What is a Sociopath?

My name is John Temple and I am superior. You call it antisocial personality disorder, or sociopathy. It's foolish. I am the next stage in evolution. To feel no guilt to be able to control those around you. To be the elite, and be able to manipulate those around me.

I was married to a sociopath for 11 years and have a son with him. It took me years to realize what was going on. He was very convincing, controlling and manipulative with me, his family and a long line of other women.

The best advice I can give to someone living in a similar situation is to get out fast. People with this disorder are incapable of remorse, do not see a problem, so therefore see no need for help. You will just continue to live in a never ending circle of pain and betrayal.

I have a younger cousin that is a sociopath. She lived with my parents for about a year. She was 13/14 years old. They felt sorry for her and wanted to help. Over the year, they gradually became aware of how manipulative and deceiving she was. She took thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and collectibles from my parents and sold it at pawn shops. She stole money from their wallets. When she visited her father, she would steal his pain medication and sell them as well. When she wanted something, she would get it without asking and have it charged to my parents. They tried to discipline her, but she was out of control. They set up counseling for her, but it didn't help either. When confronted, she would deny everything even if caught in the act. One of us would catch her red-handed. There would be no doubt! She would still deny it. It was unbelievable! She always placed the blame on someone or something else. She never took responsibility and never felt remorse for what she did. She then started to tell my parents that the house she was living in (my parents home) was her house and they had to do what she said. My parents witnessed her lack of sympathy for others. She even abused her own disabled mother. Yet, she was so good at getting other people to believe her and to feel sorry for her. She could turn on the tears at the drop of a hat. After failing to discipline her, my parents resorted to the law. They hoped that local government could help her since they couldn't. The police officers, of course, felt sorry for her and took her side over the side of 7 adults who had witnessed all she had done. Again, we were all astounded! Obviously, she was an excellent actress and could make anyone believer her. She even managed to get a slap on the wrist after pulling a knife on two young girls in the park. My parents were afraid of what she was capable of; so, they would lock their bedroom at night. They feared that she would murder them while they were sleeping. She had and still has absolutely no conscience and considers no one but herself. Finally, after about a year of struggling with her and fearing the uncertainty of what she would do next, my parents cut her out of their lives. It was a HUGE relief for all of us. My parents certainly don't need to fear closing their eyes at night and they shouldn't have to be under the roof of a manipulative, deceiving, and selfish thief who lacks a conscience.

I do hope that my cousin can get some sort of help. Perhaps, she will gain a conscience later in life. I truly don't understand how you can go through life and consider no one but yourself. And, I don't understand how you can feel no guilt for hurting someone or doing something immoral. I hope that I never see my cousin on America's Most Wanted; but, I would not be surprised if I did.

i am a 15 year old sociopathic female and i do not see why it is considered a disorder. i think that everyone should be this way. i do not understand why someone would want to feel bad for something they do, what is the point? being able to manipulate people is the most useful thing on earth if you want to get ahead i mean come on now people how stupid do you have to be to think it is a disorder?

amanda17, i am not a doctor, but reading your post makes me think that your current emotional (or lack of emotion) state is probably due to your extreme depression. have you been treated by a doctor? if your parents have not taken your illness seriously, then you should talk to your school counselor to try to get some psychiatric help. good luck!

I am 17 years old, and I haven't felt any emotions in over a year. Could I be a sociopath? I used to be a highly emotional, sensitive person. I loved my family members and friends with all my heart. I never had any trouble feeling empathy for others. When I was 6 or 7, I actually saved a ladybug that was in our swimming pool, "rescuing" it from drowning. last summer, my aunt's cat died while in my care, and I cried the whole day, terrified that if might have somehow been my fault. But I can't feel any emotion anymore. I don't love my family or friends, and I don't feel connected to anyone anymore. I can't seem to enjoy anything. I am bored all the time. However, sometimes I get caught up in narcissism, and I find myself thinking about how superior I am to others, mostly in intelligence, and tell myself that I am destined for great things. I guess you could call my feeling (or lack thereof) "numb", or empty. Is it possible that even though I was not born one, I could have become a sociopath? To tell you a little bit more about how I got this way: I always used to be a painfully shy person, and instead of forcing myself to reach out and make friends, I let my loneliness grow and eat at my soul until the end of my 10th grade school year, when I developed severe depression and thought about committing suicide. My world seemed to shut down. Ever since then, I have not been able to feel anything. I try to pass my hours on the internet, but it's hard to know what to do because I feel so hollow and nothing makes me feel pleasure anymore. I avoid the movies and books I used to love because I know I can't enjoy them anymore. I ignore my friend's calls and don't feel guilty about it. In fact, I don't think I would really care if I never heard from them again, even though they are my supposed "best friends". That thought scares me. Also, I never lie, and would never hurt anyone. I just feels so empty, and was hoping someone could tell me what's wrong with me. Can extreme numbness be caused by depression, or have I truly turned into a sociopath?

i am 22, in the military, and married to another military member who is believed to be a sociopath. we are contemplating divorce. everyone says he is a horrible person and i basically need to run. i am an overly compassionate person and naive...apparently what they dwell on. i completely love the guy and would do anything to help him, regardless of what all he has done to me. i have contemplated whether what i love is him or the idea of him i have emplaced in my mind. i read there are different ranges of sociopaths. i know he is capable of emotion, i just cannot decipher if it is sincere. he can be an amazing man, but then it's one extreme or the other. he wants a child, but i was sure it was just to lock me down. he does things and it's like he frankly just forgets to think before he does them. i honestly think he loves me, he doesn't know how to accept anyone's love. which is a sign of a sociopath. i think a general misconception is that a sociopath fits every and all the characteristics, when in fact there is a wide range of what a sociopath actually is. they don't have to have every check in the box to be one. i believe i will go ahead w/ the divorce and just take it from there. we have discussed it and said we would both get counseling...i am already, if he really will, is the question. who knows...this is a time i wish i had all the answers and all the cures.

to chris who says he is a sociopath: i wish they knew a way to help you. i have been looking up ways to help sociopaths. i think if you truly want to help yourself, more power to you. -k.

I have been in an awful rollercoaster relationship ride with a true sociopath for over 10 years now. When we met I worked as an escort and lied about my job. Even though he knew what I was doing he constantly drilled me to the point of exhaustion until I would tell him the truth. He set me up in a hotel room, video taped me and used this to blackmail to stay with him, in hopes I would receive this tape as who knows where on the internet it could of ended up. From this point it was sheer hell! Every time I would talk with a man I was screwing him, he made me feel so bad about myself I could have no social life what so ever and further more every time we went out, which was not often I was always flirting with other men. It was never anyone else's fault but mine. I even wanted to go to counseling and he did not take it seriously. I was accused constantly of doing things I wasn't doing and he would go at me for hours. When I would break down and be sobbing he would smile and totally ignore me. He would also put me down to anyone and everyone who was willing to listen. At the time I was completely oblivious to what was going on as I am a very genuine person and somewhat naive. When my son was 2 I found out I was pregnant with my twin daughters and when I was five months pregnant a physical altercation took place and the police came. Keep in mind they came many times before this. He was removed from the home but for some stupid reason I still had feelings for him. I made plans at this time to move to a different city and when I was packing my stuff up I found a body bag tucked away in a kitchen cupboard. When he was confronted with things he would always lie, lie and lie. One time I remember he put me through the psychological ringer and I picked up a half cup of cold coffee and threw it at him. I was at this point an emotional mess. Out of nowhere he head butted me right in the face busting up my nose and blood was everywhere. When I finally got away from him and moved he would come back and forth to see the new twin girls. The abuse minimized for a short time then when it picked up boy did it pick up steam. He was worse than ever. I was always sleeping around, and lying when I wasn't. He came across like he was better than me through the whole thing and one time made a comment when I was becoming a Christian that he was GOD. He now works as a paralegal and believes he is the best thing going in the court room when he truly is not. He received no education for his practise but calls himself a lawyer. He can never keep a friend for too long unless it is someone he has managed to manipulate and con. He shows no emotion and no remorse and never takes responsibility for any of his actions even to this day, but has become addicted to crack cocaine and now if I thought it was bad then it is even worse. He gets people to watch my home, even under a restraining order, accusing me of the most outrageous things you wouldn't even imagine. I put myself through three years of college and have run a web design business for three years now and I never lie. When he speaks I have always thought - oh my God, it is some serious delusion and I cannot understand it. Now I am researching this and trying to understand the mind of a mad man. It is so hard to keep it together emotionally because of everything I have gone through and to share ALL the details would be too much and would be the stuff of a very long novel. I now need to go to counseling to try to fix my emotional state of mind as it is crushed and every day with my three children is a challenge. To all other women out there that can relate to my story I feel for all of you and wish you God speed and may God bless each and every one of you.

Well aren't we all just a big bunch uh happy sociopaths =d mmmm :]]]] lets start another race, whudya say?? ;)))Hahahahhaanon11583 how are you feeling??

Most sociopaths can't help their conditions from the sounds of it. Does that justify some of their actions? Of course not. I have seen people saying that sociopaths should be avoided. Avoiding them will only make them more manipulative and possibly make them angry as well. How about finding a way to help them?

I have tried to keep terms clear as concepts may appear alien to some and I have paraphrased often as anyone who has read this probably has some background information. A great number of people here have said something on the lines of "seek help" or "you can change", but the changes you would observe would be purely superficial when would they get the "emotions" back? Can anyone know how deep their lies go, and how one could recover from a entire fabricated life? Do you want to think like one of them? Why do you believe they want to be "normal"? Most are not after normality, some want to understand why situations affect them differently to their neighbors. Which does fit very nicely into their self-focus, as it is always in ones best interest to know what is going on with one's own mind or body.

