Is there an actual mental condition . . . ??

Question

For someone that is over 40 and cannot hold a job, thinks the world is conspiring against her, has never been married, gave her child up for adoption and now stalks her, obsessively investigates everyone she comes in contact with, always plays the victim role, creates a different personality for each "friendship" she is involved in, and is racist?

Answer 1

hahaha...I love it :)

Answer 2

Without seeing and visiting with the person it is very difficult to make a diagnosis. There are several disorders that is could be.

First it could be Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). According to the DSM-IV TR (this is the book that is used by the mental health professionals to come up with a diagnosis) BPD is when someone meets 5 or more of these items . . .

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation

Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, s*x, substance

      abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

Chronic feelings of emptiness.

Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.

The next diagnosis that came to mind is . . .Schizotypal Personality Disorder. This is all of these need to be met -

Ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference) odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent with subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, or "sixth sense"; in children and adolescents, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations).

Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped).

Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation inappropriate or constricted affect behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar.

Lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self .

Does not occur exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, another Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Next - Avoidant Personality Disorder - four or more need to be met . . .

Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.

Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.

Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed.

Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.

Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy.

Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.

Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing.

Another thought I have is a Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition or Symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use or an Adjustment Disorder.

Again without seeing the person it is hard to make a correct diagnosis.

Hope that this helped.

Answer 3

There is a class of mental disorders called "personality" disorders or "Axis II" disorders that might apply to that person.

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines a personality disorder as:

- Experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the the individual's culture, in two or more of the following:

       1. thinking, including how one perceives and interprets events, themselves and othersperception and interpretation of self, others and events,

       2. emotion (the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional response)

       3. interpersonal functioning

       4. impulse control

B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations.

C. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The pattern is stable, long lasting, and can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.

And of course, these issues can't have some other cause, like a head injury or substance abuse.

There are several specific personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and others. But

unlike many other mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, these disorders are not very precisely defined, and a person might sit right on the edge between having two different disorders, or between having a disorder and being completely healthy.

But besides a personality disorder, she could also be bipolar or schizophrenic. Also, there is no reason why they can't be combined (or "co-occur") with other disorders like depression, substance abuse, trauma, or other health problems (e.g., Alzheimer's can cause personality changes and paranoia. Porphyria can cause delusional thinking.)

So to return to your question, the answer is yes, this person could have an actual mental disorder. It might be a personality disorder, but it could also be something else (like bipolar or schizophrenia). She could also have a physical illness or injury that causes some or all of her behavior.

Regarding how to deal with her, my advice is to avoid being drawn into her little drama. You don't have to fix her, you don't have to punish her, and you don't have to let her affect your mood. If she is unpleasant, you can just avoid her. One technique I have seen used is merely reflecting back what you are seeing and hearing, e.g., "Wow, you sound really upset" or "You really don't like those people, do you?" No labels, no blame, just observations about her thoughts and mood. And then (here is the important part), leaving it at that, taking no action, offering no advice, doing nothing else.

Hope this helps!  

Answer 4

I'll take a wild stab at this....

boarderline personailty disorder