I call it being a ‘heart eater’: one who gets joy in making you feel miserable as they turn the knife. A complete glass half-empty pessimist, victim playing, selfish, loves when something bad happens - a complete morrissey set list. Meet my mother.
Stems from I think being bipolar and crazy gene hard wiring, a narcissistic + ageist- the highs are tremendous, but then the masks slips and the despair sets in; a scorch the earth hand grenade throwing tantrum. |
I thought dysthymia was when you ruminated on everything. What OP is describing sounds to me like depression. |
Some people with a deeper chronic depression can be irritable/angry and unconsciously or consciously be pissed that you're not fixing it, though they rarely say this directly. But what op is describing sounds more like anything from someone being deeply envy prone (looking at you, Jill Zarin from RHONY) to being incapable of joy due to addiction, hostility, a nasty sadistic streak or yes sociopathy or other deeper personality issue, like narcissism. It's a deep problem. These are people to avoid, obviously. |
We all are capable of having sadistic feelings....some worse than others. Some of us visit these places briefly in rare moments, others live there. |
They are in a bad place and don't have the skills needed to get out. Instead, they have dug in and want to bring others down to their level. Misery loves company. |
??? OP seems to be the one with the nasty personality here. |
Bitter and miserable. |
Jealousy and envy of others; cutting them down to size Sadism--some people want to make others suffer |
Depression- misery loves company is a saying for a reason. |
OP here. Yes, they are definitely sadistic, thank you. They keep bringing up the same topic over and over again, expecting change, somehow. I know they are mentally ill, and I am trying to be gentle. They enjoy crossing boundaries, but I am afraid it is going to end badly with them. Their target (another family member) keeps meticulous record, and the perpetrator crosses several lines, often. |
This is certainly true! |