WELLNESS – If you spend any amount of time in Los Angeles, someone will eventually drop the word “narcissist” like it’s a personality diagnosis they’ve personally handed out to half the city. It’s a word that gets tossed around in coffee shops, therapy sessions, friend group texts, and yeah—probably a few podcasts you didn’t ask to be sent. But here’s the twist: what if the rise in narcissistic traits isn’t about ego inflation, but emotional survival?
L.A. isn’t some breeding ground for self-obsession. It’s a city of people trying hard to be okay in a culture that often rewards performance over authenticity. Look a little closer and you’ll see that narcissism—at least the kind most people are actually dealing with—often masks deep anxiety, unresolved trauma, and a fear of not being good enough without a spotlight. What’s showing up as self-centeredness might actually be someone trying to hold it together in a city built on standing out.
Los Angeles Is Built on Performance, But That’s Not the Whole Story…