Sociopath is no longer an official diagnosis. The better term is antisocial personality disorder. Yes, it’s a bit of a mouthful, which is likely why you will hear people using sociopath in common culture. So, we are going to talk about what a sociopath is, but we will be calling it ASPD. For the purposes of this article, sociopath and antisocial personality disorder or ASPD will be used interchangeably.

*Note: the stigma around the term “sociopath” in culture is strong. When discussing a person with a mental health disorder, it is important to avoid describing anyone displaying violent or manipulative behavior as “sociopaths” or “psychopaths.”

Whatever you call it, ASPD is a complex mental health personality disorder that, on the surface, looks like a complete disregard for societal norms and the rights of others.

We will dive deeper into ASPD and consider the causes, signs, dangers, and treatment options. The goal is always to find the best path to health for anyone struggling with a mental health disorder like antisocial personality disorder.

ASPD: Definition, Causes, and Signs

The term “sociopath” is taken from two Latin words. Socio means “ally,” but we can see it as stepping in for society. Path means suffering. A sociopath causes suffering to society.

When people suspect ASPD (or sociopathy), it’s usually because they see a lack of empathy, alongside impulsivity and manipulative behavior in a person. There may be consistent irresponsibility and a lack of guilt or shame for the actions that have caused harm. They seem like they don’t care about right and wrong (no conscience), and their actions are proof.

The causes of sociopathy are complex and not fully understood. They likely include genetic factors—such as a family history of antisocial personality disorder or other mental health disorders—and environmental influences, like childhood trauma or neglect.

Signs of ASPD

Antisocial Personality Disorder can pose significant dangers, particularly in close relationships. Some symptoms are not particularly dangerous on their own. Still, with a lack of remorse combined with aggression and impulsivity, a person can show a wide range of manipulation, verbal abuse, and even physical violence.

A person with ASDP may have difficulty forming genuine emotional connections. In a broader societal context, their disregard for laws and social etiquette can lead to conflicts with authority and potential legal issues.

Substance abuse is common among people with ASDP. The combination of symptoms creates a personality willing to explore illicit substances. Then on the other side, many drugs worsen aggression and impulsivity, which can create a volatile situation.

Identifying a person with ASDP can be challenging, as they often blend into society quite effectively. However, a pattern of deceitful behavior, persistent lying, exploiting others, violating social norms, and showing no guilt or remorse for such actions may suggest sociopathic tendencies.

Exploring Treatment Options for Sociopathy

Treating sociopathy is challenging but not impossible. While there’s no ‘cure,’ professional help can provide tools to manage the disorder and mitigate its impacts.

It might be a challenging prospect to get help for someone with ASPD. They are often unwilling or have little to no motivation to change their behaviors. But there is hope.

There are several approaches to the treatment and management of ASPD. It’s important to note that treatment should be individualized and conducted by qualified mental health professionals.

1. Psychotherapy: This is often a central component of treatment. Various forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may be used. The goal is to help the individual develop coping skills, learn to manage impulsivity and understand the impact of their behavior on others. CBT can help a person with antisocial personality disorder understand the consequences of their behavior and develop healthier ways of relating to others.
2. Group Therapy: Sometimes, therapy is more effective in a group setting. Group therapy can provide a space for individuals with ASPD to interact with others with similar issues, sometimes making them more open to feedback and self-reflection.
3. Medication: While no medications are specifically approved for treating ASPD, certain medications may be used to manage symptoms or co-occurring disorders. For example, mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications might be used if the person has difficulty controlling aggression. Antidepressants may be used if the individual also has symptoms of depression.
4. Substance Abuse Treatment: Because there is a high co-occurrence rate between ASPD and substance use disorders, treating any underlying substance abuse is often an important part of the management of ASPD. This can include detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, and counseling.

ASPD Treatment in Newport Beach

The best outcome for ASPD comes with consistent, long-term engagement with a person’s treatment plan. Motivation is an important factor for treating any mental health issue, so if you or your loved one suffering from ASPD chooses to ask for help, this is a positive first step.

