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sociopathic 13 year old
Can anyone recommend books on helping diagnosis and treat children with sociopathic disorders? All the books and information I have seen is on recognizing it in criminals, mass murderers. Diagnosing him would at least give us a handle on the "whys" involved in his behavior even though there might not be effective treatment.
All of you have described my 10 year old nephew who has been diagnosed and is on Meds since he was 5 for depression, bi-polar disorder, schezophrania (sp), and ADHD. But as an infant he would cry a lot and get irritated very easily. He has recently started cycling because they have changed his meds and he is threatening kids and adults at school, using vulgar language towards other kids and adults, being violent etc. My nephews father died when he was 2 and my sister has been a single mom ever since. My nephew has no friends, and hates everyone and everything and gets pleasure out of hurting others. I recently told my sister that I thought my nephew was a sociopath/psychopath because he has no remorse or emotion about what he does to others.
I was reading an article I found on a website about sociopaths and it says that 1 out of every 100 men are born as sociopaths and 1 out of every 300 women are born the same. What a scary thought? I fear for my sister as my nephew gets stronger and more decieving, and he is very, very intellegent. My sister has been trying to find support groups and receive help from the state, but to no avail as of yet.
I was reading an article I found on a website about sociopaths and it says that 1 out of every 100 men are born as sociopaths and 1 out of every 300 women are born the same. What a scary thought? I fear for my sister as my nephew gets stronger and more decieving, and he is very, very intellegent. My sister has been trying to find support groups and receive help from the state, but to no avail as of yet.
I have been having the same problems with our now 14 year old son since birth.I knew he was different from all of my other kids (I have 8)He always cried and was irritated as an infant he was never easy to console.He played by himself all of the time except when he was hurting the other kids he would get this strange look on his face as if if he hadnt done anything and even when you catch him doing something he denies it.He was just recently diagnosed as manic depressive/bi-polar.BULL I say.I thing there is something that is much deeper.I feel it and everything that describes a sociopath describes my son.He has also broke my 10 year olds arm and tells him on a daily basis to tell us that he jumped off the bed and thats how he broke his arm.We have a court hearing in the morning because he struck my 16 year old in the face and he is now facing domestic violence and felonious assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.This 14 years of our life has been a nightmare.I wish there was a cure or someone could give us answers!!!! He has excellent art skills its ashame he is the way he is.He is very talented!!!But decieving and evil
I was just reading your posts. OMG! It all sounds like you are describing my niece, right down to most of the details. She's 15 and in juvenile detention right now. I took custody of my niece in 2006, when her mother died.
It's been an escalating nightmare ever since, with the police being called sometimes several times a day. Last July, she was charged with assault after she attacked me when she didn't want to go to school. I had a bloody nose, numerous (about 20) deep scratch marks across my stomach and chest, and a nasty bite mark on my left breast. She was held in jail for two weeks then given two years probation. I baracade myself in my room at night now.
The lying and manipulation and violent outbursts are not reserved for me, however. She's done the same thing toward my older children and their friends (she doesn't have any friends), as well as toward the staff at the mental health alternative school I've enrolled her in. She also does the same thing toward men (usually ages 20-30), that she wants sex from, if they refuse. (She's already managed to have 4 young men charged with "contributing to the delinquency of a minor").
I petitioned for relief of custody last month, because I can't see where any treatments or medications have had any effect. I also can't continue living in fear of whatever vindictive retaliation she will think up next. Family services has told me that a judge would grant my petition, in spite of all the efforts that have been made. They are recommending long term residential placement, instead.
Like you, I've done a lot of reading. From what I've found, this condition is the result of a brain development abnormality in the frontal cortex. There currently is no cure. However, there is promising research into long term cognitive behavioral therapy combined with medications, that when applied consistantly in a highly structured environment (for 1-5 five years), have shown noteworthy success toward teaching appropriate social integration.
The biggest challenge is that sociopaths are not capable of empathy. Therapy has to use the sociopaths own abnormal thinking patterns to help them find a way to want to behave differently. Usually these individuals are intellectually above average. For most of us, that poses a challenge in and of itself. We tend to think that smart people process information the same way we do, and that they develop the same values we do. That is simply not the case with a person who lacks empathy.
I noticed your post about trips to DC. Are you in the area? I'm in VA.
Good luck. -Patty-
It's been an escalating nightmare ever since, with the police being called sometimes several times a day. Last July, she was charged with assault after she attacked me when she didn't want to go to school. I had a bloody nose, numerous (about 20) deep scratch marks across my stomach and chest, and a nasty bite mark on my left breast. She was held in jail for two weeks then given two years probation. I baracade myself in my room at night now.
The lying and manipulation and violent outbursts are not reserved for me, however. She's done the same thing toward my older children and their friends (she doesn't have any friends), as well as toward the staff at the mental health alternative school I've enrolled her in. She also does the same thing toward men (usually ages 20-30), that she wants sex from, if they refuse. (She's already managed to have 4 young men charged with "contributing to the delinquency of a minor").
I petitioned for relief of custody last month, because I can't see where any treatments or medications have had any effect. I also can't continue living in fear of whatever vindictive retaliation she will think up next. Family services has told me that a judge would grant my petition, in spite of all the efforts that have been made. They are recommending long term residential placement, instead.
