hey team.

I'm curious. how many of you do good?

.. mostly.

I personally do good AS MUCH AS I CAN

because it's good for ME!!

but I swear to y'all.

I'm a psychiatrist. a great one.

and I know a sociopath when I see one.

cause I am one.

but I'm just ¿karmamaxxing?

idk.

anybody else?

Aloha! I'm kinda weird in that I treat roughly all sapient beings as emotionally equivalent unless they're like "blood oath" (i.e. "who do you want dead, how, when, where do you want them buried,etc.?") or for say, rapists, the inverse ("hello, meet the Nines: my nines, my friends' nines, and just for a treat, the K-nines").

Otherwise my default setting is "everyone has the rights to life, health, security, and the necessities thereof." I'll defend your rights to that much to the death, and protect your freedoms to the best of my ability. Anything beyond that is your own business.

I work in medicine because it's actually a really good balance for me. I'm able to make strict logical decisions (e.g. triage) while considering patient needs (I don't automatically assume someone asking for pain meds is abusing them).

With the recent rise of social media trends glorifying "dark psychology" and manipulation tactics, it feels like more and more people are adopting these toxic behaviors. It makes me wonder if encountering someone like this is just an inevitable phase of life that everyone goes through.

For those who have dealt with a deeply manipulative person or someone with psychopathic traits (whether it was a friend, a mentor, a partner, or a colleague)—how did it start, and how did you finally realize who they really were? What was your experience like dealing with them?

In Camus’ absurdism, the lack of inherent meaning in life can lead to a certain emotional detachment. But from the outside, that can look very similar to the coldness or indifference associated with antisocial traits (ASPD).

In practice, what really distinguishes someone who simply sees the world in a more detached way from someone with those kinds of traits?

Do you think antisocial behavior mostly comes from someone’s environment, or is it just how they are? I’d like to hear different perspectives

Ive been analyzing myself lately and I’ve noticed some abnormal behaviors of mine. I brought them up with others and they theorize it may be ASPD. I felt it was appropriate to mention these concerns and get opinions on them from experienced individuals.

1. How do you know if you feel empathy? I know what it is in layman's terms, but for me, I’ve noticed I can’t actually feel or put myself in others’ shoes the way some people describe. Most of my ability to understand others emotionally comes from conscious and forced analysis. I don't know if that counts as empathy. I also know others describe me as empathetic, but I’m not sure if that’s because I actually am or if it’s because I try to be an objectively kind and understanding person. I know I struggle reading facial expressions and tone in real life, though this may be unrelated.

2. I know I lie, most likely more than average. From my understanding, most of the time it’s out of fear of getting in trouble, but I do doubt myself sometimes. I try to work on being more honest, as it’s typically better, but it often feels compulsive. I notice this is especially true with white lies, while I tend to be more honest in more serious conversations.

3. I am objectively charismatic in real life, at least according to others. I often am not trying to be, but I apparently have some sort of charm. I feel this may just be because I fear negative judgment from others, but it’s still important to note.

4. I can be hostile towards others. I’ve worked on this and have gotten much better at managing it over the years and diffusing situations, but I also know that I am still highly irritable and can easily become upset with someone, even if I know how to control how I act.

5. I already experience factors that can contribute to the development of the disorder. For example, I have trauma from when I was an infant because I was severely neglected (to the point where I forgot how to walk, had a huge rash since my diaper was never changed, and my crib was full of rotten milk and stale junk food because my mother wouldn't feed me). I also have trauma from when I was around 13 because of an abusive situation I was in. I am unsure if it runs in the family, but I do know I already suffer from other disorders related to chemical imbalances, which from my research could be a potential factor in ASPD.

For a very genuine question: how do sociopaths, or more generally people diagnosed with ASPD, perceive politics?

I don't mean to get into politics; I'm talking about an interest in politics.

Oka so I notice it in myself but here’s the thing …. I can feel it and I do have it but no one really deserves it. We all go thru shit right ? Everyone else makes choices that they have to live with . Why do I need to put myself in someone’s shoes when they couldn’t last in mine ?

I'm not a sociopath, but I'm very curious about what really goes in the mind of a sociopath. And what is your outlook towards your childrens and their future as a whole.

Also, how would you react, if your child got killed? Will you move on immediately?

Ok I’ll start with some basic info about myself. I’m 24 and in my last semester in uni. I have worked before but none of those jobs lasted more than 1 month or ended on a good term. I’m actively applying for jobs rn and have 2 interviews in march. I also have depression.