Do you want to chat about ASPD with one of our mental health professionals? We are available to answer questions and offer guidance on your path to wellness. Call today: 949-503-9655.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a relatively common mental health condition that produces symptoms of impulsive behavior, cognitive distortions, and intense relationships with others. In addition to these symptoms, people with BPD also struggle with emotional dysregulation, which makes it challenging to manage their emotions and feelings when exposed to particular triggers.

Emotional dysregulation refers to a person’s inability to manage or control their emotional responses to different situations. This might involve experiencing extreme fluctuations in mood or having emotional reactions that are disproportionate to the situation at hand. Emotional dysregulation can be characterized by frequent, intense mood swings, impulsivity triggered by emotional events, and difficulty calming down when upset.

BPD and Dysregulation: What’s the Difference?

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and emotional dysregulation are different in that BPD is a specific, diagnosable psychiatric disorder, while emotional dysregulation is a symptom or a psychological phenomenon that can occur in various mental health conditions, including but not limited to BPD.

People with BPD often have a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect (emotions), along with marked impulsivity.

Emotional dysregulation – the inability to manage or control emotional responses – is one key characteristics of BPD. However, BPD also involves other symptoms, such as fear of abandonment, identity disturbances, chronic feelings of emptiness, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harming.

Emotional dysregulation is not a diagnosis in itself. It is an issue that can be present in many different mental health conditions, including BPD, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others.

It’s essentially a difficulty in managing, processing, or responding to emotional experiences.

Causes of Emotional Dysregulation?

Childhood Trauma

Unfortunately, childhood trauma often leads to psychological impairments in adulthood, such as emotional dysregulation. This issue is generally because this early-stage trauma can often interrupt our development of self-control and emotional liability, making it more challenging to control our emotions in the future.

Insecure Attachment Styles

Insecure attachment is a behavioral pattern defined by distrust in our relationships. Today, leading research has shown that those struggling with insecure attachment styles often struggle to create healthy interpersonal relationships with others, due to an inability to control their emotions.

Enhancing the Difficulties

Here’s why this combination of BPD and emotional dysregulation is particularly challenging:

1. Persistent and intense emotions: People with BPD often experience emotional dysregulation, which means their emotions are more intense, fluctuate more frequently, and last longer than those without BPD. This can make it extremely difficult for them to manage daily life and maintain stable relationships.
2. Impulsive behaviors: The emotional instability can lead to impulsive, risky behaviors. Substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating, or self-harm as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions can all become a problem for a person with BPD and emotional dysregulation.
3. Interpersonal relationships: The combination of BPD and emotional dysregulation can lead to a pattern of unstable relationships. Intense emotions can trigger fear of abandonment or rejection, leading to conflict and frequent changes in feelings towards others.
4. Mental health risks: This combination significantly increases the risk of other mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. It also increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
5. Challenges in treatment: BPD and emotional dysregulation can make it difficult for people to engage in and benefit from treatment. They may have a hard time trusting therapists, maintaining the motivation for treatment, or applying the coping skills they learn in therapy.
6. Chronic feelings of emptiness: Individuals with BPD often report chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom, which can be a source of great distress.

Treatment for BPD and Emotional Dysregulation

While living life with emotional dysregulation can be tremendously challenging, you must understand that there will always be a glimmer of hope if you are willing to take it. Today, treatments, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), are tremendously effective at treating several conditions, including BPD and emotional dysregulation.

This modern treatment is a form of talk therapy that practitioners have specially adapted for individuals currently struggling with intense and powerful emotions. One of the core ways that DBT stands out is that it places its core focus on helping people understand the reality of their feelings and behaviors. After this period of acceptance, they can work with their therapist to manage these uncontrollable emotions, leading to a better quality of life.

With DBT, you no longer have to live a life where you take a back seat to emotional outbursts, aggression, or avoidance. Instead, you can learn to understand your triggers and work on developing new skills that make it much easier to regulate your emotions.