Obviously, science hasn't figured that out yet, and instead they are labeled/treated like standard asylum-fare which cannot exist in normal society, which in most ways is false in the case of a run of the mill sociopath. Holding a job has been touched on many times and is understandable from their point of view, as it must be a very clear that they are doing what’s best for #1, they will not go beyond the line of duty without a visible reward, and as such, minor go-nowhere jobs bore them, nor allow them to advance due to the "what’s required" attitude. On the other side though, a sociopath CEO would take bribes, cut corners, fix books/(lie) etc in order to their lives better, I'm positive that if existing CEOs were examined closely enough they would match the profile as well.

These people are not broken or crazy, they merely think differently. They are a small but present portion of the population, not all are as two faced as described, nor are they stone-faced robots, even when they are alone. Yes, many are parasites in relationships, but so are leeches, and in many cases do just as much long term harm. The extreme drains are the exception, not the rule, the worse the drain, the more visible. While it may be true that some of them cannot feel "normal" love, but that term has such a variable meaning why doesn't their version count? To those who believe love really requires all those emotions, the sociopath might consider his partner a very interesting/attractive person and remain loyal even without this true emotion obligating him, and his partner would have the normal version of love for him. No one is hurt in said relationship. They are out for themselves, but that doesn't have to be negative for their partner, many people are not right for each other, and that would constitute a breakup eventually. If you suspect your partner is one, you have very few choices; keep him interested if you want to keep him, break it off, or be prepared for when he does. Your suspicion tells you something on its own. The really good sociopath won’t even have you suspicious for as long as you know them, in which case why do you care?

Their version of friends is very similar to yours; you keep these people as a form of entertainment as they do, please correct me if you can give me an honest observable difference. What else is there to them, if done properly the friend has no idea and the sociopath isn't hurting anyone. In the case the "friend" gets too boring, the friendship ends, this has happened to normal people for equally stupid reasons. Why hold onto a friend who bores you every time you see him/her?

These people are not monsters, these posts of: "My girlfriend/boyfriend did all these horrible things..." therefore he/she is a evil sociopath is just plain stupid, how do you have any idea what is going though their head. Does this mean everyone who commits murder is a psychopath (enjoyed it)? A sociopath would not do these things maliciously, with the exception that it was entertaining, they would toss you aside because you no longer pleased them (entertainment/sex/lifestyle) and then forget (not literally) about you. Quit the mind reading, it only enhances the misunderstanding, perhaps it may have even been one of the causes of the breakup instead.

Interested is a very loaded term here, whatever draws a sociopath to something is their interest, be it for financial gain, sex, or just keeping the boredom at bay. This is their guiding star, doesn't mean you can't gain something from them at the same time or simply co-exist with them. Simply put, realize that even though you are a screwdriver, they won’t necessarily throw you, instead of placing you in the toolbox when done, he/she might instead put you on the velvet cushion as the favorite tool.

Please beware of diagnosing yourself or others who have hurt you. Just because someone has lied to you, tried to take your children from you, or done other wrongs to you does not mean that they have a mental illness. Similarly, just because you have done these things does not mean you have a condition. People by nature are hurtful and selfish; does that mean we should diagnose the entire world population as sociopathic? Such a diagnosis, if false, could ruin a person's life, as well as the lives of the people around him.

At the same time, if you do come into contact with someone with the above qualities, sociopath or not, you should probably steer clear of them! They are clearly bad for you and don't have your best intentions at heart.

Lastly, it is possible to be "slightly sociopathic." Maybe you have trouble showing emotions or feeling guilt. How is this any different from someone who has trouble cooking or singing? Everyone is born with some abilities and without some. You shouldn't be persecuted because of it, and you shouldn't feel like less of a person for lacking such abilities.

I was married for 23 years to someone who fits the profile of a sociopath. We have a daughter who is 17 who he does not provide for. He wont even call her. He could never hold a job and we were always on the verge of poverty. He like to use other people's money for "investments" but it was always a dead end. He was abusive and had no remorse after one of his fits! He acted confused when we wouldn't be happy or act grateful after he would verbally or physically bash us. Charming, he was dripping with charm, everyone liked him and thought he was funny until they spent more than 2 hours with him. Bottom line....be careful he is out there and there are people like him. He will drain your account, send you into bankruptcy and hurt your children and smile all while he's doing it.

i dated a sociopath. thought i loved him, but in fact loved the person he pretended to be. he is a person who is capable of lying, cheating and stealing without feeling the slightest bit of remorse.....what's worse is that he comes from a wealthy family back east, so his feelings of grandeur, entitlement and invincibility are amplified. He claimed to have been molested by his sister, and that as a result he couldn't have sexual relations with those whom he loved (allegedly me).... however, I came to find out that while he wasnt' with me, he was with a laundry list of girls ranging from out of town whores to one that actually lived in his apartment building. this truly evil and disgusting creature is named jesse. watch out for jesse and other sociopaths.

Thank you on the "better control of emotions" - that is valid and since I posted, I dug deeper into all of my work related performance evaluations, finally had the courage to read my dad's journal to me that I've had for over 20 years. I am a post-traumatic brain injury survivor and I couldn't figure out what was keeping me so reactive emotionally. It was far more involved that the frontal lobe aspect of my injury. You're spot on about extreme resentment and bitterness. Until I was 6 years old, I was very loved by my dad. Witnessed my mother try to kill him with a butcher knife (he caught her wrist mid-air) and we kids were sent to boarding school in another country for three years shortly thereafter. I projected in spades towards my father who raised us as for some reason, it was extremely important to him that we not be like our mother (they were divorced while we were in boarding school) and the more he tried to make us not be like her, the more compelled I was to protect her. I must have been having the longest temper tantrum on record if not projection off the charts all the while clinging to the parent who was in fact abusing us. Good grief - I knew she was sick as it was kind of hard to miss but I never came to terms with the fact that she is so classically devoid of conscience and inability to connect to anyone emotionally. She competed with me my whole life and some of the covert behaviors this woman engaged in all the while creating the illusion of the poor me sacrificing martyr nearly destroyed both my daughters. My oldest one is as masterful a manipulator as her grandmother and her birth father, and further just heard via my younger daughter that the older is pregnant now with her 4th. I already have concerns about the grandson and third grandchild. My own sister is like my mother.

Criminy - is this genetic?

Funny thing is, now that I recognize and stop avoiding dealing with the truth my anxiety has already substantially diminished.

I have read many of the postings here regarding the recognized characteristics of a "sociopath" (aka "antisocial personality"). I googled the term "sociopath" because I was in search of the definition of a sociopath, and whether I might be one. Several postings go on about the individuals in their life that they have determined to be sociopaths, as a consequence of some failure or setback in the development or success of their relationships with the individuals that are the targets of the appellation; still others self-portray themselves as "sociopaths" simply because some other the criteria embedded in the "accepted" diagnosis models fit what they perceive to be an integral part of they personal make-up. I think by and large that the latter individuals are a product of their own making; and the former individuals may or may not be in the grip of what is a very "human" need to assign fault to or in a deeply disagreeable situation.

What I have discovered in this attempt to bring understanding to the complexity of my life's experiences, in connection with my relationships with other human beings, is that "sh** happens!" It is a biological circumstance of necessity for both personal relief, and continued development. I read somewhere (or heard it expressed) that "life" is a cycle of "waiting for stuff to happen," "dealing with (or suffering with) stuff as it happens," and "making stuff happen." Of the 6 Billion people mentioned that occupy this planet, rarely (at any given time in history, at present, or in the future to come) is anyone immune to this consequence of living.

True some people experience far more of one or more of the elements of that cycle than others, and might wonder why (as is a natural response). The bottom line however is, as individuals occupying this realm of existence there will be points in time where we all experience and exhibit personality traits that are anti-social to someone or even a host of someone's. For those of us that seek to modify or minimize the negative impact these occasions have upon ourselves or others (which it even appears the self-proclaimed "sociopath"'s among you attest to having done, or are doing), the success or failure of the endeavor is not as fundamentally substantial as the acceptance of the reality that we are "individuals" subject to the cycles of our life's individual experience; and as such, to find personal peace in the realities that comprise you, in a world where it may not always be fashionable Just2BMe. Peace.

To all who have either thought they are a sociopath or have shared why they believe they are, I say you are not. A true Sociopath doesn't care whether they are or not and they don't care what you think. I've seen many use lower case I's as they describe their antisocial nature. A true Sociopath would not use anything but upper case I's. Many of you believe lying is a big reason. It isn't. My mother is a sociopath and doesn't lie, she doesn't need to.

If you are a sociopath, you would be trying to tell us why you do the things you do, not stating symptoms and how they match your personality. A sociopath is the pedophile, the emotional abuser and the stalker. They don't care what their victim feels, they don't care that your best friend just died, and they don't care if you return their advances. It's all about them and how great their accomplishments are. Everyone else is chopped liver to them. They may or may not be abusive.

They bottom line is they don't care and nothing you say to them phases or sways their beliefs why their way is superior to everyone else's. They can justify every negative thing they do. They would not be here commenting about this on this site because they don't need to and don't care. lack of empathy without conscience is their standard operating procedure.

I have a pattern of abusive relationships, beginning with my first ex-husband who via court-ordered psychological evaluations was diagnosed as a paranoid personality disorder. Our daughter was diagnosed as DID (multiple personality) and hospitalized at around age 11 or 12. My second ex was said to be a pedophile after I reported him to CPS. Between all of that, I sustained a brain injury via a head on multi-trauma MVA believed to have been caused by vehicle tampering by first ex. Short story, I missed the early red flags persistently. I always believed that my father had abused us, only now coming to the recognition that it was in fact my mother that abused us - absent any remorse, a very "sick" woman she is for sure. Yet I am only just now coming to the recognition that, as a therapist told me many years ago, it was in fact my mother who was the root of my problem, not my father at all.

