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You dread Monday mornings. Your stomach knots before meetings with your supervisor. You've started questioning your competence despite years of solid performance. Maybe it's just a personality clash, you tell yourself. Maybe you're being too sensitive. But deep down, you wonder if what you're experiencing at work goes beyond normal workplace stress.

If you've been living with a phobia, you've probably become an expert at avoidance. You take the stairs instead of the elevator, you decline invitations that might involve dogs, or you structure your entire life to prevent encountering spiders. Avoidance feels protective, it keeps you safe from panic and overwhelming fear. But here's the uncomfortable truth: avoidance isn't keeping you safe. It's keeping you stuck.

We've all encountered someone who seems excessively self-focused or heard the term "narcissist" thrown around casually. But understanding narcissism goes far deeper than labeling someone who takes too many selfies or talks about themselves frequently. The difference between self-esteem and narcissism is nuanced, and recognizing where healthy self-confidence ends and concerning patterns begin can be crucial for both self-awareness and navigating relationships.