Like you, I've done a lot of reading. From what I've found, this condition is the result of a brain development abnormality in the frontal cortex. There currently is no cure. However, there is promising research into long term cognitive behavioral therapy combined with medications, that when applied consistantly in a highly structured environment (for 1-5 five years), have shown noteworthy success toward teaching appropriate social integration.
The biggest challenge is that sociopaths are not capable of empathy. Therapy has to use the sociopaths own abnormal thinking patterns to help them find a way to want to behave differently. Usually these individuals are intellectually above average. For most of us, that poses a challenge in and of itself. We tend to think that smart people process information the same way we do, and that they develop the same values we do. That is simply not the case with a person who lacks empathy.
I noticed your post about trips to DC. Are you in the area? I'm in VA.
Good luck. -Patty-
By the way, 99.9 percent of police officers and soldiers are not sociopaths but are people driven by a commitment to help there fellow man and serve their country. I am in no way bashing either professions. Who knows, he may attack a deadly rapist or terrorist.
ms. sadie, if you want to know the perspective from psychiatrists I can tell you because my father is a psychiatrist, and I worked in his practice. I am not an MD and I can therefore give you insight that MD's are not legally able to say. However the news is not too far from the criminal websites that you have read, there is only a slight glimmer of hope that he will have a chance to fit into society and not be destructive. This is not to say that he will be cured or learn emotion, that will NEVER happen.
He chooses not to take his medicine. This is most likely why there is no difference in his behavior. Even if a doctor forced it down his mouth, the best someone could hope for is that he might fall asleep because you cannot grow emotions. At best he might not be as violent. In all honesty, he will never understand that the medicine is for his own good out of your concern, that requires emotion. It may not be worth the trouble of forcing him to take the medicine, he does not want to get better and will most likely spit out the pills when you or the doctor leaves. Forcing him to take meds will seem like an insult and make him want to incur retaliation.
Most psychologist and MDs do not believe that there is a treatment for sociopaths since emotions cannot be grown. Most MD's feel that clinics that "treat" personality disorders simply house these kids until they are 18. Most kids with such disorders are uncontrollable.
The case you describe sound exactly like several kids with personality disorders. Honestly these kids caused so much destruction and as hard as it may be to accept, he may never get better.
My father told me one particular case in which a kid with sociopath disorder showed some sort of integration into society. The kid at the age of 15 caused all sorts of ruckus with the police and school. He liked to burn animals and had no problem lying and manipulating. He was violent at times. My dad went into the room to talk with him and said, "I hear you have been spitting out the medicine. If you don't want to cooperate why should I waste my time treating you?"
"You still OWE me 15 minutes of talk time!" cried the kid.
"Talk..." my dad said and he kid got up pissed most likely because my dad did not want to play his game and the kid had no chance of winning. Now the kid is almost 30. He had a job as a police officer. He probably relished in the power he had over criminals and I am sure he is still violent. He also joined the army and is in Afghanistan. For all I know, he may be causing pain to prisoners of war. However society has some sort of use for him.
Apparently he learned that he would not have a successful result of causing violence out in the open so he may indulge in these violent practices incognito, even in ways that society may have use for.
Try to tell him if he behaves for 5 more years, for the sake of himself, he may find a job that society rewards his violence for to a degree, e.g. military or police.
Good luck
He chooses not to take his medicine. This is most likely why there is no difference in his behavior. Even if a doctor forced it down his mouth, the best someone could hope for is that he might fall asleep because you cannot grow emotions. At best he might not be as violent. In all honesty, he will never understand that the medicine is for his own good out of your concern, that requires emotion. It may not be worth the trouble of forcing him to take the medicine, he does not want to get better and will most likely spit out the pills when you or the doctor leaves. Forcing him to take meds will seem like an insult and make him want to incur retaliation.
Most psychologist and MDs do not believe that there is a treatment for sociopaths since emotions cannot be grown. Most MD's feel that clinics that "treat" personality disorders simply house these kids until they are 18. Most kids with such disorders are uncontrollable.
The case you describe sound exactly like several kids with personality disorders. Honestly these kids caused so much destruction and as hard as it may be to accept, he may never get better.
My father told me one particular case in which a kid with sociopath disorder showed some sort of integration into society. The kid at the age of 15 caused all sorts of ruckus with the police and school. He liked to burn animals and had no problem lying and manipulating. He was violent at times. My dad went into the room to talk with him and said, "I hear you have been spitting out the medicine. If you don't want to cooperate why should I waste my time treating you?"
"You still OWE me 15 minutes of talk time!" cried the kid.
"Talk..." my dad said and he kid got up pissed most likely because my dad did not want to play his game and the kid had no chance of winning. Now the kid is almost 30. He had a job as a police officer. He probably relished in the power he had over criminals and I am sure he is still violent. He also joined the army and is in Afghanistan. For all I know, he may be causing pain to prisoners of war. However society has some sort of use for him.
Apparently he learned that he would not have a successful result of causing violence out in the open so he may indulge in these violent practices incognito, even in ways that society may have use for.
Try to tell him if he behaves for 5 more years, for the sake of himself, he may find a job that society rewards his violence for to a degree, e.g. military or police.
Good luck
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