A diagnosed sociopath has given an insight into his life and revealed the thing which made him realise something was wrong.
The label ‘sociopath’ can often get thrown about and misused to criticise people, therefore carrying a lot of stigma.
So first, we’ll dive into what a sociopath actually is.
A sociopath is someone who has an antisocial personality disorder, and the NHS says people with one will ‘typically be manipulative, deceitful and reckless, and will not care for other people's feelings’.
For a YouTube video with Jubilee, a lad took part in I’m a Sociopath. Ask Me Anything and explained his experience having the disorder.
A real life sociopath
Greg was diagnosed when he ‘was around 21, 22’ and now at 33, he says his definition of a sociopath is someone who ‘has no regard for themselves or other people’.
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“You’re very impulsive, very irresponsible, reckless,” he said. “Basically like a child.”
And while he was 'relieved' when he got the diagnosis, the thing that made him release something was wrong might no be the most conventional sign you think of.
When did he first realise he was a sociopath?
He was asked what made him think he was a sociopath, and Greg simply responded: “Waking up in prison was probably my first clue.”
It may sound extreme, but the NHS say ‘criminal behaviour is a key feature of antisocial personality disorder’.
Greg explained: “I’ve committed several crimes. I was using drugs and selling to support my habit. I also have many retail thefts.”
During the interview (released in 2022), he said he hadn’t committed any ‘major crimes’ since 2011 and had ‘stopped stealing’ and ‘driving recklessly’.
“I think I changed my ways,” he added.
And when asked about what made him make the decision to change things, he responded: “Not wanting to go back to prison. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.”
Greg also spoke about how over the years he’s ‘learned how to not destroy [his] life by accident’.
“I can manage to stop these thoughts and impulses before they lead to actions,” he explained.
The signs of being a sociopath
The NHS say a diagnosis for antisocial personality disorder if the person is aged 18 or over and applied to at least three of the following criteria behaviours:
- repeatedly breaking the law
- repeatedly being deceitful
- being impulsive or incapable of planning ahead
- being irritable and aggressive
- having a reckless disregard for their safety or the safety of others
- being consistently irresponsible
- lack of remorse
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: Mental Health, Crime, YouTube
Jess Battison