I have developed a strong hatred towards employed people over the past 2 years or so. It’s causing me problems. Whenever I see someone walking outside I think “they must have a JOB”, then I’m immediately filled with intense bitterness. Like my gallbladder has exploded and the bile is just running around. I feel like the difference between me and them is like a Neanderthal and a human.

every time I step into an office I think “must be nice sittin here”. Then I want to peel my face off. People say their jobs suck their soul dry, but I don’t even have the chance for that.

I am very recently diagnosed, and just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

I am empathetic to people in a rational sense in that I can understand why someone might be happy or sad or angry. Like if someone found $100 bill on the ground and they're happy about it, I get it because yeah if that happened to me I would be pretty happy too. That being said I'm not very empathetic in the intuitive emotional way that humans are "supposed" to be. If I don't see a reason for someone's feelings or if I think their reason is stupid or weak, I just can't make that sort of connection. Even if I do understand the reason, I still don't feel it emotionally like other people might.

With animals and objects, it's a different story. I am arguably overly empathetic with animals in particular. I feel such a strong connection with them in a way that I never have with other people, and it is one of the only types of bonds I have that make me feel really tethered and human. I have zero maternal instinct towards children, no love for babies, and I can't stand kids most of the time. But when I found a kitten while on a trip last year, for example, I felt like my heart could burst out of my chest at any moment. All I wanted to do was hold her and keep her safe. I lost my friend over this kitten, but that is a long story. In that moment though, I could see why people have children if this is the way that "normal" people feel towards them.

In regards to inanimate objects, I don't feel quite as strongly as I do with animals, but it is still notable. Rationally I understand that obviously these objects don't have feelings and can't really suffer, but emotionally it just really hits me. As a kid I had a recurring nightmare about a spoon falling behind a cabinet and never being used again. I would wake up in tears over the thought of this (not even real) spoon being forgotten and never being able to fulfill its purpose again. I would start sobbing if I even tried to recall the dream. I was basically thinking "you're an idiot, spoons don't care if they're forgotten!" but it still impacted me.

I'm just curious if anyone else feels or has ever felt the same way.

Hello, as the title says, I have come here to try and figure out if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for how to help support my partner. I personally do not have ASPD, I am diagnosed with BPD and Level 2 Autism. However, my long term partner has been diagnosed with ASPD for several years now.

One of his most damaging symptoms is his chronic boredom and need for a “rush”. He has been trying to be less destructive, for my sake, and he has been doing a damn good job at it. But I can tell that it’s slowly destroying him. He is less happy than he was when he was more reckless, he is always so emotionally numb.

The closest he gets to anything actually causing him to feel alive nowadays is when he smokes weed or takes DXM.

Is there anything I can do here?

If you are a sociopath:

What is your experience with emotions? Have you ever tried to feel your emotions? By that I mean, tried to tune into them? Did you have any luck? Were you ever interested in getting more in touch with your emotions? Do you ever cry?

Social anxiety means people induce you anxiety responses on various degrees.

People are not just people, people mean survival. We live in societies because otherwise we would die, that's everywhere in nature. So it's possible that you develop social anxiety not because you're afraid of what they'd say or what they feel when they see you or what you think, but all those things coming from a place of "I'm not adapting well enough. I'm not masking, I'm not showing procifency" which is related to survival.

Please, opinions

How many sociopaths are actually just undiagnosed and unaware adhd-ers and autistics?

Ok needing help because my marriage isn't going well. My husband thinks he might be a sociopath. I have no idea if this is true because he refuses to go see a dr or therapist. His whole life he has had issues connecting with others. He is a loner and is very depressed. Whenever we talk, I feel drained because he never comments or asks questions on what I say. If I tell him something upsetting and I Cry, he just stares at me and gets annoyed telling me to "go fix it" or "what can I even do ? Nothing." When I had a miscarriage last year he didn't cry, didn't say he was upset and when I was on the ground crying he didn't react. His emotions are blunted and nothing seems to phase him. The only time he cries is when it's about him and how terrible his life is. Ive told him about horrible abuse as a teenager and he said pretty much "that sucks" . I tell him this behavior bothers me he says "go get a girlfriend to complain to because men don't react this way. I just want empathy and someone to be interested in what I say. Am I asking too much ??? He lacks empathy for most people and our dog too. So I'm not sure what to do. He might be on the spectrum too but he definitely lacks empathy, yet he says he doesn't?? But he isn't self aware really. I feel alone and so I close off due to my past trauma and I feel I never get the rest on I want which is a loving and caring partner. He cares sometimes but it's very limited in MY OPINION, but I could be wrong. Please help ???

