General Psychology
Mental Illness Awareness Pt.1 – Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse, Antisocial and Psychopathic Disorders
There are several mental illnesses and scientists are constantly searching to understand the various mental illnesses that exist. Here we will discover just a few of the most common illnesses in detail.
Alcohol Abuse and Drug Abuse
Alcohol abuse and drug abuse are two conditions that are both very serious. However, it seems that alcoholism often gets more attention than drug abuse, when drug abuse should often be looked at more closely. 
The DSM manual suggests that there are actually differences in the definition of both conditions.
To confuse matters even more,the judicial system seems to have its own version of what these conditions are as well.
Some of the most common symptoms of alcoholism and drug abuse include:
- Excessive drinking/drugging
- Problems with the law
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Shaking of hands
If a person drinks daily and relies on alcohol, then you are most likely dealing with an alcoholic. Although, everyone seems to have their own definition of what an alcohol is, but the bottom line is that withdrawal symptoms manifest themselves and the person needs alcohol to relieve them then they are an alcoholic, no matter what time of the
day they have their first drink.
Each person is different physically in how they deal with alcohol as well. If you are started drinking when you were young and you have been able to drink without alcohol causing you any issues then you are probably not an alcoholic.
The fact is that alcoholism and drug addiction are very complex conditions. Alcohol and drugs become a problem when the person is unable to control their use and increases their intake and then combines the two. If someone will steal or lie to obtain alcohol then they are likely addicted. Many people with other mental illnesses will also resort to alcohol and drugs to find relief from their symptoms.
Alcoholism and drug addiction are conditions that can be treated and overcome but it does require a lot of motivation to quit on the person’s behalf. Many people must first hit rock bottom before they are willing to admit that they have a problem and many people are never able to admit they have a problem and there is little hope for these individuals.
You can’t make a person quit drinking or doing drugs, but you can support them once they have taken it upon themselves to quit.
Antisocial and Psychopathic Disorders
To diagnose antisocial and psychopathic disorders, mental health experts first use the Conduct Control Behaviors or Disorders rules to diagnose a patient over the age of 18 with Antisocial Personality Disorder. This particular disorder often has several underlying disorders that can mimic other symptoms to cause a false diagnosis.
These symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
- Fire starting and pyromania
- Truancy
- Theft
- Harming of people
- Harming and killing small animals
- Hostility towards authority
- Violent outbursts
- Dangerous sexual acts
- Willful or malicious destruction of property
- Compulsive-implosive explosions
- Crime
There are many more symptoms related to this condition, but quite frankly many are very frightening.
Psychopathic symptoms are very similar to those above and include:
- Fire starting
- Bed wetting
- Harming or killing people
- Harming or killing small animals
- Explosive outbursts
- Conduct control disorders
- Inability to regard others
- Destruction
- Truancy
- Neglectful attitude
- Sexual deviant behavior
- Hostility towards authority
- Inability to show remorse
- Inability to express emotions
- Impulsive-compulsive behaviors
- Criminal minded
Individuals who suffer from antisocial and psychopathic conditions are unable to show emotion at all and they never show remorse for their actions. If they do show remorse, it is superficial and they really don’t have any feelings of remorse at all.
These two areas of mental illness include the following illnesses:
- Antisocial personalities
- Sociopath personalities
- Histrionic personalities
- Psychopathic personalities
It is easy to see how these conditions can have a similar diagnosis, as they are related and linked quite closely in diagnosis. The differences are slight and in reality the two are very similar.
These two conditions are often diagnosed and linked to each other in a condition called Psychopathic disorder with Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathic traits and tendencies. Because of the closeness in diagnosis, many
mental health experts have conflicting opinions on Antisocial Personality Disorder, because it is essentially psychopathic.
Psychopathic Personalities are up on reality, but their morals and social beliefs tend to determine their symptoms.
These people often engage in sexual exploits and are more often affected by pornographic materials and pornographic materials are often the leading cause behind a psychopath’s mind.
These conditions also have hereditary link and their behaviors are genetic. Also, although alcohol and drug use are common among these individuals, not all are alcoholics or drug addicts. Several individuals have been diagnosed with this condition and have never touched either substance. Many resort to these substances though to
relieve the pain of their symptoms.
These individuals do not always commit murder either. Many of those who do commit murder are those who have not been treated. It may take years to work through the symptoms of these conditions, but in the long run you can work with them and treat them.
This is important to stop these individuals from becoming serial killers. It is often the individuals who are never treated that resort to killing.
Tagged Antisocial Disorders, mental disorders, Psychopathic Disorders, Substance Abuse
