Why aren’t people screened for personality disorders?

[Anonymous]

There are clearly so many people in families and in business who have personality disorders and are wreaking havoc on the lives of people around them. I wish it was somehow possible to screen for these and attach a warning label to these people! Obviously not a serious proposal but maybe educating people on what to look for and how to spot these people (Narcissists, Borderline Personalities) could be helpful. I’d love to see it as part of the job screening process!

[Anonymous]

This is so highly offensive that I really don’t know where to begin.

[Anonymous]

Great idea. Here is your sign, we have been warned that you’re not well and we’ll stay away from you.

[Anonymous]

1) We don't care about mental health in this country
2) If we did, we'd treat it like what it is: a healthcare issue.
3) Health issues are protected when it comes to employment. You couldn't give someone a sign for their mental illness the same way you couldn't give them a sign for their cancer
4) Your idea reeks of eugenics in a way that makes me think you're a horrible person

[Anonymous]

The narcissist in your life may be a horrible abuser to you but they may be that charming hospital executive that “everyone” admires. They’re chameleons, shapeshift with their environment. Someone who’s a tyrant in the office may be a saint at home. Best people inform themselves of signs to watch for and proceed from There, don’t need handmade signs.

[Anonymous]

The narcissist is the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are clearly so many people in families and in business who have personality disorders and are wreaking havoc on the lives of people around them. I wish it was somehow possible to screen for these and attach a warning label to these people! Obviously not a serious proposal but maybe educating people on what to look for and how to spot these people (Narcissists, Borderline Personalities) could be helpful. I’d love to see it as part of the job screening process!

I sincerely hope you are not in any way involved in the hiring process for any job whatsoever (if you even have one). You are who the rest of us who are just trying to get by need protection from. So sure, a warning label sounds great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are clearly so many people in families and in business who have personality disorders and are wreaking havoc on the lives of people around them. I wish it was somehow possible to screen for these and attach a warning label to these people! Obviously not a serious proposal but maybe educating people on what to look for and how to spot these people (Narcissists, Borderline Personalities) could be helpful. I’d love to see it as part of the job screening process!

Sounds like you need treatment, tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The narcissist in your life may be a horrible abuser to you but they may be that charming hospital executive that “everyone” admires. They’re chameleons, shapeshift with their environment. Someone who’s a tyrant in the office may be a saint at home. Best people inform themselves of signs to watch for and proceed from There, don’t need handmade signs.

This exactly. Most of our nation's presidents likely had symptoms or met full criteria for NPD, even some of the best leaders. There were horror stories about them, but they got the job done.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like an extermination plan to me. It's a good thing you wield no power because your way of thinking is very dangerous and scary.

[Anonymous]

I get where OP is coming from. Of course there are a lot of reasons why this isn't a realistic or even reasonable idea.

But years ago I worked for a woman who, in retrospect, was clearly dealing with a severe personality disorder. And yes, her behavior wreaked havoc on my life because she was in a position of authority over me and once I'd worked there long enough to realize how bad she was, she was also in a position to torpedo my career even if I left (which she threatened to do, even though I was a dedicated and good employee, because she has severe issues). When I was recovering from that experience, I remember often thinking about how I would give anything to go back in time and just NOT take that job. And how if I'd understood what was going on with her, I also would have handled her initial behavior (she was the nicest, most supportive, and complimentary boss I'd ever had... for three months) very differently.

Now I have some neighbors who aren't as bad but definitely have issues and I know well enough to give a wide berth and just not involve myself. You live and you learn. But yes, it would be nice to just have some way of knowing "This person will eff you up -- proceed with caution." It can't/won't happen, but yes, it would be nice.

[Anonymous]

Screening isn't the way, but more education is. Imagine if Trump were behaving obviously like a schizophrenic, we would totally spot that and get him some treatment and off social media. But people like him (and other dictators throughout time) have hidden mental disorders that we haven't been trained to spot yet.

[Anonymous]

These are very complex conditions and lay people will never be able to definitively diagnose someone with them. The best you can do is remove yourself from the situation. When I finished my internship, I didn’t accept the offered salaried position to get away from a woman who I later learned was diagnosed with bipolar I. She punched the new hire in the face. That would have been me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Screening isn't the way, but more education is. Imagine if Trump were behaving obviously like a schizophrenic, we would totally spot that and get him some treatment and off social media. But people like him (and other dictators throughout time) have hidden mental disorders that we haven't been trained to spot yet.

You have so much wrong with your statement that I can't even respond. You certainly need more education on how to address individuals with mental illness.

[Anonymous]

Wow when I read the title I thought it was going to be some kind of screening for early detection and treatment so that their lives and the lives of those around them could be better. Silly me.