Hey, Psychology and Mental Health experts on Y! Answers: Help me diagnose this person:?
This person is a 45-year old woman who is the girlfriend of someone I know. She has some peculiar personality traits that I will name here:
She inherited $250,000 from her father at age 25, and by 35, it was all spent, with nothing to show for it. She had bought a car with some of this money, and then admitted that she left it somewhere and walked away without regret, got on the Greyhound bus, and came here to my town to attempt to make a living as a stripper and a prostitute. She has a college degree in psychology (which I verified with her mother), and she never lets anyone forget it. She loses whatever bag she might be carrying, at any moment of distraction, and then refuses to spend any money to replace her IDs and licenses. She buys cell phones, and then just throws them away in the trash. She exhibits many behaviors that are common to prostitutes and call-girls. She spends ALL her money on her nails, hair, clothes, and general appearance. Physically, she is in very good shape for her age, but is only 5 ft. 5 in tall. Her face is hard and cold, developing “age spots”, and wrinkled from too much sun, I would guess. She spends a lot of time outdoors exercising. She provokes arguments with anyone who disagrees with her. She can’t listen to another opinion. She literally gets in someone’s face with her opinion, until they want to shove her away from them for violating their physical space. She is ALWAYS right about everything. She can’t have a rational 2-way discussion about any topic with anyone. She has been ticketed for jaywalking recently, and has court dates all scheduled. She was also recently arrested for indecent exposure for going out in public wearing only a thong and a scarf to cover her chest. If reminded about these social faux paus, she rants on “I have a degree! No one can tell me what to do!” Every conversation with her by anyone but her boyfriend ends in an argument about something. And every argument follows the same pattern: “I’m smarter than all you jerks because I have a degree!” Her boyfriend ignores her personality quirks, as he refers to these outbursts.
My diagnosis: Passive/aggressive personality disorder. But what else is possibly wrong with this person? Does she belong in a mental health hospital, or what? I know she has a history of using mental health hospitals for wintertime refuge. Her problem will resolve itself when I move to another state, but what I really want to know from all you psychology buffs is: What is wrong with this gal?
She doesn't listen to her boyfriend, either. She seems to be "socially deaf" in that when another person is talking to her, her mind is already formulating an answer, thus blocking the active listening she should be engaged in. I believe he is just desperate to have someone to "be with" at times.
To Beetlemilk: I don't believe in BPD. I believe it is instead PTSD. Even though your answer was great, Allen James' was just a bit more complete. Thanks again.
I can no longer tolerate this woman's behavior, and I am going to have to have her evicted from the unit I own here, which I need to have rented out to someone who can hold down a real paycheck job. Once again, thank you all for answering.