Have you met or know a psychopath/sociopath?

[MysticOceansFL]

I've worked with a few when I was a correctional officer and I'm so glad I'm outta that field of work!

[atomiczombie]

My older brother (by 4 years) is one of these people. I grew up under his thumb and my folks left the two of us alone a lot, assuming he would look after me since he was older. The opposite was always the case. We are estranged now.

[luv2luvgirls]

I have met a few in my time ...I also have noticed when you get space from different relationships regardless if they were romantic or just friendly....you can look back and be like woah! when you are going thru it it seems normal does that make any sense lol?

[imperfect_cupcake]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

My older brother (by 4 years) is one of these people. I grew up under his thumb and my folks left the two of us alone a lot, assuming he would look after me since he was older. The opposite was always the case. We are estranged now.

As did I. Mine was five years older. He experimented on me with various different kinds of abuse. From when when I was about 4 until I was 12 and attacked him with a fireplace poker.

I have dated a couple narsissists. head fucking, for sure. However, I need to take some responsibility in that I needed to be caring for myself and not trying to find someone to care for me that I found charming and funny. Doing that sets one up as a target and although it didn't give them any right to be the dickheads they were, I do get attracted to certain types of chaotic, charming, funny, passionate people. I am now the one who does all the caretaking, but the issue is mine. I invite them in with my arms open and then bend over backwards to care for them and earn their attention.

[FeminineAllure]

Yes I have met a few sociopaths. They are long gone from my life now thank the universe.

[Amber2010]

The person in my life that has this disorder is my oldest daughter. I saw it very early on in her life. I felt like there was always a tug a war with good and evil. I was always trying to get her to see the way things should be and she always took the path of destruction and pain. The Pathological liar that was in her. I started taking her to shrinks by the time she was 9 years old. After 6 months the doctor told me he did not see any lies coming from her. It must be me. She was that good. She ran away at 17 with a 26 year old and had a baby. I looked everywhere for her. Spent any time I wasn't working on the road with her picture and flyers and talked to law enforcement. When I finally found her I got to meet my little granddaughter. After a year of thinking well maybe she is finally at peace and happy my granddaughter started talking and was telling me things that were happening to her. She was being molested by my daughters boyfriend. I made the mistake of talking with my daughter of what I knew and sure enough she had the police at my place accusing me of doing it. As we all know in this case you are guilty until you can prove your Innocence. I did after spending everything I had on lawyers. I now realize I can not have this person in my life. She knows I am the only one who sees through her and she hates that. I will always love her but I must not let her hurt me or my other children ever again. It is the hardest thing I have ever done to let go. You want to be there and help always but sometimes you have to just put it in the Lords hands.

[Scorp]

I'm reading a lot of the posts and so many of these qualities/details are familiar with people I've encountered over the course of the years. Whether it be personally/professionally and even online. Sad, but true.

I think the human race in general have also encountered such observations.

Thankfully when I sense any of the above, I put my guard up. In the end my gut is always right and I'm glad I have that ability. I try and warn people about others who have such characteristics, but that can come off like it's "me" have a problem with those individuals and I may end up looking like a troublemaker. All I can do is say it once as a "heads up" and that's that. In time what usually happens is I'm told "you were right about so-in-so"...

I have a sibling who has always had technique of being manipulative and a habitual liar. I need to keep my distance because it's very unhealthy to be around and they cause drama and believe their own lies and try using reverse psychology and they constantly play victim to everything in their life. It's very draining and I have to be a certain way with them and it in their mind it may come off as though I'm naive. Let's just I absorb and observe everything and I'm smarter than that and know better. Never underestimate me.

[Massive]

In all honesty, one of my best friends is borderline sociopathic, and I wouldn't change him for the world, because he is open and honest about it with everyone, he is the sweetest guy I know, and he tries so hard to fight against it and he knows that when he has an episode to just take a step back and he does listen to friends who give advice and keep him calm and centred. I can say, hand on my heart, that I love him regardless of what he may have to deal with in his life, he's honest and nothing but sincere and genuine, I feel blessed having him in my life, he's part of my chosen Family and I would die for him, as he would for me.

[Scota_Parisi]

Originally Posted by Scorp

In the end my gut is always right and I'm glad I have that ability. I try and warn people about others who have such characteristics, but that can come off like it's "me" have a problem with those individuals and I may end up looking like a troublemaker. All I can do is say it once as a "heads up" and that's that. In time what usually happens is I'm told "you were right about so-in-so"....

