I am a sociopath - WT Society's fault???

by Confucious 40 Replies latest jw friends

  • Satanus
    Satanus

    It could be a pendulum type swinging back and forth. At one extreme, you gave too much of yourself to the wt, totally denting yourself. Free of that, you may be bouncing in the other direction, toward selfishness. It could be normal, in that you catching up on something that you need, or need to do, but have neglected for yrs. If so, you will level out.

    Dave 00six went through a stage of extreme selfishness after leaving the wt. But, he is a lot better now. Look up his threads and read his life story series. There are four parts.

    S

  • talesin
    talesin

    Here's a link to a really good thread on the topic, started by Avengers

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/8/72216/2.ashx

    Some really good information here. Check out the links to Hare's work, and also the list used to identify a sociopath.

    We all have our problems, but sociopathy is waaaaaaayyyy out there at the far end of the spectrum as far as mental health is concerned.

    I don't like to hear anyone label themselves so harshly, especially since by saying that, you have already let your hair down way too much to be a sociopath. They are inherently DISHONEST as well.

  • Confucious
    Confucious

    Wow.

    Satanus...

    Thanks!!!

    Honestly, I think I'm a very caring person.

    I'm pretty honest.

    And if you look at some of my past posts. I'm pretty honest either way.

    I usually tell it like it is.

    Your comments are interesting.

    I do really care for people and honestly... I don't want to be a DICK (Clark).

    But, yeah.

    I know that since leaving the WT, the only thing I care about is me.

    Hmmm.

  • Confucious
    Confucious

    Tal,

    I guess that gives me hope.

    Thank you so much!!!!!

    I'll check out the links...

    Con

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    Whoa Stop Halt

    Before you start diagnosing yourself with such a severe illness STOP.

    Sociopathy is an illness that usually exists in a person for many years, often starting in adolescence. Now I realize that many of us didn't go through that stage that most teens go through until we left the org but the behaviors and thought patterns should have been there before you left. If they weren't there then I would suspect some other problem - like the normal rebellion against rules that most teens go through has finally kicked in.

    Many people who come out of a high control group like the JWs will run wild with the new freedom. That doesn't mean they are mentally ill. They may be swinging to the other end of the pendulum and sowing their wild oats. Eventually it evens out.

    Just because a person goes through a period of time when they are self involved doesn't mean there is pathology. You might just be a late bloomer - like a lot of us.

    If you do see that the criteria for this or any disorder fits too well for a long period of time then see a professional.

    Criterion for most psychological disorders is based on a number of factors being present for a good portion of time.

    And if anything, most of us could easily be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but again you can't just apply some things and ignore the rest. The criterion for any disorder are very specific for a good reason

  • talesin
    talesin

    Thanks Lee, for coming onto this thread.

    You're absolutely correct!

  • Confucious
    Confucious

    Lady,

    Thanks. Very interesting.

    That pendulum swing thing that also Satanus said was interesting.

    I was a virgin when I got married. I wanted to do everything right.

    But yeah, I've went totally the other way - and I don't like it.

    But I tell you, this thread is really helping me.

    Con

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    Con

    Just the fact that you have addmitted to feeling bad about some of the things you have done shows you can't be a sociopath. Believe me I know what they are like. Both my father and step father DO fit the criteria. And neither ever ever admitted they felt bad about hurting other people. In fact they took pride in pulling the wool over people's eyes, lying, manipulating and when those didn't work they blamed other people. And they both had a very very long history of those behaviors.

    Take a look at some of my threads on recovery here. Especially the ones on PTSD. and the Addicted to Misery threads

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/74239/1.ashx has a list of my recovery threads.

    We have a process to go through of recovery and it takes a willingness to examine what we were taught, what we want to keep, what we want to change and how we can be the best that we can be, living our lives in a way so we won't have regrets.

    Oh and about not talking to your mother - sometimes that is the sanest thing to do

  • Confucious
    Confucious

    Ok Lady,

    Really good info you game me.

    Deep inside, and I'm about the most deeply honest person. Just read my posts.

    I usually don't hold anything back.

    But when I first started thinking I was a sociopath (or when persons started to call me one.)

    The first thing I thought was - "but you just don't understand."

    I guess, NOBODY could understand what we ex-JW went through.

    It is BRUTAL!!!

    But I'm glad I started this thread.

    It did a lot for the healing of the soul...

    Con

  • Satanus
    Satanus

    Confucious

    The article was called 'becoming attatched' in feb 1990 'the atlantic', by robert karen. I haven't been able to find the text. The guy wrote a book about it afterward. Go here to amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195115015/qid=1089616035/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/103-7690499-8387810?v=glance&s=books

    I think i have a photocopy somewhere. If you absolutely want the original article, i will try to find it and send it.

    As LL said, it's good to see a pro.

    S

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