Breaking the Stigma of Antisocial Personality Disorder

 Ever heard of ASPD? It’s likely that you haven’t, and it may affect you without knowing it. Even if you do not have it, a close friend or loved one may have it, and you might not recognize the signs. It may seem scary but fear not, because, after today, you will know what ASPD about, and the awareness that needs to be made.

What is ASPD

 ASPD is a mental condition that can affect adults of all ages. ASPD stands for Antisocial Personality Disorder, which is commonly known as sociopathy. ASPD is characterized as a mental disorder where the person who has it lacks remorse or empathy for their own actions, as well as other's well-being. Often people with ASPD exhibit symptoms such as violence and aggression, impulsive decisions, dangerous activities. While children and teenagers cannot be diagnosed with ASPD until they turn 18, signs such as anger, destructiveness, and depression can be early symptoms of the disorder. People with ASPD often have difficulties with developing and keeping relationships, maintaining jobs, and keeping up with good habits. In more serious cases, they may be involved with theft, physical violence, and other dangerous or illegal actions.

           

ASPD in my Life

I learned about the existence of ASPD at a young age. When I started middle school, I met a kid named Paul. He did not socialize much with other kids, choosing to spend most of his time playing on whatever small device he had at the time. It was only when we got partnered for a school project that we started talking and eventually became friends.

            As I began hanging out with him more and more, I noticed that he never wanted to try new things and was quick to anger at the littlest inconveniences or challenges. It always seemed like if things did not go his way, he could not handle it, and would either break down into violent rages or hide in his room until the problem went away. As we got older, he never seemed to change from his old ways, and more and more of his incidents lead my friends and I to drift away from him until we stopped talking altogether. In middle school, I did not know of ASPD, or anything about it, other than the times that Paul mentioned it after a flare-up. I had thought it meant he had attention issues or depression, but as I would soon learn, it was much more complicated than I thought.  

You or a Loved One may be Suffering from ASPD

It is more common than you think. 3.5% or roughly 7 million Americans are known to be affected by the disorder. That is a lot of people! But despite a significant amount of the US population having it, the symptoms are not widely known. Because ASPD varies in severity, many adults may go their whole lives without getting a diagnosis or treatment, despite obvious and consistent symptoms. A young man or woman could go most of their life wondering why they couldn’t hold down a job, or make a relationship work, all because they did not know about the disorder or its symptoms. As well as those who suffer from the disorder, the general public has little knowledge of the symptoms of ASPD, and may not know how to identify it, or where to turn for help.

Some might argue that applying resources to a mental condition that the public does not have widespread knowledge of would be a waste. But given the frequency of the disorder, and the trouble that it can cause for individuals and their surroundings, it’s safe to say that making the public aware of its existence is crucial to a better tomorrow.

You Can Help People with ASPD

            You can help with expanding awareness of ASPD. Public knowledge of ASPD is limited because of the stigma surrounding it. Unlike mental conditions such as autism, the public generally categorize people who have ASPD as social rejects and cast them in a bleak light. With these two factors in mind, it is easy to see why so many adults who have Sociopathy will not seek treatment, and why you might not have been aware of its signs and symptoms before. Breaking the stigma of the word “sociopathy” is critical to creating awareness about ASPD. If you do this, you can help the public recognize it as a mental condition than a personality trait, and it will help encourage people who might be suffering from the disorder to seek treatment. So, if someone you know seems like they might be suffering from ASPD, do not turn away. Be the point that changes their life around and make the world a happier place.