Forums › Life › Health & Medicine › Sociopathy/Psychopathy
First of all a request; if it isn’t too much trouble Doctor B would it be possible to add a sub forum of ‘Mental Health’ to the Health and Medicine forum? Just there seems to be a few threads on depression and what not and I think really these sort of things are a separate topic. Just my opinion though and no worries if you lack the time or motivation to do so.
So I’m having a really tough time with my mental health in general at the moment but predominantly with my sociopathic traits. To be blunt I’m not only thinking of hurting myself but also others, and these urges seem to be growing stronger by the day. I’ll spare the detail but I’m having very dark thoughts that I’m unable to control. The doctors aren’t acting very efficiently or don’t recognise the severity of it so I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the topic to try and gauge just how sociopathic I actually am. Unsurprisingly this has proven inconclusive but thought provoking.
Firstly I learnt what the debatable difference is between a sociopath and a psychopath; two personality disorders that appear so similar most people don’t differentiate. The main difference that stood out to me is that psychopaths are born the way they are i.e. genetics and sociopaths become what they are due to nurture and environmental factors. Though I believe this is just the general consensus amongst clinicians and not proven fact it is what has drawn me to the conclusion my traits are sociopathic not psychopathic; however considering the end result it makes little difference as to why I am this way. The other key point of difference I noted was that psychopaths feel no emotional connection with anyone; although they are often exceptionally good at acting otherwise, whereas sociopaths can become emotionally attached to people but only because the relationship benefits them. This is so true of me but once a relationship/individual provides me with nothing positive I sever the connection. I’ve done this all my life on a subconscious level and feel a total cunt to only realise this now. So many friends have I fucked off just because they’ve started to bore me or I simply couldn’t be arsed with anymore. I’ve also done this to all my family bar my brother (this I was aware of because various relatives send festive cards and presents to which I feel no appreciation for and only wonder why and rarely return the good will). Always thought it was more of an abandonment issue but this makes more sense considering some of my other symptoms.
The more I read on the topic though it seems to answer one question only to replace it by another; I guess this is the nature of trying to understand the complexities of the human brain. To some degree I appear almost undeniably sociopathic whilst also maintaining some traits that are unquestionably non-sociopathic. It’s all rather confusing.:crazy_diz:
The key component of both disorders however appears to be the inability to feel or lack of empathy and guilt. Something that I’m indecisive on how much this affects me. I mean I feel guilt and shame when I harm those whom I care about but I literally couldn’t care less about the suffering of those who I have no connection with. Yet I spent 6 years supporting adults with Autism in a tenancy living and really enjoyed the job. I didn’t like all the people I was hired to support but always did my job. Would this have been possible if I was really a sociopath? This made me think are there varying degrees of sociopathy or is it something you either are or aren’t? There doesn’t seem to be much information on that. Back to the lack of empathy, far from the only example but the most recent is the Boston bombings; I see everybody else saying how shocking it is and offering condolences but I feel no emotion negative or positive to the victims. If anything I am often able to empathise with the perpetrator of such heinous acts; although not in this particular instance.
Judge me if you will but I just wanted to express this more than actually start any kind of debate. Unless there are other socio/psychopaths on this forum I imagine it would be hard to understand my position; or perhaps not as you can probably empathise better than I lol.
Also if nobody had noticed I’m using my , and ; almost at random because I’m not actually entirely sure when you’re meant to use each. An unforgivable flaw for a grammar Nazi I know. Is ; for when whatever subject matter follows the ; closely relates to the information prior the ;? and , simply to punctuate and take a breath during a long sentence? Pretty certain I could have worded that in a way that didn’t read totally retarded but meh.
Fucking hell mate, you’re going through the mill a bit ain’t ya?
I’m no expert on these matters by a long shot, but I would say try not to get caught up in all this doctor bullshit where they try to pigeon-hole shit and give everything a label. That’s just cos the lazy cunts can’t be bothered to do any real work and get to the root of a problem, far easier to label people and send ’em away with some heavy medication so they don’t get bothered again. Like I say, I’m no expert, but that’s the way it seems to me.
Personally I tend not to bother with semi-colons by the way, they’re just an unnecessary extra in the grammar world!
All the best pal, hope things pick up for ya real soon 🙂
@MC G-Tek 541890 wrote:
Fucking hell mate, you’re going through the mill a bit ain’t ya?
I’m no expert on these matters by a long shot, but I would say try not to get caught up in all this doctor bullshit where they try to pigeon-hole shit and give everything a label. That’s just cos the lazy cunts can’t be bothered to do any real work and get to the root of a problem, far easier to label people and send ’em away with some heavy medication so they don’t get bothered again. Like I say, I’m no expert, but that’s the way it seems to me.
