Questions about sub-type

by **coneyislandking** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:47 pm

I have considered it a possibility for a while that I could be the voguish subtype of Depressive personality disorder. I have to wonder though, if it's likely that there could be a depressive subtype of HPD, where the voguish subtype is DrPD with histrionic and/or narcissistic features.

The voguish depressive sees their suffering as ennobling and enjoys the special attention given to them by peers and professionals.

That sounds very much like me, and could perhaps be an answer to a topic I posted previously about factitious disorder and HPD. My tiff with DrPD, however, is that I am not overtly depressive. I am much more active in my social navigation than a DrPD would be. I am more charming and flirtatious than someone with DrPD.

I feel like I'm an HPD with the self-criticism and distrust in others of DrPD. I entertain others with my cattiness or cynicism, with my ability to ruthlessly tear into someone if it's convenient for me. I also can play nice just as easily, if that's what's convenient or beneficial. I have an incredible ability for introspection, which isn't characteristic of HPD.

Do you think a DrPD subtype of HPD is feasible?

Coney Isle
All that is a possibility, but I don't know enough about it. Are you seeing a responsible therapist who has experience? -not a good idea to diagnose yourself, because unless you are a psych genius like Freud or somebody, we all need the more objective perspective of a competant diagnostician.

The other thing that occurred to me is that at some point DrPD (Voguish) and some subtype of HPD could really be describing the same thing, just from different angles. You know, like the old debate in physics- is light a wave, or a particle? Turned out it is both, just depends on the perspective.
Not even considering things like "soul" or "spirit," and "free will," peep's personalities are way more complicated than light.
When a certain point of knowledge is reached, one should at least temporarily set aside the "what do I have?" question, and instead begin to ask "what do I need to start doing, to get to where it is I need/want to go?" I don't know if that's where you are at, but consider that idea for the future.

by **katana** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:58 pm

Do you see your suffering as ennobling and enjoy the special attention given to you by peers and professionals?

([edit]...if you want to get anywhere, ask yourself why. What's missing that you need that.)

by **xdude** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:01 pm

Agree with orion that while the labels can have some value (hopefully in choosing therapies that are the most effective), they only matter so much, and the questions orion finished with are what really matters.

by **coneyislandking** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:52 pm

I definitely agree. I am not seeing a therapist anymore because the one I had actually told me she refused to diagnose personality disorders (even if she knew they were there) because she would lose money from it, because she is private practice and insurance prefers personality disordered people not be. All she ever did was tell me "to be myself" and "just enjoy being normal" and that really hurt me, because it's a slap in the face to be grouped in with everyone else, when you have a harder than average time relating to others or keeping relationships. She would acknowledge all of my conversion symptoms but would deny there was any deficit causing them except that I had low self-esteem.

I think the DrPD variant of HPD is not so much sad as it is fatalistic. I think it's a lot more about wanting to give someone your all so you can take it away. It's both needy and abrasive. It's just like, an extra icy HPD. The frigid histrionic.

I do know that I need to work on giving people I don't like more chances and more consideration, and perhaps give myself a break in the presence of people I do like.

by **xdude** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:41 pm

coneyislandking wrote:...
I do know that I need to work on giving people I don't like more chances and more consideration, and perhaps give myself a break in the presence of people I do like.

This is an excellent insight and just all around excellent

This may cross-over a bit into the blurry lines between HPD and NPD. Having a degree of NPD traits myself, I have to work on my tendency of being dismissive of people who (through no fault of their own) I write off as not someone I want to get to know, based on little more then a vague first impression. And yes, likewise I'm too harsh on myself around those whose opinion I value.

For me they are two halves of the same coin. On the one side I keep others at a distance while ego-stroking myself (safe!); on the other side I feel like they can see through me and observe all my insecurities (not-safe so I tend to try and hide it behind stocism). It takes making an effort in both situations to push myself not to just follow my old-habits/reactions.

Questions about sub-type

Questions about sub-type

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