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Help me diagnose this mental disorder

Texashiker

Texashiker

Lifer
<serious thread>

There is this young man I know. He is 25 years old and seems to have these persistent issues.

Symptoms

Lazy
Does not care about appearance - poor posture, unkept hair, poor hygiene
Does not care about learning a trade or skill
Is unable to think of the future - as in being able to support himself with no skills
Does opposite what you ask him to, or does not do it at all
No drive to improve his standard of living
No drive to do anything besides sleep late and play video games

The doing opposite, or not doing what you as him is one of the worst issues. This has caused him to be fired from several jobs.

Is this just being lazy, or is it a real mental condition?
 
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Narcissist/contrarian/entitled?

Only thing that worries me is the not caring about the future. Idk if it's a condition so much as a "conditioning." Sounds like he needs a unique wake up call.
 
highland145 said:
Who's feeding/sheltering him? His enabler?
Click to expand...

He is living with his younger brother.

Over the past few years he has lived with various friends and family. The result is usually the same - lazy, does not want to work, gets kicked out, he calls someone to take him in.

Even in the face of being homeless, he has no desire to go to work, or learn a skill or trade.
 
Is he unhappy? Is he having trouble dealing with the real world?

If so -- and it sounds like it -- then he has a real problem. And since you care about him, you should encourage him to get real help from a qualified professional. (Easier said than done in many cases.)
 
CharlesKozierok said:
Is he unhappy? Is he having trouble dealing with the real world?

If so -- and it sounds like it -- then he has a real problem. And since you care about him, you should encourage him to get real help from a qualified professional. (Easier said than done in many cases.)
Click to expand...

Yep, sounds like depression, but of course nobody can tell for sure until he is checked out by a professional.
 
PricklyPete said:
I believe that is commonly referred to as ATOT disorder.
Click to expand...

??? Everyone on ATOT is rich and sleeps with a super model everynight.



CharlesKozierok said:
Is he unhappy? Is he having trouble dealing with the real world?

If so -- and it sounds like it -- then he has a real problem. And since you care about him, you should encourage him to get real help from a qualified professional. (Easier said than done in many cases.)
Click to expand...

I dont think he is happy.

To find happiness, you need to know what makes you happy (hobbies, relationships,,,etc).

How do you motivate someone that is not interested in anything? How can someone find something, if they have no interest in looking?
 
Texashiker said:
How do you motivate someone that is not interested in anything? How can someone find something, if they have no interest in looking?
Click to expand...

This is a primary symptom of depression. And when it is serious enough to have major life impacts, it needs treatment.

Strongly encourage him to get help from someone who knows what they are doing. You're getting some spectacularly bad advice in this thread.
 
I might talk with the family see if we can get the guy to start college. There is a community college campus nearby.

We have talked to him about going to a psychiatrist, but he is opposed to anything with doctors.

The only other person I have ever known like this, was a schizophrenic who got into drugs and ended up killing himself.
 
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Texashiker said:
<serious thread>

There is this young man I know. He is 25 years old and seems to have these persistent issues.

Symptoms

Lazy
Does not care about appearance - poor posture, unkept hair, poor hygiene
Does not care about learning a trade or skill
Is unable to think of the future - as in being able to support himself with no skills
Does opposite what you ask him to, or does not do it at all
No drive to improve his standard of living
No drive to do anything besides sleep late and play video games

The doing opposite, or not doing what you as him is one of the worst issues. This has caused him to be fired from several jobs.

Is this just being lazy, or is it a real mental condition?
Click to expand...

It's difficult to tell, but there is obviously something wrong, although it might not be too serious and might not be anything that would qualify as a "true" mental disorder. It may be a mild form of depression or he might be doing drugs. Even something like weed can be causing such attitudes.

Should be relatively easy to check if he is indeed sick or just plain lazy.

1)Take away computer, consoles, and games. Sell them, buy him a pullup bar instead. ; )
2)Start feeding very little, say - "Wanna eat "enough"? You have to earn the money for it and go buy it."


But on a serious note... Has anyone tried talking to him? Find out WHY he is so apathetic and indifferent? Doesn't he want to look good? Meet a nice girl, etc, etc... It could answer a lot of questions.
 
ibex333 said:
But on a serious note... Has anyone tried talking to him? Find out WHY he is so apathetic and indifferent? Doesn't he want to look good? Meet a nice girl, etc, etc... It could answer a lot of questions.
Click to expand...

Nobody seems to be able to get answers out of him as to why he acts the way he does.

Ask him to do a job, he does not do it. Ask him why he did not do the job, he says "I dont know".

Simple things, like buttoning the top buttons of his shirt so his chest hair does not show is a fight.

As soon as your back is turned he goes back to acting irresponsible. If you want him to do anything, you have to stand over him the whole time to make sure he is doing the job.

People that know him think he has some kind of Sociopathy disorder. He will do whatever he can to disrupt those around him.

I do not think its drugs. He has no money to buy drugs.

Over the past few years he has probably lived with 3 or 4 people, and got kicked out every time.

One time when he had a job, he was on the way to work one day, did not stop at a stop sign, and hit a car. Nobody was hurt, but he got a ticket for failure to yield. He did not take care of the ticket and the police arrested him.

Its like the guy has a total disregard for everyone around him, including the law.
 
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It sounds like the people I know who grew up in the system or were ignored by their parents. Is there anything he's compulsive about? The one thing they all had in common is the inability to function without a strict structure. Some are very intelligent but, cannot apply themselves without being forced to. Most seek out some kind of structure.
 
Sounds like his life is out of control and has no focus. And he is in denial about it. i've been in funks like that for long periods of time in my life but it only lasts a few months at worse. This is years which is shocking to me.
 
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