Getting Help for BPD in Newport Beach

If you want to talk to someone about your options for IOP treatment in Newport Beach for BPD or to get guidance for yourself or a loved one, call Lido Wellness today. Our experienced team is ready to help you understand your options and give you the help you need for the next step in your journey.

A personality disorder is typically classified as long-term behavior that significantly differs from what is expected. Hmmm. Okay. This may or may not be helpful to you. It’s totally understandable to still be a bit in the dark about what a personality disorder actually is.

From day-to-day, each one of us may act “differently than expected.”

Do I have a personality disorder if I lied on my recent job interview?

I don’t really like most people around me; do I have a narcissistic disorder?

When are my behaviors easily explained as quirks and when do they slip into the realms of personality disorder?

To get a full answer to that question, a professional diagnosis is necessary. However, understanding what psychologists consider the range of personality disorders may help you gain an understanding of your (or a loved ones) behaviors. And help point you in the right direction.

10 Personality Disorders

According to the DSM 5, there are ten types of personality disorders. These disorders are categorized by clusters, with each cluster sharing somewhat similar symptoms and characteristics among its disorders.

However, the types of personality disorders will always have to do with how a person thinks about themselves (or others), how a person responds emotionally to stimuli, how a person relates to others, or how a person controls their behaviors.

Types of Personality Disorders

Below are the three categories of PDs with a very brief description of each.

Cluster A (Suspicious)

Personality disorders in this category feature unconventional behavior and include:

Schizotypal personality disorder –

A condition that fosters intense discomfort and a dislike for close relationships.

Paranoid personality disorder –

It causes a person to be overly suspicious and mistrustful of everyone around them.

Schizoid personality disorder –

Makes a person disinterested in creating and maintaining interpersonal relationships.

Cluster B (Emotional and Impulsive)

Characterized by symptoms full of drama and unpredictability, they include:

Borderline personality disorder –

BPD patients have a problem regulating their emotions and thus have low self-esteem, mood swings, and act on impulse.

Histrionic personality disorder –

Is accompanied by emotional instability and warped self-image. People with HPD crave approval from others and have attention-seeking behaviors.

Antisocial personality disorder –

ASPD patients don’t respect others and rebel against accepted norms and rules.

Narcissistic personality disorder –

People with this disorder think they’re better than everyone else and have no empathy for others. They have low self-esteem and lack self-confidence, which they mask by bringing others down.

Cluster C (Anxious)

People with these disorders typically experience frequent episodes of fear and anxiety. Disorders in this category include:

Dependent personality disorder –

people with this disorder are overly submissive and constantly need to be cared for by others. They often spend most of their time and effort trying to please others.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder –

The condition makes a person obsessed about order, perfection, and control.

Avoidant personality disorder –

Characterized by feelings of inadequacy, people with this condition crumble when they’re negatively judged. They’re averse to social interaction due to the fear of judgment.

How Do You Get Diagnosed for Personality Disorder?

Each disorder has their own criteria for diagnosis. Typically, individuals must have two or more presenting symptoms to warrant a diagnosis. Some people will behave in ways that are representative of multiple disorders. It is possible to have multiple disorders present, and that’s called a mixed personality disorder.

The important thing to remember is you cannot diagnose yourself. Neither can your parents or friends. Only a certified mental health specialist can do that. That means a psychiatrist or psychologist. It is not something anyone can simply label you. If you truly have a personality disorder, the best next step is to get help fully understanding and managing it.

Steps to Take If You Suspect You Have a Personality Disorder

The first course of action if you suspect you have a personality disorder, the first course of action is to visit a professional specializing in mental health disorders. Certain types of therapies have proven effective in helping people with all types of personality disorders. These may include:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Group therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

In addition to these formal treatments, keeping a healthy body and mind have been helpful for others. This may include learning about your personality disorder, exercising regularly, finding support groups in your area, staying connected to people who love you, and avoiding drugs or alcohol.

Of course, the first step is reaching out for help.

If you suspect you have a personality disorder and are looking for help, call Lido Wellness Center in Orange County, California, today for a consultation and to find out what treatments might be available for you.