Psycho-Babble Social Thread 7043

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Does my sister have a psychological disorder? long

Posted by verano on July 3, 2001, at 20:31:42

Please help me understand my sister. Ever since I can remember, she has exhibited behaviors that have concerned me. She is an adult and is 6 years older than I. She struggled while in school and quite possibly has borderline intelligence, however, specific disabilities were never identified. Her social skills are definitely retarded. Our parents are no longer living but she still has never moved out on her own. Our mother was in denial that anything was wrong but it was obvious to everyone that there were issues. Now that my mother is gone, my sister does not clean up the house or take care of the yard or exterior. The house is filthy, food containers, dirty plates and papers everywhere. The bathrooms and kitchen are unsanitary. Her personal hygiene is also a concern. She is obese; does not comb her hair, brush her teeth, wear clean clothes nor does she take medication for her hypertension. She is very emotional and her anger is out of control when she feels as though she is being criticized. She always seeks out nurturing-types of people. She has a friend, now, for the first time I can ever remember and I am glad about that. She never had friends or dates growing up. As a child, she was very shy and hid behind our mother. Now as an adult, she talks all the time incessantly and her sense of humor is very juvenile. I am sometimes embarrassed for her. She isn't even slightly aware of how she appears to others. I wish I could understand what is wrong with her so I would know how to deal with her.

 

Re: Does my sister have a psychological disorder? long

Posted by sar on July 4, 2001, at 6:33:28

In reply to Does my sister have a psychological disorder? long, posted by verano on July 3, 2001, at 20:31:42

my own limited, unprofessional opinion is that she seems to be Severely Depresst. if she never developed social skillz maybe this developed into inappropriate (but unknown to her) behavior. Severely depressed people tend to not care very much at all about personal hygiene, what they eat drink smoke shoot up snort up whateveh. Depressives are very bad at taking care of themselves, I say this from personal experience, because for a year I ran around smelling like alcoholo and sweat falling down drunk and running into barbed-wire fences under the influnce because NOTHING MATTERED. I wear filthy clothes constantly and bathe as little as possible. That's depression, man. When I was happy I shaved my legs and washed my hair every day. Now I can't remember the last time I did either.

Perhaps you could gently suggest the 2 of yall going to a doctor together. Maybe if you expressed your concern about her health in a loving and supportive way, she'd be receptive to going with you--and what would help even more (in my opinion) is finding a psych *for her* and shecheduling the time--you do the work; she sounds too down to do it. But if yall went to theraoy together, maybe some of these issues could be resolved.

if it's been so long it could take such a long time for her to advance...but you've got to realize that w. severe depression, brushing one's hair can be a Major Step. Smearing on deodorant can be a Major Step. All sorts of simple thimgs that the healthy take for granted.

or maybe she's just a hippie? :)

i doubt it. anyway, i think the best you can do id to be supporive. if she knows how much her sibling loves her, maybe she'll br more open to accepting/giving love to others.

which i think would take a good deal of time.

would she be opposed to seeing a doctor? i think you ought to suggest it.

my best wishes,
sar


 

Re: Does my sister have a psychological disorder? long » verano

Posted by AKC on July 4, 2001, at 9:18:21

In reply to Does my sister have a psychological disorder? long, posted by verano on July 3, 2001, at 20:31:42

I don't know. If she is intellectually underdeveloped, she could be fine emotionally and just never have learned to care for herself. There are just so many factors involved here to even venture a guess.

I am uncertain on where you live, but if it is a larger community (and even most smaller ones) here in the U.S., you may want to see about involving social services (before everyone gets up in arms, I do believe that most people who work in social services, while overworked, are very capable and very caring) - just talk to someone and see how you connect. Technically, a situation such as you describe is one in which a social service agency is suppose to be for. I wish you the best of luck.


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