Hi Joe,

All I can say, is massive kudos to you. What an intelligent, insightful and thought provoking post.

I was dx many years ago with traits of ASPD and "psychopathic antisocial behavioural issues". This was was thrown in with NPD and BPD and gosh knows what. I was a walking bag of monster and made to feel the same for many years. My childhood was, at times, terrifying for many different reasons, so I think my behaviour was a mixture of many different triggers.

There is a difference in my case as I was dx with Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD and dyslexia in the 36th year of my life, so the inability to react or behave appropriately in certain situations has certainly got me in some hot water and people running away, covering their eyes in horror. I also had many run ins with the law, and am working on making peace with them, in my own way.

Our lives are different but there are some stunning parallels. Can I ask a question? Are there some deep seated issues that contribute to the ASPD dx?

Don't know if this helps, but I had terrible rage attacks in my young adulthood and a caring man who I treated like a brother took me to meet his Kung Fu master. Enter, Taoism, a very special and logical eastern philosophy. I know it sounds counterintuitive to hand a closet psychopath the tools of a kung fu student, but due to my master, I learned the art of control and ultimately, forgiveness. While I was training, I was not angry.

Take good care of your precious self.......and forgive you.

In stillness,

Michah