How do you know if you or someone in your family is suffering from antisocial personality disorder, a fairly common mental health disorder?

In this Mental Health Guide article we will discuss how to spot the signs that you or someone else may have an anti social personality disorder.

The symptom checklist below will help you self-diagnose antisocial personality disorder in yourself or confirm what you might be thinking about a family member, so you can encourage them to seek treatment.

• Disregard for right and wrong
• Lying and other forms of deceit
• Seeking affection in order to manipulate others
• Intimidating, aggressive or violent behavior
• Agitation or irritability
• Violating the rights of others
• Consistent problems with the law
• Child neglect or abuse
• Relationship problems
• Persistent self-centeredness
• Impulsive behavior and possibly addictions
• Losing jobs due to irresponsibility

As you can see, in those with antisocial personality disorders, there is an apparent inability to consider the rights, thoughts and feelings of others. While that can be true for most people in isolated instances, the person with this mental health disorder suffers from a persistent disregard for others. He or she might also fail to see how their behaviors have negative consequences for themselves or for others.

Most affected people will have a handful of antisocial personality disorder symptoms, but not all of them. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself during self-diagnose, the first step is to discuss them with your doctor. This is a courageous start, but it could yield very positive results. There are excellent treatments available for those with antisocial personality disorder, treatments which often lead to a more enjoyable, fulfilling life that includes better relationships.

If you see antisocial personality disorder symptoms in another, and they are willing to listen to you, it might be the key to opening the door of self-awareness to them. They might then take the steps they need to take in order to find relief from this destructive but treatable personality disorder.