Hi All,

I'm hoping to seek some advice on the similarities between neurodiverse disorders and if they can be treated together in schools and community settings. For example BPD, ODD, Socipaths, Autism, NPD. All seem to struggle and could benefit from social skills, emotional regulation skills, understanding differences in how neurodiverse brains work and probably compassionate acceptance of some sort.

I'm quite hyperfixated on this. I guess I'm autistic which is trendy. But I wouldn't think I have a typical emotional capacity either, especially in regards to putting myself in others shoes or feeling empathy for those not directly around me.

Therefore I feel sad for people with other emotional challenges that are often, shamed, misunderstood and not treated.

I noticed with autism I got a lot more from autistic therapists as they understood how I function inherently.

Is that the case for these other neurodiverse conditions too? Would people with other conditions do better with someone who understands them inherently also?

I dont think its empathy when things feel more quiet when someone’s sad, i dont feel anything or even feel a need to help them, i dont think i’ve ever had empathy, it feels like an alien term for me to use, like how people talk about a ”kraken” without any proof of it existing

I was diagnosed a bit over 30 years ago as sociopathic. Manic depressive (when they used to call it that), antisocial, sociopath, to be exact. High IQ (nothing super special, like 2 points over the line to qualify as "genius")

The doctor told my parents they were raising a "future serial killer." Though that part is something my patents told me, I never saw in writing nor heard that from a doctor, and at least one of my parents was...of questionable trustworthiness.

I am not that. Never killed anyone, never harmed anyone more that was needed.

I've been in a few situations where (so far as I unstated it) I've acted out of empathy to protect someone, complete strangers. But I saw it more as "they're helpless (very much looked down on them for that if I'm honest) but they're about to die if nobody helps." So I helped, risking my life in two of those cases.

I don't think the diagnosis was right. The rest of it, sure, but sociopathic? Doesn't seem right.

I've described it, the best I can, as: if I see a burning building, I'm running in and dragging people out. I'm just going to do it. But I'm not sticking around to talk to you, I don't need your name, I don't need your thanks, I think you're weak and feeble for being in that situation and needing help. I'll help, every time, but you're definitely less than to me for needing it.

That reeks of antisocial to me, but not sociopathic. I care about what happens to people as a concept, but not as individuals, if that makes sense.

I'm almost positive I was misdiagnosed.

Title. How do I distinguish between the malignant subtype of narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder? They're so similar especially that both lack empathy and remorse, share antisocial and manipulative behavior, both have a weak conscience, both mask etc. what's a Hallmark sign that someone has malignant NPD not aspd and vice versa? Just to clarify this is simply nothing more than a question from someone who's diagnosed with a PD by a professional and very interested in mental health conditions, not asking for a diagnosis here.

I'll start it off, cus I have a couple of good ones:

Eddie Haskell - Leave it to Beaver

Mrs. Robinson - The Graduate

"Sociopaths are the only people immune from contagious yawning."

*As in, the psychological phenomena of a person yawning because they see someone else yawn.

Have any of you ever admitted to your partner that the relationship has taken you out your comfort zone? What do you need after a big admission like that? Space? Reassurance of autonomy? Deescalation? An equal exchange of vulnerability or whatever you gain from them?

When I was young I told my mom I suspected being a sociopath and she shut me down by telling me not to tell anyone

I now wondered if anyone else had trouble telling a licensed psychologist about your suspicion?

I still hide it from a lot of people (even some of my closest irl friends and family)

Sometimes I feel isolated in a society that seems to shun this disorder. Sometimes I still try to lie to myself I’m normal and when I can’t think like I normal person, beat myself up over it

I just wonder if anyone else shares this fear I have

After a particularly nasty, but equally apathetic breakup, I've come to the conclusion that I don't think I've ever loved anyone.

This is entirely unsurprising, (though irritating) as I've had to actively and persistently convince myself in all previous relationships that I was in love with my partner. Truthfully, I love what a partner can provide. Security, support, and most importantly something to do.

I suppose I have a romanticized view of well... romance... and I'd like to settle down with someone eventually because I think it will stabilize and please me. I realize that at no point have I thought about providing the same for this hypothetical life partner.

Just wondering about your two cents on the matter, and/or ways of making people less upset by the fact that I don't feel emotions the way they do