I am in rehab for the brain injury after many years of being undiagnosed as such. I believe that I have a sort of PTSD that adds to my emotional reactivity underlying the post concussive syndrome and ADD. Which of course impairs the effectiveness of my communications when I encounter similar situations in the emotional aspect to events in my past.

I suspect my own mother may well be significantly personality disordered. She did not raise us, my father did. Yet it was extremely important to him that we not be like her, only he never explained why we shouldn't be like her. I was the one of three siblings that in essence clung to her and didn't begin to emotionally detach until she put my children at risk with the 1st ex in violation of my custody order and her reaction when confronted about it was to tell me she wished I had died in that accident.

It's only recently that I came to the awareness that the end of a very good career for me began with a female manager who, like my mother, was exceptionally charismatic, yet cut-throat when anything got in the way of what she wanted. Very self-focused, lied on a dime and so forth. Not looking at this from the victim perspective although it sounds like it.

What does this make me? Am I correct about the PTSD being applicable about me? Or did I end up with a personality disorder?

All I can say to women out there in a relationship with a sociopath or in any kind of an abusive relationship. You will leave when it hurts bad enough. You may think it hurts really bad but if you don't get out than it really hasn't hurt bad enough. Others looking in may wonder why you don't leave and the answer is still it doesn't hurt bad enough yet. They never grow a heart it's impossible. You must move on.

I'm married to a sociopath. He has all the negative qualities other wives and girlfriends have complained about with military training and PTSD on top. Needless to say he's difficult to live with. The VA doctors have put him on every medication known to man, but he prefers vodka. After his current doc suggested electric shock treatment he stopped going to therapy.

How do I live with his madness? 1) Don't trust him with anything important (like a checkbook) 2) don't let his behavior upset me/make me sweat 3) call the cops if he gets physical (that includes with the furniture and pets). 4)set boundaries

All us girls in this position need to ask ourselves what we saw in them. There are always warning signs before you get in too deep. I liked the fact that my husband is a tough guy. I saw him as this great protector. I should have known he'd eventually turn his temper on me. I had to own the fact that I envy him a bit. I'm such a bleeding heart I weep for the whole world. In contrast, he doesn't give a damn. He knows he's insane and he's proud of it.

Our second anniversary is coming up in June. My advice to the other ladies is to decide how long you are willing to play this game with your mate. Most start mellowing in their 30's. As for me I'm concerned I may let him chip my calm exterior someday. Many women are doing time for killing their spouses. I don't want to join them so I'm filing for divorce.

I have to agree with Anon605. I am a 19 year old sociopath, and I feel that this article is a little derogatory to a condition that has an extensive genetic component. Many studies have been conducted on ASPD/Sociopathy/Psychopathy such as the PCL-R by Dr. Robert Hare from UBC, and none of them seem to frame it as negatively. Medical conditions after all, should remain neutral.

Consider also the heavy moral component of sociopathy as a public image. I do not believe in moral absolutes, rather I ascribe to the morally relative. This means that my sense of right and wrong will not also coincide with the social norm. To label this deviancy with a non-neutral connotation is being close-minded.

Yes, I did exhibit the MacDonald triad in childhood. Yes I have lied, I'll admit it. But just because we lack what the social public calls a "conscience", it does not mean that we are intrinsically a negative force. We are, ultimately, a neutral force as opposed to the "positive, conscience-driven" force of the western public.

I am thoroughly confused..Borderline, Sociopath, Narcissist, Aspergers, Bipolar, Hyper sexual...it seems the person I was involved with had all these traits and tendencies! Scary! How can a person sort it all out? He's out of my life now...but all of

this is so foreign to me...I'm still trying to learn to better understand. HELP!

A lot of the comments here misunderstand being a sociopath. People who are sociopaths aren't killers and don't manipulate court decisions and so forth.

1% of women and 3% of men means 2% of all people. So every time you meet 50 new people you're likely to meet one person who is a sociopath.

To:anon13082

I don't know what the psychiatrists would call your boyfriend, but I'm going to call him a control freak.

He'll never change. If he didn't care enough about you to go to the hospital when you were sick and he went out with another woman, he's just not that into you. Maybe that's part of the definition of a sociopath, (not really caring about anyone) but he certainly doesn't really care about you. You can go to therapy, spend a lot of money and waste more of your time with him, but if he really loved you, you wouldn't have to ask if there's something wrong with him. I'm sorry but you are just the type of person his type thrives on. You make him look normal. Your place on earth is not to make him feel good about himself, unless he makes you feel good about yourself, and that's not going to happen. Just my opinion after years of dealing with people like him, and watching people like you try to fix them.

Marilyn

Yes, I am a sociopath. All my life I have known I am different. It is easy to fit in, and get along with others, even if it's all fake. I admit to have done terrible things to people that some may consider unforgivable and feel no remorse whatsoever. On the flipside, this shouldn't be seen as a 'disorder', but rather a special attribute.

Having the ability to do anything you want to and remain unaffected emotionally is something I am sure many would die, [or even kill] for.

I quite enjoy being the way I am -- Though I sometimes find it hard to look past the preppy attitudes portrayed by people. If you ask me, they're the ones hiding their true feelings acting like nothing is wrong. Hehe..

I think my boyfriend is a sociopath. We've been together for the last 3 years, dating 15 years ago, but relocation of our jobs separated us. In the past week I had to have surgery and needed to some help from him. He became callous and I became angry and raised my voice and expressed my disappointment in him not being there for me. One week to the day of my surgery was my birthday and I found out that my boyfriend went out with another woman. His only reaction and response was that I yelled at him and I shouldn't have done that. I guess he thought he was punishing me - he really thinks that this makes sense. He had the right to go out, because I pissed him off. And I need to get over it. Am I crazy or is this sociopath behavior, note this is not the only time that he has behaved in ways that seem out of touch with peoples opinions and feelings. Needless to say, I'm not going to have anything to do with him anymore. He keeps calling and asking if I'm over it yet?

To the person that really wants to fix her boyfriend. Listen to me, I don't know you but this is the best advice you will ever get in your whole life. Run away. I tried to fix my mother until I was 42 years old, until she had ruined my life to where I was a wreck, panic attacks just devastated. I finally said no more and walked away. I am really good now but it took me years. I have 3 daughters and a husband of 35 years and they saw what she did to me and how she controlled me and still know how to push my buttons and don't even know they are doing it. I call them on it. Let me tell you a life of always having to think ahead and figure out what plan they have in mind is sooooo tiring it just isn't worth it. I read somewhere the best way to get rid of them is to let them make the choice. You set standards that you know they will not abide by and they will want to leave. May be a good test for your boyfriend but I say if you really believe he is then just run fast. I am not the kind of person not to give a second chance but unless your prepared to give 6000 chances forget it.

My friend is psychopath, diagnosed by me. Ive known him for the last 15 years so im sure about this. He Lies, manipulates, his whole being is a fake construction, quotes and steals ideas from others, violent and aggressive, fights cowardly (kicks in the groin, unexpected headbutts etc), he steals (like "borrow without asking"), he calls himself "alphamale", very charming and fakes his personality towards new people, especially girls, promiscuous sexual behavior, easily bored and needs entertainment or stimuli, drugs, lots of weed and alcohol, no remorse, lack of respect for authority. He says he hates violence, but is always up for a fight. If he cries it is just to win empathy, every move is an conscious investment with an self centered objective.

Life is a game for him, and the social scene is his primary arena. I see straight trough him though, he doesnt know.

If get up into trouble, hes the guy to call. So I use him too, he loves to beat the crap out of someone with a reason which really means nothing to him.

Im clinically diagnosed with asperger syndrome btw.

I always thought my boyfriend was controlling, I found an answer I soon realized was beyond just controlling, I believe he is a sociopath. I'm not sure to some extent though... When he broke down he told me things that i never put together, that never made sense, made me question my sanity and the world. Now i can see it.

He told me something is wrong with him, deep down inside he hated himself, he new he was different from everyone else. He takes bits and parts of other people and turns them into himself, a mimic.

He told me he argues because he likes to, for no specific reason at all, and he makes up any reasons what so ever to make sure he wins. he knows he abuses everyone for no apparent reason. He does everything every website says. even claiming to killing people in the past ( I never believed it until I read what I read).

I can't give up, I can't. I want to fix him because I know he hates himself. No matter what guilt trips he puts me through, tricks and holes. I know he loves me, I am of no use to him financially and we didn't start making love for a long while after we met.

He has had multiple relationships in the past, short period ones. I was the first girl he ever stayed with for a long period of time (he has friends and his ex girlfriends to back this up, so I know it isn't made up to make me feel special).

I believe he wants to change. I am the victim of one of the most unique socipaths on earth. blah...

My ex-husband is a sociopath. No empathy, abusive, made me question my own sanity a lot, very convincing to the judges, to the lawyers, to the psychologists, dramatic. I understand he has a problem but it doesn't matter because he will never care about getting better. You cannot change a sociopath. You can not really love a sociopath because deep down you will not understand them or respect them. Yes they have a problem. So what? To me he is evil because he has hurt me and our daughter physically/emotionally. I just want him to go away and leave us alone. Luckily his recent obsessive behavior with his latest ex-girlfriend and his recent arrests may just give me a long awaited break full of peace and quiet.

I see all over the internet sites and information that tell a person how to save themselves from the sociopaths out there. But I see nowhere out there anything regarding how a sociopath who dislikes being one can help themselves.

A little about me. I would consider myself a sociopath, with narcissistic tendencies, OCD and ADHD. I believe strongly that they are all linked to the ADHD.

