pie-and-jam primitive wants to discuss psychology

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11512022

Oh my.

By the way, the Las Vegas Levithan hasn't yet given his progress report, as he promised the other primitives he would several weeks ago; but this is from the mental health forum on Skins's island:

grasswire (35,685 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 03:34 AM

Is there a place to discuss psychology?

I don't want to disrupt this support group. But I'm looking for some info on a certain personality type -- wondering if it is a DSM disorder.

^^^this is from the mental health forum, remember.

Denninmi (3,947 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 04:06 AM

1. Sounds like as good a place as any.

Don't know if anyone will know the answer, but ask away.

mopinko (39,072 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 12:55 PM

2. that would be fine, gw.

but if you hate this person, i would say try to keep that to a minimum. you will get some intelligent comment, tho.
ask away.

^^^the hypochondrial primitive.

grasswire (35,685 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 04:16 PM

3. I don't hate this person.

A forty-something family member. The most optimistic person I have ever known -- to the point that it bites him regularly. Irrational optimism at times. To him, every tomorrow will be exponentially better than today. Particularly financially. This leads him to think that he can put off some things, then there's a domino effect. Is that just poor impulse control? Or is it characteristic of some personality disorder?

Coupled with that is the fact that he makes promises/projections that he just can't keep, and also has trouble telling people bad news. I know where that part comes from. He was verbally and emotionally abused by his father (still is!), and will contort to avoid anger from anyone. Sadly, he married an authoritarian woman who is mean, punitive, and bitter. This put him right into the same kind of abuse he got from his father. She verbally and emotionally has abused him. They are divorced now (a process in which she hammered him) and still involved in a bitter custody dispute (a process in which she is trying to pound him into the dirt).

So I guess my question is: Is irrational optimism a simple self-defense mechanism? Or is it a trait of a personality disorder? What kind of therapy would be useful?

He doesn't have any substance issues. He's very smart, hard-working, kind, compassionate, super-creative. He is admired by many people.

I know that people who have been victims of emotional battering sometimes replicate chaos in their lives because they are so used to living with drama.

I would appreciate any insights from this community. I am a close family member who is in daily long-distance contact with him and lending continual advice and support.

Tobin S. (4,727 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 06:19 PM

5. I think he needs talk therapy

I don't know if he has a mental illness. From what you have explained I'd doubt it. But it sounds to me as if he would definitely benefit from talk therapy. Also, if he does happen to have a mental illness and needs drug therapy, the psychologist will recognize that and refer him to a psychiatrist.

grasswire (35,685 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 07:26 PM

7. sure, he would benefit from counseling...

...to deal with the effects of having been emotionally battered at least. He does not have any insurance coverage for mental health. I might suggest that he find one of those groups that are for adult children of alcoholics.

Tobin S. (4,727 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 07:33 PM

8. Another thing to look into.

In my area I've heard of a clinic that offers psychological services with fees based on a sliding scale based on your ability to pay. I'm not sure where to start looking, but you may have something like that around you. I found out about the one here through a local college's psychology department.

Denninmi (3,947 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 05:27 PM

4. Boy, that's a tough one.

I only had an intro to psychology class at MSU, and that was 25 years ago. But gut instinct tells me something is wrong here. It may well be a defense mechanism, and perhaps at some point he will crack and go into some kind of crisis. Kind of the way I did. I was the eternal pessimist, but I always thought "at some point, they will break me" and it finally happened.

Grass wire, it's nice of you to look out for him. I have a thought. There must be psychology forums out there online, there are forums for everything. Maybe you could find one, register, and ask the question there? Just a thought.

grasswire (35,685 posts)    Fri Oct 26, 2012, 07:25 PM

6. well, I suspect that the cracking point will be a myocardial infarction...

...he has multiple cardiac risk factors. Family history, smoker, extreme stress and drama from dealing with the ex. Or he could have a stroke. I'm sure the blood pressure is off the chart. I finally talked him into low dose aspirin, at least. I'm trying to get him to do some other heart-healthy measures like omega 3, etc. One day at a time.

The "close family member"'s probably the pie-and-jam primitive's son.

[diesel driver]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11512022

Oh my.

By the way, the Las Vegas Levithan hasn't yet given his progress report, as he promised the other primitives he would several weeks ago; but this is from the mental health forum on Skins's island:

^^^this is from the mental health forum, remember.

^^^the hypochondrial primitive.

The "close family member"'s probably the pie-and-jam primitive's son.

I was about to say this guy sounds like the typical Obama voter from '08.   

[GOBUCKS]

Since DUmmy grasswipe Judy got to ask her question, please consider mine.

There is this DUmmy who wears multiple overcoats even in the heat of summer.

She shuffles along the sidewalks of Milwaukie and Oak Grove, Oregon, tugging a little red wagon full of dumpster junk and muttering about a pie shop.

She sleeps in an abandoned bodega that was the center of her pie shop fantasy, oblivious to efforts to evict her.

She parks her little wagon in front of the local library and goes inside to post on a radical leftist nutbag political site.

Oh, and strangest of all, her many coat pockets are filled with little green glass prescription bottles stuffed with hair clippings.

I doubt the Omega-3 scam would make a dent in her psychosis. Maybe she should try bee pollen (remember that one?).