Robert Osborne discussed the dynamics of the Fitzgeralds' relationship, and mentioned the book as the single account that shed some light on Zelda's creativity and squashed potential, rather than Zelda as merely mentally ill, and poor F. Scott, struggling to maintain. Nancy Milford is a Michigan native and attended University of Michigan, so I got the book from the library. Milford's research is phenomenally well-structured, with plenty of anecdotal accounts of the history and life of the couple. The searing trajectory of F. Scott Fitzgerald + Zelda Sayre is too bright for mortal eyes, like a nova. Destined for greatness with mutual admission, the Fitzgeralds were interchangeably committed to implosion. I can't draw their sad fate, but I drew what I feel is the effect of an overperforming 3rd Chakra. Manipura, "Lustrous Gem" - its issues are personal power, self-esteem, willfullness and energy. Overshadowed is 2nd Chakra with its manifestation of creativity, emotion and relationships. Dimmed as well is 4th Chakra - acceptance, trust, compassion and love. Doubting, jealous, self-absorbed and deeply willful and energetic, the Fitzgeralds careened through the 20s and 30s, clutching for the keys to the kingdom they had imagined, and I wonder how different each life would have been without their fateful connection. Double helix of malfunctioning emotional DNA. Brilliant, creative and doomed.

Narcissism Undisordered

The American Psychiatric Association is considering dropping narcissism from its roster of personality disorders in DSM V, out in 2013. NPR's story reminds us what we read in the gossip columns is not really narcissism. NY Times article explains the rationale behind dropping 5 of 10 listed personality disorders. PsychCentral tells us that clinicians will still do the heavy therapeutic lifting for clinical cases. I believe the American Psychiatric Association will remove the 5 from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders because no one in their crowd can write a prescription to abate, cure, or influence any of the soon-to-be removed. Clinical cynical. Evidence the removal of "homosexuality" as a disorder in 1986. DSM's validity is marginal except to insurance companies, Big Pharma, and government pharmaceutical regulators (Phantom Pharma). Perhaps we'll see fewer prescriptions written off-script to "lessen the symptoms" of borderline personality disorder, narcissism, and the other 3. Remains to be seen how difficult getting a referral and medication assistance will be in 2013 and beyond. Meanwhile Kanye West, Snooki and their professional sports avatars can continue along the yellow brick road of self-acknowledged fabulousness.