My world exists to me in a small bubble of consciousness. Events that occurred prior to the bubble are immaterial unless they physically affect that which is in the bubble. Events that occur after the bubble are not accounted for because I cannot see them. I am narcissistic because I am the only constant variable. I am OCD because I must be, in order to function halfway properly I must maintain rigid control of the aspects of the world that I am able. And I cannot regard others as being remotely the same as I for they are not. Their world exists as a whole, their thoughts flow into each other, and they can plan for their future existence. I, on the other hand, live in a world broken apart like disconnected puzzle pieces. They lay in the proper order, but they are not touching. My thoughts dance about, interfered by the smallest of distractions. And my future is completely uncertain as from my vantage point all possibilities are equally likely and thus none can be prepared for.

I have cheated on my wife, I have slept around because sex is simply a physical act. I take steps to ensure I do not procreate, but ultimately if I did, it's not my problem. If I pay a bit of child support it doesn't matter. I have stolen because I wanted, not because I couldn't afford. I lie constantly about who I am, what my abilities are, what job skills I have, and because I am intelligent I can learn the job skills I lied about in a short enough time that none are the wiser.

You pretentious heathens, walking around pretending that who I am and what I am somehow makes me dangerous, it is just how I manage my existence. If it weren't for me telling you, you would never know I existed. I would be just another jerk in the crowd.

Yet here I sit, pondering if I could be capable of greater things. Not as a question of ability, but of capability. Where I am now has taken great effort, I am successful because despite my shortcomings in the emotional and ethical department, my mind functions vividly and cleanly. I can see clearly that I am held back by my absence of morals and emotions. As ironic as that seems to me, the thing I view as your weakness is, in fact mine instead. Where do I go for help?

chris

I'm quite sure I am a sociopath, as I do fit this criteria. My family and friends also have considered me as being one. I recently went to see a psychiatrist and being 18 years of age, he believes that there is a high probability I am, as well as having schizophrenia (by high probability, I mean he insists on having a few more visits to ensure he is correct). I've been arrested quite a few times, never held a job for very long, have hurt many people (emotionally and physically, not so much financially) and in the end, I couldn't care less. I've never felt guilty or remorseful about anything I've done. I feel I can do whatever I want, how I want and when I want. I see people as objects more than anything else, waiting out there in the open usually unsuspecting. I've manipulated various people and usually their lives got destroyed (emotionally mostly, although a decent amount of physical damage was done). My father rarely, if never showed any emotions and my mother, when she was home and not drinking, sometimes was approachable. I've lied countless times (here I am being truthful) from such a young age. I remember my parents at first trying to discipline me but there was nothing on my part. Instead of giving up, they used more painful methods, verbal and physical. However, despite this, I tend to not do much drugs, mainly alcohol if any (not a constant drunk though). Concepts of "right" and "wrong" are simple words to me and I've always felt I can do whatever I want, to whoever I want, whenever I want and however I want. I'm fairly intelligent, although no mathematical genuis, I will be in 2nd year soon (finished my exams of 1st year, passed everything easily and doing psychology this summer). Depending on how psychology goes, it may either be a double major in biology and psychology or biology and chemistry. I'm already very good at getting inside people's heads, using them and knowing some stuff on the human body but I intend to learn so much more and in a way become more "powerful". In conclusion, I've been diagnosed as a sociopath and schizophrenic.

hi, my mother is a sociopath but as the article says she does not realize it. my parents are currently going through a divorce and my mother has become very cunning and violent towards my father and does not realize she is doing wrong and blames everything on him and his family. recently my mother has been seeing a very dangerous man known to the area as mentally ill. he has been to prison in the past for murder, dealing drugs, sexually abusing child etc. and he is waiting now to go to court at the start of next month for 17 different cases. my father has fear for his life and my mother is getting out of control. i haven't been getting on with my mother and our relationship has gotten worse and worse to the point that we don't talk anymore and try to avoid each other. what should i do?

I have had to deal with many evil doers in my life. I know that sounds extreme, but that is how true sociopaths are. My ex husband.

I’m guessing, you, the reader is very suspicious of my claim I just made. But it is the truth. Read on, I’ll explain. My ex husband cheated on me… numerous times, while we were married (yea so what…? lot’s of people cheat right? Yea that’s right.) In my ex’s case, he told me directly that he was having sex with other women…and men too. But I didn’t freak like maybe a normal spouse would, because it had been so obvious and because he was an extreme perverse sex addict (which I found out after we were married)—he wanted to swing. He pestered me for hours to hook up with other people ( I never would), he also bought lot’s and lots of sex toys….disgusted me. He forced me many times to have sex. It was so unimaginably painful, more and almost entirely emotionally painful. I tried to tell people, and no one seemed to believe me. I was young and vulnerable, and didn’t have many friends or a supportive family so there really was no one to tell. I knew that him meddling around with other women, and sickly with men too, meant he would leave me alone more, so it was strangely a good thing to hear to me at the time.

He also sexually abused our first daughter when she was just 9 months old. Social services was involved, and at the time I wasn’t putting two and two together and he was never found out, Social services inquired that it might be him, but I didn’t know, and protected the bastard at the time. Not surprisingly, the marriage ended and he left the state. For 6 years he had little to almost no interest or contact with the kids, which was very good, and me and the kids lived normal lives. then his parents moved back to the area, and he followed them. His father is a big wig at the public service plant here and a few other states. This is going to sound like bull, but honestly, he has spoken in the same arenas as President Bush, and meets with him and others who work with him.

Anyway, my ex was offered a job through his father, the one that actually knows President Bush. Though my ex claims he moved back to the area because, as he says. “it was because he wanted to be part of his children’s lives”. Sure…. (Like it had nothing to do with his parents moving here, or a higher paying job, which he already had working for another company his dad was the vice president of...another story for another time) My ex hired a lawyer right away (even before he moved here) and even before I could say I didn’t want him to have the kids or not, he didn’t even ask me. He prepared for a custody battle. I didn’t have the money for a lawyer at the time, so I agreed to a 50/50 placement. And ironically his sexual abuse to my daughter, a baby of 9 months, was used against me. He tells people that I am making that up. And that I’m psycho… because I am accusing him of such a horrible thing. People believe him. (the sexual abuse was documented, but it was never found out who, and at the time I wasn’t able to put two and two together, even thought I saw it once…I know it’s hard to believe I didn’t know until later when things clicked in my brain that it was him.)

I learned to not tell lawyers or physiologists or counselors, who he dragged into our lives, or really anybody, because no one believes me that he did it. It’s like the protective child service report means nothing...It is horrible and unbelievable that he would have abused a baby…his daughter, but it’s what happened. Then to make things worse, he was able to get others to pity him! for so many things, and having to deal with (me) “a mean bitch” who would accuse him of that.

Yea a sociopath can’t really change. His mom and him and his new wife all attack me through countless verbal criticisms and emails. He hired another lawyer and started to try to get our children—two daughters (the younger one has a conscience and can see somewhat of what he is). He wanted primary custody. He wanted me out of their lives entirely, except with supervised visitations. And I have been an incredibly good mom. Our oldest the one he abused, is very troubled. She also lacks remorse and will hurt others deliberately, she’s dangerous… really. I’m almost positive she inherited the lack of remorse and ability to feel empathy.

My ex, after he came back from his years away, got our oldest to tell the police, and a bunch of other school officials, and social workers, that she saw marijuana in my home, and that my boyfriend and I were crack users (complete bull). She also told them my boyfriend hit her on several occasions (that never happened, not once) , and that I was just plain crazy. –all lies. She also started running away from my home, she would do this shortly after having a visit with her father, and these visits were not told to me. Her father would blame me and get her so angry and hateful at me.

His mother, my daughter’s grandma, supported all of this, and even encouraged it in many sick ways. Any rules I made for our troubled oldest daughter who was now 16, were claimed as me being crazy…insane, but if I didn’t make a rule they said I was allowing the kids to do as they pleased, and that I didn’t care…I was then neglectful. The truth is that I was very patient, very honest, and steady with rules throughout his and her attacks. I was accused of being a drug user, abuser, and neglectful. I couldn’t win. They tore at my soul in so many ways. Eventually they got my oldest, Amanda, to not just side with them, but to leave my home entirely and the reporting to officials got worse…completely made up things.

It was ghastly atrocious really.

I remember the night Amanda “moved out”. That night my ex husband called the police, making this ridiculous story up that my boyfriend was hitting her…, Amanda. It wasn’t true at all. Actually, my boyfriend and I were in our bedroom watching a movie. Amanda, unannounced packed and apparently had packed her suitcase. Next she started throwing a tantrum. We stopped watching the movie, and Amanda started throwing things, she split a heavy wooden chair against the wall about 10 feet of a throw. I have pictures of the chair. She says it was all because I wouldn’t let her go out, which I wouldn’t cause she asked after 9p, I said no, cause it was late. After her tantrum of throwing things, including shattering the remote control, she then went outside and started crying in the front yard. My boyfriend and I were really shaken.

Amanda had apparently called my ex-husband who had called the police shortly before—probably while Amanda was throwing her tantrum.

Next his mom, the police, and my ex, all arrived in our driveway, closely at the same time. As they arrived Amanda was in tears in the front yard. I was shocked at the entourage … The police officer seemed to understand, thank goodness.

My daughter unfortunately has been involved with the police so they know her as to being a vicious kid, unfortunately. Also the police were somewhat familiar with my ex because, my ex had tried to get my house searched for drugs, which never happened (a whole other situation where he wanted to hurt me.) Anyway, the officer was empathetic with me and boyfriend. The officer actually told my ex’s mom that she needs to step out of this.

The officer didn’t even come in our house. Amanda, her father(my ex), and grandma left, threatening that they would be taking this up with a higher law officials. The police officer stood there with us as they left, somewhat consoling us. Ironically, that whole incident worked against my ex…the report didn’t go exactly they way he wanted.

