# EP 24: Not Everyone Is a Narcissist: Personality Traits Are Not Diagnoses Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-24-not-everyone-is-a-narcissist-personality-traits-are-not-diagnoses Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-24-not-everyone-is-a-narcissist-personality-traits-are-not-diagnoses.md Podcast: [Breaking Cycles with Maria](https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238) Published: 2026-01-29T13:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://breaking-up-with-toxicity.captivate.fm Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5febd2b5-1d8d-4020-a5f8-e255c9567a86.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/episodes/ep-24-not-everyone-is-a-narcissist-personality-traits-are-not-diagnoses Duration seconds: 655 ## Resource Narcissist. Borderline. Toxic. But here’s the problem— personality traits are being confused with personality disorders , and that confusion is costing people clarity, peace, and the ability to respond accurately in their relationships. In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , licensed mental health counselor Maria Shkreli breaks down the real difference between personality traits and personality disorders , using clear, real-life examples from romantic relationships, families, and everyday interactions. You’ll learn: What personality traits actually are and how they show up under stress What makes a personality disorder fundamentally different Why clinically diagnosed personality disorders are far less common than social media suggests How mislabeling people can keep you stuck—or push you to leave too fast The key question that helps you tell the difference between discomfort and danger This episode isn’t about diagnosing anyone. It’s about discernment, nuance, and understanding what you’re actually dealing with —so you stop outsourcing clarity to the internet. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re overreacting, minimizing something serious, or trying to fix something that was never flexible to begin with, this episode is for you. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace therapy, diagnosis, or professional mental health treatment. Content discussed does not constitute clinical assessment or diagnosis of any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional support for their own circumstances. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/episodes/ep-24-not-everyone-is-a-narcissist-personality-traits-are-not-diagnoses/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/breaking-up-with-toxicity-6618238/ep-24-not-everyone-is-a-narcissist-personality-traits-are-not-diagnoses.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.