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Think I may have a personality disorder

I've noticed something very worrying about the way I behave towards other people. It has been going on for years but I've only just accepted it. It seems that I have three different personalities and every morning I wake up as someone different, if this makes any sense. Usually I am quiet, friendly and easygoing, but while on msn tonight I couldn't help but act aggressive, restless and sarcastic towards people, and it shocked me because I couldn't seem to stop. Nothing was wrong with me, I was fine all day until suddenly I changed.
Sometimes I get extremely hyperactive and my mum can't even talk to me because I shout and get silly. She doesn't say anything but she knows I have problems with depression.
I know we all behave differently towards other people, but I felt really upset because I it hurt to imagine what people were thinking of me. They might have thought I really had mental problems.
I'm supposed to be seeing a councillor, but I'm not sure this is going to be any good to me if all they can do is listen.
Tomorrow morning when I wake up I don't know what sort of a mood I'll be in. If I'm happy, I'll be the usual good person that I am, but if not then I will either be quiet and depressed all day or very angry.
I don't know what to do, I hate the thought of becoming mentally ill. What should I do to calm down?

Reply 1

FoeGeddaBowDeet

Anonymous

I've noticed something very worrying about the way I behave towards other people. It has been going on for years but I've only just accepted it. It seems that I have three different personalities and every morning I wake up as someone different, if this makes any sense. Usually I am quiet, friendly and easygoing, but while on msn tonight I couldn't help but act aggressive, restless and sarcastic towards people, and it shocked me because I couldn't seem to stop. Nothing was wrong with me, I was fine all day until suddenly I changed.
Sometimes I get extremely hyperactive and my mum can't even talk to me because I shout and get silly. She doesn't say anything but she knows I have problems with depression.
I know we all behave differently towards other people, but I felt really upset because I it hurt to imagine what people were thinking of me. They might have thought I really had mental problems.
I'm supposed to be seeing a councillor, but I'm not sure this is going to be any good to me if all they can do is listen.
Tomorrow morning when I wake up I don't know what sort of a mood I'll be in. If I'm happy, I'll be the usual good person that I am, but if not then I will either be quiet and depressed all day or very angry.
I don't know what to do, I hate the thought of becoming mentally ill. What should I do to calm down?

That's just one personality! Everybody has mood changes and all that *******s and they will definately be more pronounced if you're a teenager or on your period etc etc. Go and see the councillor if it worries you but from what you've said you seriously just sound normal.

Reply 2

Gem

14

If you had a personality disorder then you would genuinely feel you were these different people, and you'd more than likely have different names and different voices for each character, but you wouldn't know you were behaving differently - it'd all seem normal.

So, may not be a personality disorder, but could be a mood disorder such as Bi-Polar disorder, which is when you get extreme highs, horrible lows then are yourself in between. I'm obviously not diagnosing but it's just a thought. Maybe look at this website (which is also linked in my sig if that didn't work) and see if anything seems familiar?

It's a better idea to go to your GP though, as they'll be so much more help than us, and can help you on the right track! Good Luck :smile:

Reply 3

Jennybean

13

I think it's less likely that you have a personality disorder (I'm assuming you mean something along the lines of split-personality disorder here) and more likely that you have something like ADHD. If you genuinely feel like your aggression and hyperactivity are beyond your control - would you describe them as a compulsion? - then it may be a possibility. HenvY has a point in that sometimes everyone feels up and down but I wouldn't agree that you sound completely normal and what you're describing sounds very similiar to the behaviour of an acquaintance of mine who has ADHD. Some evenings she'll scream and shout and run around and say really stupid stuff and even harm herself on bad days, and no one can get through to her, it's like she's possessed. Then in the morning she'll be back to normal except excruciatingly embarrassed about her previous behaviour. But the people she lives with know about it, which is the crucial thing really and if you can get a diagnosis and perhaps some treatment like Ritalin, then you can make people aware so that they know not to take anything you say when you're out of character personally, and not to judge you. At any rate, having a chat with this counsellor and perhaps your GP won't do any harm. If it does turn out just to be rather violent moodswings you can perhaps learn some tips to regulate your own behaviour.

Reply 4

username43584

8

You sound perfectly normal...maybe the extreme end of normal, but you're not extreme enough to be bipolar I don't think. Bipolar comes more in phases of weeks and months rather than days too.