Also, I think it should be noted that surprisingly my ex and his mother are both very high achieving financially successful people. His mom works between medical care and many insurance companies.. She helps to decide what will be covered under insurance or…not. My ex works in public service, that’s because of his dad.

This makes them much more believable to others, and they use it…believe me to fullest extent that they can as they try to paint this hideous story of me. Over the years I have very sadly learned how horrible some people can be. My ex, my daughter, and his mom, have hurt me more than they probably know. I suffer inside; I have tremendous pain and think about their constant criticism, attacks through lawyers, counselors, emails, and more. I play strong. And in a way I am stronger than I use to be…but I have suffered. I would never tell them that…but I cry, I tremble when I see them, I’m basically much more insecure, anxious, and leery

To the comment that prompted my vent….”sociopaths can change”… They can’t. Sociopaths lack feelings, they won’t have them ever. My oldest, Amanda, as cruel as it sounds she is a sociopath. One of the psychologist involved who is probably one of the more experienced and respected people around, said that he has never seen a child with that much lack of remorse. (He has 30 years of experience, and he has never seen a child like my daughter, makes me want to cry just typing that.) He said almost the same thing about her grandma. He said in his 30 years he hasn’t experienced an unholy alliance like my ex’s mom has with her son. He said she’s vicious. You may be asking…why and how would a psychologist make a prognoses for the daughter, the ex, and the grandma. I’ll tell you…Because the custody battle led to an order of psychological evaluations. That’s how they were found out…it took this level of investigation.

So, my point, which was very drawn out, but in response to the comment that sociopaths “can’t change…” Sociopaths do not follow a moral code ever, even if they pretend…its just an act, one of their many many scenes. The sad truth is, they are simply not capable and at all or interested in, having empathy for others. Actually, quite the opposite. They want!, they hunger!, and they lust!, after power and control over others, They strive for it. Watch out! Be prepared because my ex, his mom, and my daughter aren’t the only sociopaths out there posing as having “changed”.

My granddaughter - age 5 is the daughter of a sociopath father. He abused her at age 3 - because she was so young, she was not able to disclose to authorities. He has finessed the system, lawyers, judges, etc. that he wants to help raise her. He was never married to my daughter and did not want the child but now he is adamant to prove to the world that he is a good father, etc. with no regard to the child's feelings. She cries when she is told she has to see him, she has nightmares almost every night and yet does not know what they are about. Right now because of the California laws, he has everyone feeling sorry for him. What can I do (nothing legal at this time until the child divulges which might not be for several more years) to encourage him to let her go. She does not love him and does not want to be with him. What would trigger this personality to let this go and leave her alone?? Help...

I really don't believe a sociopath can change. I get a little angry with people that say they read through these posts and find them funny or have no compassion for the victims of a sociopath. It isn't very easy for the normal person to even imagine the depth of the complicated lies that a sociopath will tell or the extent of what they will do to get their way. I grew up with a mother that was a sociopath and caught on to it at a very young age but it was so hard to always have to be one step ahead to protect yourself. God gave me the special power to see through it and believe me I still can I can spot a liar or a scam 100 miles away. But it it very hard to let go of your family and just leave which is the only way. Good Luck to those out there dealing you are not the crazy one no matter how many times they tell you it's your fault. Just runnnnnnn

Anybody out there? I happened to 'trip' onto this site and feel flabbergasted over it. So many people looking for help and here I thought I was the only one! No HA! here! I am a multiple personality of about 30; due to much, and terrible abuse as a child and young adult. I was diagnosed wrongly years ago into many associated disorders like 'manic-depression' 'schizoid', and a few others. I believed them. They put me on so many drugs and nothing helped. I mean, nothing! I turned into a walking zombie! All these people wanted to do was cover up my problem and even worse, then addiction set in! Over and over I have looked for help, and no one takes me seriously. I can sit in a doctors office and manifest a worried child of about 4, and then the looks come on their faces...'nut case'. So then they want to give me more medication and I am sick to death of it! Isn't there anyone out there who is able to see a real need anymore? So that a person is able to 'heal' instead of being drugged? I live in Wisconsin near the Eau Claire area. And people around here are pretty ignorant of this type of thing. Any suggestions? If you can hear me, I truly need some help. I recently had a relationship with a sociopath who put the icing on the cake! Now, everytime some stressors come, I manifest out of control, looking for that place to hide in and be safe once again. There is a personality on board who likes to cut me and I am in dismay about this entire mess. I will NOT take mind-altering drugs, for I am a Prophet; yes, folks, it's the truth. So, if any one of you out there love The Lord Your God, maybe you could help me! A 'nut-case' starved for some understanding and empathy.

A sociopath can change with time and help

FRED - just read your post. I've known just such a person for 22 years and had two sons with her. We have been divorced 10 years. All the same things you speak of. Dysfunctional, pathological liar, white collar crime, stealing, aliases, squeezing money out of everyone she can. Has our children conned into believing their father is a horrible person. She has custody because I never stood a chance in court against her. She manipulates through emotional bullying. Has never held down a job. Fired for stealing from the last one. My prayers are with you. I wish you every success with your children in hopes they see it eventually. Mine - 12, 19, and 28 - still believe her. What's more - they know what she does, but are all emotionally crippled by her. Jim

I was married to a sociopath for 10 years. Been divorced from her for 10 years. She is the most charming person I've ever known. She's intelligent. She's my intellectual equal. She was a magnificent lover. She is the most convincing person I've ever known. I had two sons with her. She's a pathological liar. She has committed a host of white collar crimes - bank fraud, credit fraud, aliases, bad check, truancy with my sons. She is mentally abusive any time she is caught red handed. She knows how to manipulate people. In a court room, she has judges eating out of her hands. She has managed to stay in her house despite the mortgage company's efforts to throw her out (foreclosure). She has damaged my children beyond measure (I didn't stand a chance against her in a custody battle). I can tell you from my own experiences that you cannot heal a sociopath. They first have to recognize and admit they have a problem. They won't because they don't think they have a problem. I've tried to help her for 20 years. It is always someone else's fault - never theirs. Their problem is just never discussed. Try to discuss it and the conversation always spins around to what's wrong with you and why you are the problem. I've never been able to get through to her. I am broken hearted because I've never been able to help her - and my sons.

There is no cure. Sociopaths are born that way. They have irregular brain structures that cause them to lack what civilized beings have, and there is no way to change the way someone's brain works/is set up. I feel bad for them that they cannot feel things, but then again, they cause so much harm while alive that I cannot feel bad for them. But I still feel something because I am not one of them. I am a human being with feelings. My father is a sociopath and he has practically ruined my life. He had me so brainwashed that he was "the best father ever" that I didn't realize until 18 years into my life that he had a problem and that he abused me my entire life. On the outside he seems to be a great person, attracting many admirers wherever we go... even short trips to the grocery store!! He has so much charisma that he fools everyone. But he is a monster. He is extremely dangerous and he destroys everything and everyone he comes in contact with so that he can use it for himself. He doesn't know he is a sociopath and whenever someone in my family tries to tell him to get help because he "isn't right" he has extremely violent fits.

I am very much sociopathic. Before I was diagnosed, I had the impulse to go online and look up this disorder, only to learn that more than half of the characteristics listed about it perfectly describe me. I charm anyone who comes my way, just so that I can manipulate and use them later in the future. I have many many "friends" but none of them know that I only use them for what they can give me, or to please my sexual tendencies. At 17 years old, the age I am now, I have come to realize and accept who I am, what I have always been. I feel nothing. Just anger, which I have found to be the source of my Pride, the only strength I feel besides the power I possess over others. I happened to take the time to read damn near all of these anonymous postings, and from the things I have read I can honestly say that maybe only two of these postings seem genuine to me.

I am a liar, a thief, a chronic drug user and an alcoholic. And I have barely begun to live my life. I see the things I want and seize them the second I see fit, all the while maintaining the charm and compassion others see me with. I laugh at you fools that honestly believe you are sociopathic. Half of you don't even know what it means, let alone how it feels.

Maybe that person meant that "feeling" is what causes them to suffer.. maybe they are a victim of a sociopath and wishing that they didn't feel anymore so that they wouldn't be in pain? My mother is a sociopath, along with my sister.. I was constantly made fun of as a child because of my emotions, they were treated as a sign of weakness. I hated myself for having feelings and emotions.. I thought they were weaknesses. Probably because I hurt so much.

Now I know that having these feelings is my strength. The ability to feel passion and love and beauty is far more powerful than their destruction.

To lproxmaisox: You wish you were a sociopath?-- a horrid wish. It means you wish you would go out of your way to hurt others in ways that cause tremendous suffering and damage to lives as you get glee from it. It means you would be willing to sacrifice even your own well being just to see others hurt. Like kids being poisoned, families being broke and pushed apart, it means twisting truth so much a hardworking coworker's efforts are ruined, it means you would take a child away a loving home just to see the parent suffer, and then treat the child cruelly and laugh at the separation pain felt by both the child and the parent, it means you would watch as your constant hurtful actions bring down another humans spirit. Your wish to be a sociopath means you wish to have a dark infinite whole where a normal person has a heart, and not know or be able to fill the void, except gain thrill with hate and cruelty to others. But, no matter how much hate and pain the sociopath spreads their empty hole inside is never filled. How can anyone with a conscience wish for such a disgusting trait?

well, i must say that while i do not think that any of you are true sociopaths, you are completely entertaining. what i wonder is how those of you who took abuse from others did so for so long. unbelievable. you should do a personal gut check with particular attention to self worth. i have never understood how a person can become a prisoner of their own accord, with their own trappings. men are not the creatures of circumstance, circumstances are the creatures of men. some of the this really made me laugh, i could not write a better script for a movie. the fact that i am simultaneously amused, repulsed, and feel pity provides relief that i am not a sociopath. happy commiserating!

i dont know if i am or not i guess i have a charm and i cant feel for others. what am i?

