Mental health affects millions of people on a regular basis, but more extreme mental issues like Sociopathy, studies show that 1/25 people are a sociopath according to author of The Sociopath Next Door, Dr. Martha Stout. A sociopath is described as someone who has antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), They often find it hard to understand their feelings and this results in impulsive behaviour and rule-breaking which can lead them to harming themselves and others that they don’t feel guilty about. Someone with ASPD show a lack of feelings and emotion for others, someone may not know they live with it or why they have these behaviours.
To be diagnosed with ASPD, you must be over 18 and have at least seven of traits with continuous pattern. People with this disorder may not respect laws or norms. They Lie, deceive others and use false identities or nicknames for personal gain. They don’t make long term plans or commitments. They usually get into fights and have aggressive behaviour and don’t consider the safety of themselves and others. They don’t follow personal or professional responsibility such as being late or not paying bills and they normally don’t feel remorseful or guilty.
Now sociopaths and psychopaths aren’t the same so what’s the difference? Clinically there isn’t a difference as both to do with ASPD, but some people distinguish the two as a sociopath may be someone who only makes minor offences that don’t cause serious harm or distress while a psychopath is someone who does major offences and is a danger to others.
Other mental issues like schizophrenia also affects someone's life massively, Schizophrenia means Split (Schizo) Mind (phrena). This doesn’t mean they suffer from split or multiple personalities which is a different mental health. The person who suffer from schizophrenia may not always be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality. It only affects 1 percentage of the population says source, individual differences by Michael W. Eysenck, however the condition develops slowly over time making teens or children are the hardest to diagnose as symptoms like becoming socially withdrawn and unresponsive or changes in sleeping patterns can be mistaken for an adolescent "phase".
People who suffer from Schizophrenia often have hallucinations like hearing voices, The voices are usually the brain confusing thoughts as actual voices. They also have delusions which may affect the person behaviour . They also have trouble keeping track of their thoughts and conversations. They often have a change of behaviour, More worse negative symptoms are lost of interests in life, sex and relationships. The more negative symptoms can affect relationship with friends and family. Mental health whether it’s depression or anxiety or schizophrenia all affect a person both in minor and major ways. People who have ASPD can be function people of society and shouldn’t be afraid to be diagnosed and get treatment. To cope with someone with ASPD, you should acknowledge don’t fully understand your emotions and have boundaries with explanation as of why their behavior affects you as well as themselves.