Reply 5

englishjames

HenvY

That's just one personality! Everybody has mood changes and all that *******s and they will definately be more pronounced if you're a teenager or on your period etc etc. Go and see the councillor if it worries you but from what you've said you seriously just sound normal.

Yes definately agree with the advice, Its very important to surround yourself with geniunely nice people, whether that be from a religious persuasion or friends out of school or college. When I was a full time carer for my dad for several years ( he was very poorly, leg amputated and he was in a wheelchair for 29 years, lost a kidney, had cancer and suffered a stroke) the guy used to wake up in a great mood ie. joking etc. It was during this period that I thought how little and insignificant my problems were, he was a great inspiration to me, basically I don't know you personally and its easier said than done but if you can see the doctor/councillor, unless he specifically advises you to take medication, try not ask for it , like all medications unwanted side affects can occur, try and steer clear of medication if you can. I can tell you what might be of great help to you is a process called neuro-linguistic programming. I would really recomend one of the numerous books on the subject to anyone wanting to understand and positively improve their thought processes, and it explains why we do the things we do sometimes that seem very illogical.there's a starter book by Mo Shapiro, or alternately use the web. try not to worry to much, this in itself will be very negative. I wish you all the best and take care. P.S. pm me if you feel you need to talk. lol james

Reply 6

hotfuzz

extreme end of normal-classic. Its just mood swings.

Reply 7

anjimcflanji

1

It could well be a personality disorder and they aren't limited to just DID. It's good however that you see that you may have a problem and are seeking help. Do any of your friends notice this in you? DO you know of anyone/thing that could be a trigger? Going to see someone is ace, they may not be able to help you but may be able to find someone who can. When you are hyperactive..do your thought just jump from one to another and are they completely unrelated so someone trying to follow gets a bit lost?
Did you go to your GP first? Good luck going to see someone, I really hope they can help. If you need someone to talk to feel free to PM me or have a gander on the NHS website for support/ helplines...

Reply 8

Cyclotron

Jennybean

I think it's less likely that you have a personality disorder (I'm assuming you mean something along the lines of split-personality disorder here) and more likely that you have something like ADHD. If you genuinely feel like your aggression and hyperactivity are beyond your control - would you describe them as a compulsion? - then it may be a possibility. HenvY has a point in that sometimes everyone feels up and down but I wouldn't agree that you sound completely normal and what you're describing sounds very similiar to the behaviour of an acquaintance of mine who has ADHD. Some evenings she'll scream and shout and run around and say really stupid stuff and even harm herself on bad days, and no one can get through to her, it's like she's possessed. Then in the morning she'll be back to normal except excruciatingly embarrassed about her previous behaviour. But the people she lives with know about it, which is the crucial thing really and if you can get a diagnosis and perhaps some treatment like Ritalin, then you can make people aware so that they know not to take anything you say when you're out of character personally, and not to judge you. At any rate, having a chat with this counsellor and perhaps your GP won't do any harm. If it does turn out just to be rather violent moodswings you can perhaps learn some tips to regulate your own behaviour.

one paragraph and your already prescribing ritalin....

to the poster... you sound perfectly normal

its changes like these that make people interesting

Reply 9

Jennybean

13

Cyclotron

one paragraph and your already prescribing ritalin....

Disclaimer: OP don't take Ritalin unless you're absolutely sure you have ADHD, your doctor has prescribed it and there is no other practical alternative. It's nasty stuff, the pharmacokinetics are weird and if you don't have a need for it, it basically affects you in the inverse way to that which it should. I.e. if you're actually medically hyper it will calm you down but if you're not then it will send you through the roof.

Reply 10

Cyclotron

or better yet, stop worrying about being abnormal and stay away from the doctor and their mind altering crap

Reply 11

Jennybean

13

Cyclotron

or better yet, stop worrying about being abnormal and stay away from the doctor and their mind altering crap

I think you've confused 'doctors' with 'Derren Brown', love.

Reply 12

Anonymous #2

You sound normal, you should just to focus on not being selfish in the way you take your moods out on others.