Sometimes I wish I was a sociopath.

Sounds like some of the posts are individuals that are narcissistic. There is a difference. Often narcissistic people don't intend harm and can be devastated by the consequences of their actions. While sociopaths or psychopaths intend the harm or are totally indifferent to it as long as it doesn't impact them in a negative way

I just read the last post and I must admit I felt sorry for my mother for my whole life. I gave up years of my life and that of my husband and children and I couldn't fix her no matter how much I tried. There must be a lot of treatment and I personally saw no clue that treatment would have helped. it's something that just isn't there. I know that sounds hopeless and maybe mean to the person that may be trying but just one of your little lies can really mess with someones life. That kind of (being the puppet master) just isn't something that others can live with for very long. I had a horrible childhood being brought up by my mother the soul sucker and I'm nothing like that so I have a hard time believing that it is all childhood trauma it may contribute but what my mother did over and over was a product of no conscience at all. Maybe if you went for help and were totally real and told everything you really think there might be hope but I don't believe any sociopath could actually be that honest. People have to move away for their own safety there is no other way. Manipulation like that really messes with peoples minds and makes them doubt there own sense of reality and I think my mother got off on it. I never wished my mother dead but I sure spent hours wishing her across the country just far from me. She is dead now and my daughter and I still jump sometimes when the phone rings that just isn't right. People that have to deal with a sociopath need support to just cope it is exhausting. Hopefully they will develop more treatment or some treatment until then I'm sorry for the sociopath that may be trying to control it but my sympathy lies with their victims. We are not just friends and family we are victims. I must admit reading that post made me think if your being truthful, I never thought my mom spent one minute ever regretting anything she did. It would be nice now that she's gone to think maybe one day she did regret something she did to me. I must admit even in death she still has power from the grave. I am 54 years old and she always told me I was premature and about her awful experience having me and I just found out I wasn't premature. Stuff like that is so weird I find out new stuff all the time that she had told me that just wasn't true. It's almost like I was adopted and don't know the real story about my family history. Very hard to live with. I will end with I still hope there will be help out there at some point for the sociopath for the sake of all.

the funny thing about this is that most sociopaths have no intention of being heartless and vile, but they do it because that is all they know. I will admit to being a sociopath, and I can tell you honestly that although I almost never feel remorse and guilt, I still try as hard as i can to be a good person. Sociopaths understand ethics. We do not choose to ignore them, we are just missing that part of our brains. Can you really say its our fault? Studies show that most if not all of the sociopaths out there are that way because of their upbringing. I wasnt raised like most kids, therefore i didnt turn out like most people do. I know there are sociopaths out there that do horrible things, manipulate everyone they're around, even kill people. But most of us try to be normal. And if you are normal, there's no way you can come close to understanding how difficult that is. Every second of my life im thinking about whats wrong with my head. All day, even when i sleep, I think about solutions to my problems. And all these "experts" can say is "get these people out of your life". Were not robots, were not animals. We can hurt like you can. And building such a harsh reputation around something like sociopathy is wrong. its not fair. are we scapegoats?

there is always a way to help yourself. all you sociopaths out there listen...if we are a product of what we are around growing up, then whos to say that we cant change? ive been working on my brain, by thinking about this and practicing in social situations. You might not be able to cure yourself, but you can always make it better, even if just a little bit. what i do is just identify things that i do that arent normal, think about why it isnt normal, and try to change that next time i come into that situation. you dont even have to do that. dont feel sorry for yourself or you wont get anywhere. be a good person, try to love, (not infatuate, since the difference is very hard to see), maybe even cry once in a while. everyone feels emotions. let them destroy you for a few minutes, push some tears out something fierce, and then when youre done, have hope. you can always have hope.

whenever you realize you might be subconsciously manipulating someone in any way, get away from them, think about it, then go back and fix it. apologize, admit it, or just forget about it and move on, watching yourself the next time...whatever. just dont give up you sociopathic psychos out there. i love ya. find peace. i hope this helped.

I am one and just realized it.

@anon11520

you're not a sociopath. You're just manipulative.

oh, i love to push them buttons.

Get over yourself. You're not special. You're just an asylum-seeker fraud. I slay me.. I can spot them from a mile away.

Guess I'm one of the oddball sociopaths...For one I'm female, and I don't abuse drugs or booze. I get a thrill out or manipulating and controlling ppl to benefit myself. But I never Physically harm anyone! I do have a tendency to lies as well. I also have schizotypal personality disorder. Practically mild schizophrenia....I admit I do think about physical things. But what is the point when I can put you in mental anguish for the rest of your life. Many of you reading this probably think I'm a horrible person. But I only play these mind games with ppl who provoke me. Rather it be trying to control me, change me, or screw me over somehow....No one plays with me without there being repercussions. And there are many ways to get to ppl that are perfectly legal.

My mother was I don't know a sociopath. When I was younger this was not discussed. I know I always looked at Charlie Manson and said that's what she is. She went to treatment but my father and I would have to go also and she would just convince the Dr. that it was our fault. My dad let her get away with it her family let her get away with everything. They would just say don't make her nervous. She did horrible things to me and they all told me to just take it. She cut my hair off and told me I was allergic to my hair that's why I had too much ear wax. I also think she had Munchausen by proxy she made me sick. I had mono 4 times, she would just not want to deal with me and put me to bed for months. Everyone felt so sorry for her with a sick child. I fought alone, no siblings no one would help. I finally quit talking to her at 42. She still tried to manipulate me from afar. She finally overdosed herself last year. I hid behind my car when the police went into her apt. as I didn't want her to know she had gotten me there, I didn't think she was dead just pulling another of her schemes. The police officer told me he understood he had dealt with her so many times. She would have fake gas leaks, people after her with guns all for attention. She called me shortly before she died and told me she had bladder cancer and it was very hereditary to go and get testing done, she was taking chemo. I spoke with her doctor she didn't have cancer. Another lie. I guess the reason I am writing this is for others. She affected my life so badly for 49 years I was a mess. I want to alanon my father an alcoholic, my mother with her pills. Didn't help I sat and cried through so many meetings. Finally something hit me, I was a negative person. The way I had been realized nothing was ok unless there was something terrible going on, I guess she wasn't happy unless she was unhappy. So I decided to retrain myself to be positive. It was very hard but really didn't take long. I must admit for the first year I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall to get a panic attack but never happened. It has been 5 years now and I am finally free of all of it I still don't understand but I am happy for the first time. I am a whole new person. Maybe I'm just as crazy as her but in a weird way I am thankful to my nutty parents they made me a much better person, I am honest I don't lie I help others and can really see that they showed me what I didn't want to be. Hard way to learn that but I am being positive. I would think it would be hard to deal with a spouse or boyfriend but a parent is really hard to deal with. Thank You for the chance to get this out and good luck to others dealing with this it is soooo hard people don't believe the things they do it almost seems like a movie totally fictional.

I am a complete sociopath and i know that. I am 16 years old. I don't care about anyone but myself and i never have. Right and wrong don't exist to me and they never have. I know what i want and I do what I can to get what I want. That is how I live my life. I come from a typical family and I'm in the middle of what I would describe as a typical childhood (adolescence, whatever). I'm attractive, articulate, sexually promiscuous, intelligent, egotistical, and extremely charismatic. I have lots of friends and i can be whoever they want me to be. I'm a great friend as long as being friendly offers some advantage to me. The second a relationship i have with someone loses the advantage it gave me, the relationship is over. I use people to occupy my time but underneath it all, I don't care about them. That's all dandy, but i do have a dilemma.

I may not have a conscience of my own but that doesn't mean I don't understand everyone else's sense of "right" and "wrong". I understand it so I can fake it and faking it has worked for a while, but lately, I've been craving stimulation. I'm no longer content. Everything is becoming more and more mundane. There is the problem. Now the methods i use to entertain myself mean I keep getting in trouble with authority in general. i crave stimulation regardless of what that means will happen to others. I want to keep myself stimulated but I'm tired of Juvie. How can a sociopath be not bored without risk of arrest??

Can someone who has dated a sociopath tell how they were in the beginning? What are the early warning signs? How would one spot a sociopath before it gets too serious? (I kinda know about lying and manipulating, so no need to repeat those signs).

Surprising number of women consider their ex-husbands to be sociopaths . . .

To anon 11085-Thank you for summing up so nicely in your post. It made me finally realize after reading it why I hurt so much after breaking this "so-called relationship" off. I miss what I thought he was-I don't miss who he really is. I had to walk away-I also gave him the benefit of the doubt, on almost every circumstance. I became a nervous wreck & began to doubt my own suspicions & sanity!

My ex boyfriend is in jail. He is the man that I loved for 8 years, the man I believed in and trusted with my life, with everything. He stole things from those he loved, he lied, he crafted interesting stories, he lived double and triple lives –- and according to the Denver DA he will go away to prison for 2-8 years. If he lied to you, I’m sorry, he is a sociopath. He stole over $10,000 from me over the 8-year period. He was very charming and always knew what to say. From prison, he sent me a letter this weekend, and all he could say was, “send me W2 forms.” He has used me and I am not valuable to him any longer. Thus, he didn’t even try to be charming in the letter.

