Personality disorders

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Thanks Lisa for getting me thinking harder on this one.

I am wondering if every one would consider a personality disorder a handicap.

I am talking about, sociopath, oppositional defiant disorders, narcissism, and so forth.

These are things that people don't realize they have so they don't change. YET, there are socially unacceptable behaviors that come from them.

It seems that we look at autism, downs syndrome, muscular distropy, dwarfism, and a whole host of things that show PHYSICAL symptoms totally differently, all though there are the things that are considered socially unacceptable behaviors that can stem from any of these issues as well.

I have a child who is ODD to the best of my ability to figure, it took LOADS of reasearch(and talking to her therapist which seems to be one of the worst things to do for her), and there really isn't a test yet, nor is there "therapy" per say. Structure, and natural consequenses, are the best therapy. And both are there.

I am just having a hard time dealing with it as a disability, which IS what it is. She doesn't have a clue how to feel for others, and she is in the here and now, with no thoughts of past or future, (unless bringing up something from the past is going to get her out of something), narcissistic to the hilt, lies, steals, and keeps repeating, she has no concern for hygene, be it the home or her own body, her rages and outbursts make it almost impossible for me to deal at times...

It seems to be correctable, BUT it is a precursor to adult sociopathy...SCARY

I guess, my perception is shifting, and I was wondering how many other people are still of the frame of mind that sociopaths are just deranged individuals not someone with a disability...

On a side note, I don't think that just because someone is a sociopath we should let them run the streets, robbing and murdering. Just trying to gain a different perspective I guess, on the kid I am dealing with, so HOPEFULLY she doesn't turn out to be one of those.

Well, myself personally, I believe these people have a disability. I don't believe that the individual can control thier behavior without help. To me that sounds like a disability. I think part of the reason people don't view these people as having a disabilty is because it is already labeled 'disorder' not disabilty. ADHD, Personality Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorders, OCD....it seems people think these things can be controlled like people are choosing to have these 'disorders'. It's not like you can choose to be Down Syndrome, or you choose to have MS. When you get into mental 'disorders' people think you have control of your mind and it's like they blame you for it. I don't know, it makes me angry though. I hope this made sense. lol

Perfect sense. NOW, LOL...You just made the comment of being proud of your kids, and I was in a moment (and have been for a few days) of NOT being proud...It just got me really thinking about it...you ARE, and SHOULD be proud of your child with a disability, why am I not.I figured out that it was the perception I have of what is wrong. It sorta made me sick, to think, that I have a kid who HAS a disability, and there are times (alot of times) that I do not like her, and I also wish there WAS another parent to ship her to for a break...like once or twice a week...Maybe now, I can be more thankful that I AM the one who has her.You make perfect sense, I just never REALLY thought about it, I'm just going through the motions like she is a "normal kid" and now I realize it is failing her because of that perception of "get a grip". (As if she can)

Yeah, I'd like to know how those people get that. My Down Syndrome child cannot even get benefits.

I am not worried about the disability insurance right now, I am more worried about how my perspective has influenced her. I also know that there is a genetic factor that I DISPISE....IDK, it's hard to explain. There are days that all I see is her father in her, and I am not ready to start thinking of him as having a disability, I would rather hate him for all the pain he caused...at least for now.It is just fucked up...NOW for the harder part, changing the families perception, so HOPEFULLY we get her on the RIGHT track and there is hope of her growing out of it... OR at worst, she can become a lawyer (MANY sociopaths are lawyers, salesmen, and other things that aren't "bad" just not things the rest of us could do because of conscious)..

I'd venture to say, that when he is an adult with no other income he will qualify, and I would also think, that you would be able to be his care taker if you wanted, and even get payed for it.