to be bemused by people who blame their appalling behaviour on a medical condition that sounds remarkably convenient

[Desdamona]

I wanted to post on a thread that someone else started a few weeks ago, but I can't find it. I have just been listening to Women's Hour. A woman in her twenties appears to have made a good living out of fleecing fiances and wants her personality disorder to be taken into account. What is the difference between having a personality disorder and being a bit of a shit who happened to get caught? How long have these convenient personality disorders been around as a defence for, er, crime?

And what is the difference between an alcoholic and someone who refused to exercise any self-control? If someone is overweight, they are judged to be unable or reluctant to deny themselves pleasure. Why do we get all understanding as soon as the (twit) claims they have a (made up) medical handle. It's not a disease. There is no proof it is a disease. There may be a genetic tendency but don't turn it into a disease. The disease theory is based on the replies to under 100 questionnaires.

I had a bf who claimed to be alcoholic. Just got drunk when he liked and, ooh, aren't you brave, telling all your drunk mates about it?

Personality disorder: Don't get me started.

Have you expertise in this field?

Wow! 20 years and a pyschiatric team of 6 it took to diagnose (and help) me and yet here you are in 100 words telling me I imagined those years!

Have you considered joining the Scientologists and claiming PND (for example) is just wishy-washy laziness and a woman's inability to take vitamin tablets?

Radio 4 listener
I don't know anybody who has had, or claimed to have a personality disorder. How common is it? I am prepared to believe there is such a thing, but also, if I were a serial opportunist shoplifter, and I got caught one day, perhaps after a fairly profitable career as a thief, I would be looking for a defence lawyer with enthusiasm for pds.

It reminds me of Peter Sutcliffe. Got caught. Pleaded madness.

And. Tiger Woods. Oops, I shagged a lot of people who are not my wife. Am I a world-class trouser dropper? No. I am not a serial trouser dropper. I have no idea how you could possibly have formed such an ill-informed opinion. I was born with a condition that is beyond my control. I deserve your pity and your respect that I have admitted I am a random trouser-dropper.

Genghis Khan: Much misunderstood. Borderline personality disorder and wasn't breastfed. Ah, that explains everything.

I'm an avid Radio 4 listener. They've yet to post me my degree in psychiatry, the bastards.

But your theory explains why all the prisons are so empty.

If you can direct me to that old thread I'll go and read that one. I'm sure that it's all been said before.

You're right that I didn't mention pnd and (also) eating disorders, so I am being picky myself. Maybe those don't really exist either, but I do know people with those. I don't think pnd is an illness either, though. I think it is obvious that having a baby is/can be less than an OK photospread and the nhs is very very good at looking for it and helping with it. So, ifswim, it is not an excuse for bad behaviour, it is thoroughly understandable failure to thrive immediately. A case of 'There but for the Grace of God....' Also, eating disorders are not an excuse for rampant hedonism/theft.

lolol habs.

I would say a man who slaughters 13 women, Peter Sutcliffe wasnt quite in the right frame of mind, wouldnt you!

Yawn.

yeah, and it's not like they let him go free off the back of being bonkers.

i'm using my radio four psych degree to pronounce you a bit bonkers, desdamona.

You really need to educate yourself beyond listening to woman's hour before you go saying what is a disease and what isn't.

There are lots of different types of personality disorder - schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder and so on. It is a horrible thing to have to cope with and very obvious in some individuals. It is often considered untreatable, so there is no point blaming people for having it.

MMmmmm Hmmmm

Ghengis Kahn = Borderline Personality Disorder.

And people have wondered why I namechange to post about the fact that this is my diagnosis?

Cos it is bloody easy to live with, you know. Fighting every minute of every day to behave in a "socially acceptable" way, against all my instincts. Trying so hard it hurts not to lie, self-harm, to even know who I am, if I am in my body or not today.

There are bad people out there. Some have PDs, others do not. Please stop tarring everyone with the same brush. I am a bloody brilliant mum, teacher (oooooh no, are the kiddies at risk?), wife, friend etc and it takes a whole lot of effort to do that, but you know what, a lot of people just do it. Cos we all have a choice.

@ borderliner. I have to admit - I did act out quite badly on occasion - but I can't recall ever commiting genocide.

I blame everbody except mysef and I especially blme the Government

There are people who blame their appalling behaviour on all sorts of things. WHy single out those who pick personality disorders/etc and then attempt to tar all pd sufferers with same brush?

Over-medicalisation is an issue, but doesn't mean there isn't real suffering.

Wish it was so bloody simple.

Btw, I listen to radio 4 AND read the Gruniad - am I able to diagnose now too?

Im no expert but i think the likes of Ghengis and Sutcliffe had a bit more going on than just appalling behaviour and i dont even listen to radio 4.

Haven't we all get a personality disorder?

I havent got a personality

No.

Lol lol at ghengis and sutcliffe having a bit more going on than appalling behavior.

The trouble is, you just make yourself sound like an ignorant berk when you start a debate based on 3 minutes discussion on R4. Or maybe you have borderline igoramus disorder?

lovin the straight talking school of psychiatry.bet all they need is a good shake and to pull themselves together.were did you learn your psychiatry diagnosis murder

pd is complicated and arranged around 3 clusters.each individual presentation varies but common themes prevail.pd is listed in icd10 it accounts for a sizeable amount of psych/gp/cmht time

what pd makes so complicated is the powerful and strong emotions evoked in staff and workers

but hey who need to hear that when a straight talker listening to radio blah blah can sort out the world

And re the eating disorders - are they real - issue, I developed anorexia when I was 15 and before I even knew what it was. My mum still doesn't believe in eating disorders and thinks everyone should just Pull Themselves Together. She suffers from a severe lack of empathy and knowledge and TBH it makes you sound the same when you make silly statements like these.