Personally I tend not to bother with semi-colons by the way, they’re just an unnecessary extra in the grammar world!
All the best pal, hope things pick up for ya real soon 🙂
I know tell me about it. Think the technical term for what’s happening to me is ‘tits up’.
Well mental health in general is an interest of mine beyond my own afflictions so I tend to research this kind of stuff anyway mate. Don’t have schizophrenia or autism but know a fair bit on them too. Tend to find anything outside the ‘norm’ interesting to be honest.
Well that’s it, the doctors aren’t sure what treatment is most appropriate so trying to figure it out myself lol. I’m on a waiting list for CBT therapy but I know that won’t help me manage all my problems so trying to get an idea of what else may be appropriate to go along side that. It’s proving problematic to display how much I feel I need this additional help without actually going son of Sam or Night Stalker on someone’s ass though. Told them I’m not happy with the prescribed Depakote too as I can’t be waiting months for it to maybe take effect.
I really feel like all I’ve done is bloody whinge on this forum recently. I’m getting sick of myself lol.
@The Psyentist 541896 wrote:
I know tell me about it. Think the technical term for what’s happening to me is ‘tits up’.
Well mental health in general is an interest of mine beyond my own afflictions so I tend to research this kind of stuff anyway mate. Don’t have schizophrenia or autism but know a fair bit on them too. Tend to find anything outside the ‘norm’ interesting to be honest.
Well that’s it, the doctors aren’t sure what treatment is most appropriate so trying to figure it out myself lol. I’m on a waiting list for CBT therapy but I know that won’t help me manage all my problems so trying to get an idea of what else may be appropriate to go along side that. It’s proving problematic to display how much I feel I need this additional help without actually going son of Sam or Night Stalker on someone’s ass though. Told them I’m not happy with the prescribed Depakote too as I can’t be waiting months for it to maybe take effect.
I really feel like all I’ve done is bloody whinge on this forum recently. I’m getting sick of myself lol.
Fuck it mate, if you’re telling us your troubles on here and that stops you going all Richard Ramirez, then that’s surely a better thing to do man. Whinging – hey, at least it’s not murder! LOL!
@MC G-Tek 541899 wrote:
Fuck it mate, if you’re telling us your troubles on here and that stops you going all Richard Ramirez, then that’s surely a better thing to do man. Whinging – hey, at least it’s not murder! LOL!
LOL, nice comparison. Sounds like a slogan to go on a t-shirt. Out of the context of this thread though it would just seem random. It’s true though, I find even when nobody responds to my posts expressing myself on PV helps a lot. TBH just writing my feelings down and seeing them in black and white helps me understand and process them better. I could probably just keep a private log instead of publicising my madness but meh, some may find it interesting. Even if that some is a psychological profiler for the criminally insane after I do finally crack lol.
Edit: Life isn’t the same without RT jokes
An additional thought, I’m into my older women but didn’t Richard Ramirez indulge in necrophilic antics with women 80+? I have to draw the line somewhere before that.
I was under the impression that psychopaths tend to be a lot less restrained/angry than sociopaths.
Sociopath Vs. Psychopath: There is a Difference – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com Towards the bottom it has a list of the different characteristics. Have a read and see what you think. I would always advise against self-diagnosis because you can read a list of characteristics you have an instantly think you might have a disorder of some kind. I know a lot of people who do that and I don’t think it’s too good for you.
As for semicolons, you can use them within lists that are separated with parenthetic commas (For example, if I were to list a bunch of cities: London, England; Paris, France; and New York, USA,) for for closely related independent clauses that aren’t joined with a conjunction, such as “A man chooses; a slave obeys.”
Commas are normally used otherwise.
@barrettone 541916 wrote:
I was under the impression that psychopaths tend to be a lot less restrained/angry than sociopaths.
Sociopath Vs. Psychopath: There is a Difference – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com Towards the bottom it has a list of the different characteristics. Have a read and see what you think. I would always advise against self-diagnosis because you can read a list of characteristics you have an instantly think you might have a disorder of some kind. I know a lot of people who do that and I don’t think it’s too good for you.
As for semicolons, you can use them within lists that are separated with parenthetic commas (For example, if I were to list a bunch of cities: London, England; Paris, France; and New York, USA,) for for closely related independent clauses that aren’t joined with a conjunction, such as “A man chooses; a slave obeys.”
Commas are normally used otherwise.