I think I stayed with him so long because his lies were exciting, but in hindsight it was a waste of my time. He crafted stories about two dead bothers that never existed. He said he was adopted, and he wasn't, which really hurt his mother. He created two degrees on his resume that never existed. He lied about his HIV status. He said he was raised Jewish, when his mother says she raised him Christian. He said he was raised in an upper middle class home, when in fact his parents were struggling. He said his father was a University Professor, when in fact he never was. He lied and lied and lied. He could create a lie in two milliseconds flat and make you feel like you were wrong if you called him on the lie. I have always had a high respect for honesty and integrity –- and yet I stayed with him and his stories.

I have found comfort reading other people’s stories. These guys are really smart and there is no need to feel guilty about being used. He used the guilty to use me and keep me supplying him with money, food, transportation, and housing. I was his free ride. His mother knew that he was diagnosed as a sociopath one month before he met me, but she didn’t tell me until 5 police officers stormed my house at gunpoint and took him away to jail for stealing. In hindsight, I think he stole from every job he held.

What happens when a sociopath meets up with another sociopath? Do either one of them know what the other is and if so would that mean they also know what they themselves are?

I also fell in love with a sociopath and now four years later I started reading about sociopaths and am trying to understand and accept what he has done to me. He is a text book case of the disorder and there is not even a question of doubt that he is one. He represents 28 of the 30 signs that a sociopath displays and when I went over the characteristics I truly tried to give him the benefit of the doubt.

And oh is it ever heartbreaking because everything he has done to me he has no guilt or regret and if I refuse him he will just go find someone else to do it to. After reading so much on this topic the one thing it allowed me was a better handle on letting go as well as understand why he did what he did to me. I love him but not him, I love what he portrayed himself to be or what I thought he was and that is what I miss. I do not miss what he is, I miss what I thought he was.

I'm not going to lie, I'm 24 and I know that I'm a sociopath. I use everyone and everything around me. Although I don't cause physical harm to anyone I find myself manipulating people around me so they they are not able to catch a glimpse of the true "me", and sometimes just for fun in general. I am adopted and have never met my real parents. My adoptive parents were fine, actually they probably better parents than most biological parents out there, but I still find myself holding them in contempt with the rest of the human race anyway. Sometimes I think of myself, and people like me as beings that are just one step up on the evolutionary ladder, until I realized that I'm completely messed up and without a realization of what its like to be normal. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to be the last human on the Earth, just so I don't have to pretend anymore. The very thing that causes me to hate myself is what sets me apart from the rest of you and so I embrace it. If anyone has any advice for me, I welcome it.

nc

To 10890: Don't judge others, unless you have been in a relationship with someone who IS a Sociopath. You are "sucked" in (charmed/manipulated)and develop feelings for them, before you even know there are serious issues. Then it slowly unravels...at least that's how it was for me.

I have never encountered this disorder before and I have read everything I can since, to educate & protect myself, should I ever find myself in the company of a Sociopath again! And, I have examined why I cared about this person. I am a loving, caring, trusting person, who just happened to encounter someone who knew it and took advantage of these qualities. Read up my friend...you have ALOT to learn...

This question is for sociopaths/devils creating a hateful and painful world...creating eternal suffering for their soul.

Do you know you are going to face judgment? Nothing can be done to change universal law...no crying or begging will change it..There will be no where to hide, run, or chance to scheme out of it.

There will be no mercy.

Grace, yes grace, keeps us safe, and tells what we should or shouldn't do, those who don't listen... will face the judge.

God bless those going to heaven. stay strong, hold on, pray.

Ninety-nine percent of these comments remind me of the conversations I would have with the PhD psychologist that I worked for about Asperger's. She specialized in Autism spectrum disorders, and we would talk about the time period that Asperger's hit the mainstream. Suddenly, everyone who wanted an excuse for their bad behavior and social ineptitude had Asperger's. It takes a lot of indepth testing to determine that you have Autism. You can't diagnose yourself, OR anyone else. Seems to me that all the people here who say they were dating or dealing with a sociopath need to examine why they love abusive people or liars. Just because you lie a lot doesn't mean you are a sociopath. And that you are bragging, or are out looking for a self-diagnosis to address feelings of alienation you have most likely means you aren't sociopathic.

Sociopaths, along with psychopaths are seriously disturbed, the likes of which, perhaps the boobs posting on here couldn't quite understand. I think what they should come out with is the mental health equivalent to hypochondria.

To anon10800-2 words-WALK AWAY!! I did, broke my heart and still healing....wished it could have been different...I wanted to be the ONE...not one of many! I wanted to help him, teach him what a caring relationship was like...show him a better life...he was unable to meet me even 1/2 way...I realized I deserved better! My situation was exactly like you described yours...

I've noticed that a few sociopaths have posted here. I am an author of several books, and I am just beginning a new one which touches on sociopathy. Consequently, I'd be very keen to ask a sociopath some questions, really about how they see the world.

Very best

Jon

I am a woman who happened to get sucked in by a sociopath. I fell in love with him, head over heels. It has taken some time for me to realize that all the kind words, all of the sweet talk, even down to him learning just how to make love to me in the right way...it was all for his own self-serving purposes. "If it seems too good to be true..." I guess that statement applied here.

I just want to know how to detach my heart from this situation. I love this man, but more than that, I thought we were best friends. I told him that we will not be seeing each other as lovers any more, but even as friends, he still seems to throw his abusive words at me. Do I just walk away from him, or is there something I can do to help him?

I am a sociopath. I did not ask to be this way. I believe it just happened.

I think people have veered from what a sociopath is:

Members of organised crime are sociopaths

Terrorists are sociopaths

Gang members are sociopaths

If you bunch yourself in with these people then your are mistaken. Sociopaths know the difference between right and wrong they just dont care. They prey on the weak (weaker than them anyway). What many of the people who call themselves sociopaths on here are people with antisocial personality disorder..there is a difference between that and sociopathy. True sociopaths justify violence and death their own way.

to anon10315. Your judgment is based hugely on geographies and outdated labels. This shows arrogance and stupidity mixed. A repulsive combination.

to anon10314. That's a good question. I think the violence comes from layers or waves of anger, and/or possibly confusion.

In some cases, I think the violence is first suppressed, and then as another wave of anger or confusion hits, some is released through violence or aggression. From frustration or fear of their own choices, more anger flows within (another layer or wave), making it too tempting to act out once again. After that, it's a test of one's own limit to stop themselves from acting violently or in other hurtful ways, rather than express in a more intelligent way.

I do not think emotional manipulations, passive aggressive attacks, or complex short or long range plans and webs are intelligent expressions. Deception at any level helps to create a hell for themselves and others...which can't be very intelligent, can it? Intelligence in the true sense embodies acceptance or attempt towards that, and equates to some sort of peace on varying levels.

I do think environment and other people can play a huge part in deceptive hurtful acts, but from my own experience genetics is most certainly at the root.

I honestly do not think I would have thought that, if I hadn't experienced family members who have many of the sociopath tendencies. I have seen people given similar (almost exactly the same) environments and repeatedly act out differently...some just don't feel or care to even consider what others may be feeling, and it seems we can't do anything to get them to care or have more empathy. People who cannot feel should not be classified as better or worse. However we need to be aware of the differences, and nobody deny what they see, feel or not feel.

...richness lies within differences.

"New South Whales"?

Are you kidding me?

You have to be American, only a Yank could be that dumb.

What can cause a sociopath to become violent? (Yes, I know that not all sociopaths are violent). How do sociopaths (at least the ones that aren't completely emotionless) experience their limited emotions on a day-to-day basis? What does it feel like?

In the above posts, I appreciate the connections made between Münchhausen's by Proxy, Parent Alienation Syndrome, and sociopath. I was amazed and to read that someone else had experienced similar combinations of situations. I would like to know more about those connections, if someone wouldn't mind sharing a source that would great.

I have found my ex husband's wife/step mom to my two daughters showing strong symptoms of the disorders I mentioned above. I think she gets enjoyment out of hurting. And I wonder about the difference between: enjoying hurting someone/s, or not caring about hurting others, but just do it to gain for personal self gains. Do the two motives to hurt overlap in people or are there clear cut preferences?

Just for the readers sake of perspective, I would say if there is a side, I would certainly fall on being more compassionate and caring. I wonder if sociopath is actually a different breed, devolved souls, perhaps. I only speculate, I don't judge. Being human, I guess we can't help but wonder. I have had to deal with many uncaring, extremely selfish people who hurt for fun, and for getting what they want. Below is just a snippet of what I have encountered. And why I am exploring the topic.

My ex husband and his wife both strangely pretend to be the heroes of my daughter's lives. Here is just one minor example among literally countless. One winter they bought the kids new winder coats. I thought this was nice...but they certainly didn't need new coats, they could have used a few other things though...I thought it strange they chose to get them new coats. But later learned that my ex and his wife were pretending that the girls didn't have coats before that, and that they, my ex and his new wife as usual (they pretended) had to get the girls the things like that because I didn't care to provide them with things like winter coats. They also have been bringing them to the doctor's many many times. My daughters are both sick of going to the doctors, and tell me they are afraid to go and hope they won't need surgery like they have been told they might. My ex and his wife don't always tell me they bring the girls to the doctor, but I always get the bill. Since I pay the insurance and medical bills I find out later. But they continue to bring them to the doctor's for minor things, and blame me for not being attentive or concerned enough to bring them or even be aware that they are sick or may need surgery. It's scary, but people like doctors seem to fall for this, even if they tell them they only have the flu or they do not need surgery at all.