I had a friend like you once. Always trying to create mental illnesses for herself. She never seemed to realise how much people look down on mentally ill people and that so much of her unhappiness either was justified or exaggerated in her mind. In the end she did develop full-on depression because she took the same attitude you seem to - 'oh the councillors won't help, I'm so ill, this can't be all within my control, no-one else feels like this'. :rolleyes:

I really hope you get yourself sorted. And remember, if it does turn out that you have depression then you can make it go away. If you do think there's a risk of you becoming bi-polar then try to stop it before it develops, and that has to come from within you and your attitude. Doctors and councillors can't prevent it, but you can. And you must.

But really. It sounds like you're normal. Everyone has bad days, you really aren't alone.

I hate this society where anything less than desirable is treated like an illness.

You actually sound like you're attention seeking. Sorry to be blunt. Perhaps I'm being harsh, I'm not trying to offend.

Reply 13

Cyclotron

Jennybean

I think you've confused 'doctors' with 'Derren Brown', love.

oh yeah

seriously tho, mind altering chemicals and a negative label are not what anyone needs... and yet thats exactly what the doctor prescribes (in your example)

you are better off dealing with your problems yourself and unless they get very serious and debilitating, staying away from doctors and especially psychiatric drugs

Reply 14

shinytoy

18

i think a lot of people here do not know what they are talking about.
there is no such thing as 'split personality disorder'. there IS schizophrenia as descibed above. there is also manic depression - high highs and low lows may be helped by lithium.

the difference between mental illness and personality disorder is that mental illness can (usually) be treated whereas personality disorder is part of your personality, and usually cannot be. psychiatry and psychotherpy may help in the mental illness but for the personlity disorder there may be nothing that can be done as it is the way you re born often you do not develop them.

as you said there was a sudden onset, of extremes of mood, i would suggest it was mental illness rater than personality disorder - particularly the two above - schizophrenia or bipolar (manic depression).

however there may also be an organic root to your mood swings eg hormones fluctations during puberty or even diet and blood sugar levels.

the only way is to see a GP and get referred somewhere proper if they see fit. i do not think the counselling will help unless you feel you could talk out your problems

Reply 15

Cyclotron

oh my god.

Reply 16

Sarky

18

shinytoy

i think a lot of people here do not know what they are talking about.
there is no such thing as 'split personality disorder'.

There is, although it is more commonly referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

Reply 17

Jennybean

13

Sarky

There is, although it is more commonly referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

I can't believe people think that's a myth! Have they never watched Identity?Or The Secret Window? It was bad when he killed his dog :s-smilie:

Reply 18

Gem

14

shinytoy

i think a lot of people here do not know what they are talking about.
there is no such thing as 'split personality disorder'. there IS schizophrenia as descibed above. there is also manic depression - high highs and low lows may be helped by lithium.

No, I think you do not know what you're talking about. There is such as things as split personality disorder, but as Sarky says, its referred to as 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' which is in no way make believe, pretend or an act, in genuine cases.

Also I don't think it's very nice scaring the poor OP - talking about how some illnesses can not be treated and that counselling won't help. Everyone is individual, some might find counselling is great whilst others find only medication can help. Don't put the OP off going to see his GP by scaring him! He might not, and probably won't, have any of these things, it may be something simple like stress or even hormones, but it's best to get it checked out as he's obviously worried enough to make a post on it.

Reply 19

Sarky

18

shinytoy

for the personlity disorder there may be nothing that can be done as it is the way you re born often you do not develop them.

Absolute rubbish. It can be managed and the person can see an improvement if it is recognised and treated in the right way. That doesn't mean it can be cured but it can be made easier for the person to deal with. Don't go round telling people things that are just plain wrong and opinionated.

I have a friend with DID and its very sad. She had had mental health issues before and for a number of reasons had supressed certain things. I went to see her in the holidays and spent some time with her, just so she knew i hadn't changed my feelings about our friendship. I took an 8 yr old girl to the cinema and spent 7 hours cuddly a 6yr old because she had lost her teddy. I found it very distressing :frown:

I don't know the whole spectrum of DID so i won't make a diagnosis (unlike shinytoy) but i know for my friend she didn't know when she had "changed" and had no memory of her different personalities unless someone told her or she had written something down. When i was holding her whilst one of her personalities was crying about her teddy she suddenly looked up and said "Why are you holding me like this? I'm fine!". I explained what had happened and she was very upset.

Go and seek help OP, because the doctors will know more than we can tell you, but mental illness is so varied that it may be something you never even thought of, which isn't as scary as the extremes perpetuated by the media.

Think I may have a personality disorder

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