Slightly confused by your first comment. Psychopaths less restrained/angry? Anyway to clarify sociopaths are more likely to fly into a blind rage or behave spontaneously based on emotion, psychopaths will be very disciplined and controlled in their actions/less likely to respond directly to emotion. Already read that Yahoo article mate, amongst others and few things from text books. I know it’s easy to develop confirmation bias when looking for these sorts of answers and run the risk of sounding like a hypochondriac but I’m extremely self aware and constantly questioning myself. I don’t just read a single statement and go that’s me; plenty of research is done. But thank you anyway.
Cheers for clearing up the colon/semi colon thing though, how was Brazil btw? Or are you still there?
Oh yeah I messed it up. I meant in the sense that psychopaths tend to be more impulsive (as in less restrained) but quicker to anger/use violence. Sociopaths are more manipulative.
In any case it might be warranted to see a psychologist to talk about what’s been going on. Or at the very least a close mate who knows you well enough. Venting and getting advice on how to proceed is probably helpful and you’re doing well here, but people on a forum will be of limited assistance as we don’t know you personally.
Brazil’s pretty good so far. I’ve got another couple of weeks left before I have to go back. It’s nice to have the sun shining and a temperature of 20 degrees every morning.
@barrettone 542061 wrote:
Oh yeah I messed it up. I meant in the sense that psychopaths tend to be more impulsive (as in less restrained) but quicker to anger/use violence. Sociopaths are more manipulative.
In any case it might be warranted to see a psychologist to talk about what’s been going on. Or at the very least a close mate who knows you well enough. Venting and getting advice on how to proceed is probably helpful and you’re doing well here, but people on a forum will be of limited assistance as we don’t know you personally.
Brazil’s pretty good so far. I’ve got another couple of weeks left before I have to go back. It’s nice to have the sun shining and a temperature of 20 degrees every morning.
I’m already seeing a psychiatrist mate and I’ve not disclosed anything on PV that my medical team aren’t aware of. You guys actually seem like more tentative listeners though, and a lot of it is just self expression. As I said in an above post I find it easier to deal with my issues sometimes when they’re written in front of me. Spoken word can be difficult to arrange into anything meaningful sometimes if that makes any sense, or rather I can see what I’ve written is a better way of putting it. Any responses be it positive or negative are appreciated but I don’t mind if I’m ignored. As you can see from tonight I’m apt at talking to myself lol
@The Psyentist 542070 wrote:
I’m already seeing a psychiatrist mate and I’ve not disclosed anything on PV that my medical team aren’t aware of. You guys actually seem like more tentative listeners though, and a lot of it is just self expression. As I said in an above post I find it easier to deal with my issues sometimes when they’re written in front of me. Spoken word can be difficult to arrange into anything meaningful sometimes if that makes any sense, or rather I can see what I’ve written is a better way of putting it. Any responses be it positive or negative are appreciated but I don’t mind if I’m ignored. As you can see from tonight I’m apt at talking to myself lol
Fair enough man. I wish I could be of more use, especially since I think I sometimes suffer the same problems you do. But I’ve approached the problem from many angles and haven’t quite worked out the best way to tackle it yet.
@barrettone 542085 wrote:
Fair enough man. I wish I could be of more use, especially since I think I sometimes suffer the same problems you do. But I’ve approached the problem from many angles and haven’t quite worked out the best way to tackle it yet.
The problem with mental health is that there are far more problems that can occur in the human brain than information we understand about it to explain all these problems so a lot of the time the explanations we do have are repeated for different conditions.
@The Psyentist 542089 wrote:
The problem with mental health is that there are far more problems that can occur in the human brain than information we understand about it to explain all these problems so a lot of the time the explanations we do have are repeated for different conditions.
Yeah. One of the many downsides of the fact that the brain is a very poorly understood (comparitively) organ. But at least it’s a fascinating thing.
@barrettone 542091 wrote:
Yeah. One of the many downsides of the fact that the brain is a very poorly understood (comparitively) organ. But at least it’s a fascinating thing.
Indeed it is. Kind of ironic how the very tool we use for learning is the part of our body we have the least knowledge of.
This looks like a fascinating thread and I will return to it for a detailed read… but one thing leapt into my brain straighaway. It’s not just YOU mate. It’s everybody.
Depression rates are up year on year for the past 4 years. Gee, must be like the increased prices on food, fuel, the reduced benefits and services, and to top it all, a bunch of ex-Bullingdon Club pupils sneering at everybody else from on high;-
Depression rates rise – Health – News – London Evening Standard
Put it this way – you are either part of the problem, or you are part of the solution to the problem.
0
Voices
13
Replies
Tags
This topic has no tags
Forums › Life › Health & Medicine › Sociopathy/Psychopathy