Now here is what I won't tell anyone because I'm afraid I'll be labeled paranoid, (that's one of the things they call me if I question or defend myself). I fear their step mom might have poisoned them once or maybe will do it again to make them sick. I don't know if it's true or not. But sometimes the girls get severe abdominal pain when they are with them. They puke, get really bad cramps, and all sorts of other painful symptoms. Then the step mom brings them to the doctor. She'll tell the doctor that I, the real mom, doesn't do anything for them when they are sick, which is not true at all. The list goes on and on and on of what my ex and his new wife do. It involves the courts, doctors, attorneys, police, and even more professionals. It's a huge burden financially and draining to my life, not to mention my relationship with my daughters. I have had to really toughen up and I'm trying to get smart. That's why I'm on this blog. I have now finally began to research and learn as much as I can about this. But here are some questions I have but can't find any info on and would really appreciate people's perspectives or leads to sources that might have the info:

1)What happens when sociopaths or the like, live together or become close? (do they hurt each other or team up, what is the inner relationship of two people or more that know they don't care or like to hurt others? do they openly admit their wanting to gain just for themselves? Are two sociopaths together more dangerous, what happens when they don't get what they want from the other...and they know that the other won't care about much...and try to hurt them? Is it a game of out smarting each other to ruins? Some how I don't think that's it, but I certainly wonder.

What happens if sociopaths or the like, upset each other in fairly distant connections?

I agree with the poster that says quit rescuing the people that say they may be sociopath. This is an opportunity for them to look at themselves & maybe get help. I married a psychopath/sociopath. He needs help. I still love the guy but we aren't together anymore..he's afraid of commitment, lies, manipulates, is very smart but low social IQ... I hope he gets help. He won't change without it.

Do sociopaths & psychopaths know that there is something wrong with them? _sure they do_ but they don't always admit it.. same as most with mental problems & before seeking help... please don't rescue people but allow them to talk about what they believe they are suffering. No we can't diagnose here, we can support & encourage them to get help. I love/d my husband, he was a great guy... but he is _sick_. He needs help & I hope he gets it. It's sad because he screws everything up and if he would stop & get some help those that do care about him... could make a difference.

I hope those here that think they may be sociopath get some help. Cause it's a waste of a good person not to. I believe anyone can change but some people do need treatment ... I adored my husband... but he's scared... & keeps running. There's always hope, please seek help if you need it!

As part of healing process - Suspect old girlfriend sociopath. Desire accurate diagnosis.

Here are the sociopath traits:

Adept liar.

History of inability to form meaningful relationships.

Inability to take responsibility for behavior.

Superficially charming.

Secretive.

No signs of guilt.

See self as victim.

Here's her opposite traits opposite of a sociopath:

VERY steady employment.

Responsible professionally.

No stealing. Treats friends well.

Here's other personality traits and info:

Excessive working out.

History of eating disorder.

Steel trap mind for detail.

Pursued obsessively me for years only to disappear when successful.

Commitment-phobic.

Father abandoned family when she was 11.

Maybe she's just a sociopath with an eating disorder? I tried to help. Recommend others not to try. Thanks for diagnosis!

I am a sociopath and have lied and treated other wrongly and am going to hell for my sins.

Anon1819 -- You wrote: "She is in constant need to control, becomes very verbally mean and abusive..then has no remorse or even recognizes that she has cause pain. She finds ways of bringing up my conditions to hurt me, as if to mock or put me down. She will never admit or even consider the possibility that she is doing anything wrong." My advice: get out stat. You are now in it, and really, there is one way out. leave. period. don't look back. just the few sentences you wrote here, scared me. my ex-wife had these same "symptoms"....and soon came the violence...and the lack of empathy. Dude, you're being abused and you need to get out. She will never say she's sorry because in her mind, she actually believes that she has done absolutly nothing wrong, trust me, she firmly believes that all this is your fault, and therefore has no need to say sorry. get out as fast as you can. find someone who'll respect you and what you've been through. get out my friend, it'll hurt doing it, but not nearly as bad if you stay.

Anon1339 -- While I respect your conclusions that you will not jump to the term sociopath without ample evidence, I have to say that, in your schoolings you will notice that this type of "education" takes time to learn. I think if you read all the comments here, or elsewhere, you'll find that 99.99% of people who share their experience have one thing in common, they were all manipulated into a much larger picture, only to be used as a tool. By then, it was too late...they were "in it". I can attest to this first hand. I have 9 years of higher education. While I'm no psychologist, or PhD, I am not stupid, for even "I" was manipulated into the conning world of a sociopath. The Term " Bi-polar" is way too "garden variety" for people like this...and after three years of being with this person, I have narrowed it down to "sociopath". It was only after we got married that the true "sociopath" show up. By then, I was "in it". All the signs and symptoms didn't show up until after we got married...I didn't become a husband, I became a victim. After the true sociopath showed up, all the signs and symptoms were there.....and I mean all!! For me it comes down to personality traits and being open minded to let things sink in before I jump to conclusions, to figure things out properly, that's because I have a 'conscience'. While sociopathy may be rare, it's is true that "they" are out there. And in your pool, or your crop, you may find yourself with one...and not even realize it until it's too late. It's a very unfortunate reality but sometimes, the best education in life, is life itself.

My boyfriend was just diagnosed as a sociopath and I am confused by what this. This as well as other websites say things like they lie and use people and can't love and care but he's not like that. He is genuinely kind to people close to him, he is an animal rights activist does a lot of volunteer work, after awhile being together (though i've known him for 9 years or so) he told me he loved me, i believe him as he has morals and he has not used me for anything i've offered to pay fee's when dating and he is very old fashioned in the sense that he wants to treat me, we've not been intimate he wants to wait until "right" hes very caring for my needs as I have social anxiety hes constantly asking me if i'm ok or how i'm feeling and consults me before putting me in social situations. He's very honest about his other mental conditions and tries his best to make me aware of what i'm getting into with him. Even stuff he is not proud of and he has come to tears explaining some of the stuff hes done in his past and he is very sympathetic to everything from humans to strangers to animals he wont even kill a bug in the house. Is there different degrees of this disorder because the only thing i've seen is when he gets really angry about something (with a good reason) he tends to want to do things that are illegal as in hurting people but its not a rage like he wants to harm everyone around him its directed at the person/thing that caused it. Is it possible it's just mild or perhaps he is misdiagnosed? Sorry for the novel but this is very important to me and my future.

avoid the sociopath. you can try to play their games back on them, but due to their distrusting nature and the fact that you're not a sociopath and don't have the same knack for manipulation, no matter how intelligent you are, there is no winning. also realize that other disorders such as borderline have very similar symptoms, and some people suffer from both disorders. don't confront them - they'll only shut you out.

anon974

Why do you think you're a sociopath? Read the book The Sociopath Next Door by Marh Stout, phd....this should give you some insight.

I have dealt with a suspect sociopath in my workplace. This individual had all the major symptoms including being grandiose, faking emotions, bragging of their accomplishments, lacking empathy towards coworkers, being manipulative, aggressive behavior, avoiding personal questions, and backstabbing coworkers through intimidation or snitching. They created a negative workplace environment.

Although I'm no psychologist, my personal experience would point to three ways in dealing with sociopaths.

1. Avoidance - do not allow them an opportunity to take advantage.

2. Countermanipulation - Manipulate them before they manipulate you. Appear to be their friend, or get in their good graces. Use their lack of emotions to play on them in order to keep tabs on them. The best offense is sometimes a good defense; or does that now make you a sociopath?

3. Confront them. Since sociopaths lack emotion or empathy they are hedonists who only understand reward and punishment. Let them know that you are aware of what they are doing and prepared to pursue actions against them. Do not get into an argument with a sociopath since they will deny any wrongdoing. Just let them know you will counterattack if attacked. Be careful as sociopaths are conscienceless and won't think twice about hurting you out of self-preservation!

I'm concerned that I was involved with these types of individuals in the past and possibly even raised by some of them. Unfortunately, it sounds like we might all have sociopathic tendencies. I think empathy is a learned behavior for the most part and someone who doesn't have a severe case of sociopathy can learn this. I think if all society were to fall into utter turmoil, many people would become sociopathic. But in the meantime, I'm going to make sure I steer clear from anyone else like this because once you've been exposed to them, they are all the same and it's easy to point them out. They are very destructive and deceptive. It sounds like the common denominator among these individuals is their charm. In the future don't be stupid enough to fall for their charm and wit... charm and wit almost always act a shield for some sort of hidden insecurity. Question it... nothing can ever be that good for a long period of time... why should a normal person feel empathy for someone like this...the favor would never be repaid...

I think I am a sociopath. What can I do to get help?

My comparison of a Sociopath to a conscience bearing person, it like that of a shark in a bait filled tank. Sharks never stop moving, always focused on their next "prey", their eyes cold & dark without a flicker of emotion...the sense of their presence sends a panic throughout.....

How can you help people that have this? Is it even possible for them to change after a long period of time? Please help me.. I'll take any advice, I'll check for it. I've been in love with someone that I think has this for 8 years and things are getting worse all the time, I need advice, I think the people that post in here might actually understand. I won't walk away from this person.. I can't. Please help me.. Isn't there anything anyone can do to help them?

My name is Crystal Lee. Please respond.

Thank you.

I have started dating one girl some 5 months ago, and it seems I see most of the symptoms of a sociopath in her. My question is: shall I talk to her that I think she has this sickness? (Though I am sure she knows what she has, but I just want to let her know that I am aware of this fact, and that she should seek help)

I came upon this site looking for understanding of my 35 year old daughter. when she was 16 a psychiatrist asked if i understood her diagnosis and proceeded to explain my daughter had no conscience. over the years i have been "burned" repeatedly by her. the manipulation, exploitation!! unfortunately she has an 11 year old son that i have literally raised. he is a good kid with good values. he is the "carrot". i worry about him as she is so clever with her twists on the truth. if it were not for him i could easily shut her out of my life. the destruction of our family - the price her sisters have had to "pay" is beyond belief. I am in therapy at age 61 and on lexapro. I draw strength from reading websites on sociopaths. they tell me i'm not crazy. she needs help. I will keep reading and drawing strength from others. thank you