The first time I encountered an individual who tried to warn me about someone, I laughed it off. At the time I was a whole 20 years wise into the world. The price I've paid for not listening, was a high one that almost cost me my sanity. For a long time life was hard.

Warning others, not an easy thing. They don't often listen. But I take heart, knowing that there are resources online.

People just need to know that they are out there. This one is pretty thorough:

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

At least knowing what the pitfalls are out there in the road, can always help a gal. Think of it as "defensive romance."

[Girl_On_Fire]

Without getting into detail, I've definitely been in relationships with a few people who could fit into this description. People who are unbelievably charming and manipulative and seem to have that "Jekyll and Hyde" personality. Someone who practically worships you one minute and then turns on you like a rabid animal the next.

I've always tended to see the good in people but have become much more guarded as I've gotten older. I truly want the person, whatever they're going through, to be healed and happy. So many people have gone through abusive childhoods (myself included) and have come out incredibly, irreversibly messed up and that breaks my heart.

I really want to heal the world but not at the expense of my life and sanity.

[Corkey]

Does Romney count, 'cause the whole family does in my book.

[T D]

Originally Posted by adorable

http://www.cix.co.uk/~klockstone/teleg.htm


http://www.cassiopaea.com/cassiopaea/psychopath.htm


These are a couple of interesting things that I've discovered in researching personality disorders. Some people say "Oh, I have the craziest mother!" in almost a cute way. I say it because I mean it. The woman is dangerous.

She was diagnosed at one point, as we were kicked out of mandated family therapy with a team of psychiatrists at one of the best teaching hospitals in the state. The things that she has done in her life, to her family and still today are just so unbelievable that people tend to actually NOT believe it. For the first time in our lives, professionals have SEEMED to catch on and something might be done before she kills someone again ( kills someone again - I wish that wasn't true. But it is - she has killed once already.)

It's only by actually interacting with her for more than a week, that you realize you are dealing with someone who is an expert manipulator devoid of true emotion. If you are invested with her at any level, it's impossible not to sense that something is very wrong. She has no friends, can't hold a job and carries herself like royalty.

I think that when we think of psychopaths we think of Ted Bundy or other serial killers. We don't think of the people we work with, live with or meet on the street. They usually appear normal and the only way you can tell is by the path of destruction left in their wake. They are expert cons, who lie when it's easier to tell the truth. They use people to their gain and people who believe them, they consider foolish/gullible. They have the ability to even pass lie detector tests.

My brother and I have always known that she was this way. She has done things and gotten away with things that are both horrific and shocking. When it seems like "FINALLY" she is going to be locked away forever - poof - she seems to walk away unscathed.

One of the more bizarre characteristics of psychopath's is that things that would normally cause people great angst, like homelessness, a horrible life event, major disease, ect. doesn't come with the emotion that you would expect. They are only able to parrot the emotion they think they should feel, they don't actually feel it. So it doesn't effect them the way it would you or I.

And there is no treatment. They are incapable of looking at themselves and blame everyone else for their problems, arrests, difficulty or situation. There is no medication because there is no chemical imbalance. Some psychiatrists say they simply have no soul.

The statistics I'm reading claim that one in nine or ten is a psychopath. So it's likely that we know one (or ARE one lol but if you have the ability to question yourself (I have read) that almost certainly disqualifies you.) I know that how I was raised screwed me up for life - I have had to learn social skills that other people take for granted. I married a psychopath at 17 and divorced shortly thereafter. Even after years of therapy, I lived a "sane" relationship with someone who was unmedicated and bipolar for several years. Insanity can seem normal to me. I have to constantly watch and question myself in a way that others don't need to.

I wonder if anyone else has had the experience of living with or knowing someone who is a psychopath/sociopath? (most psychiatrists consider the terms interchangeable.) I wonder if there is way to ever actually protect ourselves or defend from such an invisible threat?

Not only have I known people who fit this criteria, but I've also been involved with them.... Needless to say I'm now incredibly careful who I date, talk to, or befriend. It really shrunk my life in a lot of negative ways, which I find very sad.

Interesting topic!

[PurerSands]

My ex boss was a sociopath I'm convinced. He being the reason of my resignation was also the biggest asshole I've ever met.

Sexist, up himself, needing constant praise, and not very clever.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh even thinking about him makes my blood boil!