I was asked if being a social misfit was the same as being antisocial – what an excellent question and one that I was going to address eventually!
This is actually something I put much thought into before choosing to call myself a social misfit and I recently I found some information on what the difference between being an introvert and antisocial is. (I am a mix of introvert and extrovert…always have to be contradictory 😂.)
It’s important to note that antisocial is actually a personality disorder that about 1% of the US. population suffers from, so making light of it is not something that I feel comfortable doing. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)
In 8th grade I underwent some testing because I ran away from home, got into trouble and was angry a lot. There was much that factored into my horrible behavior for sure, but thankfully, I lucked out and didn’t get put on medication at a time when they started throwing pills at kiddos like it was candy. Turns out, I was just a bitch. That was the official terminology that the “doctor” who did my testing gave me and my mum. Granted, he was an asshole, so we were on the same level 🤣.
After that fun enlightenment, I spent a torturous and wonderful summer with my grandma up north in the middle of nowhere and when I got back to the hometown I did some community service and started off my high school career with a group of delinquents at a trial alternative school program that was housed in the same building as the courthouse and jail. It was an interesting time to say the least and I may delve into that further at another time.
No, I am not antisocial yet sometimes I have to really wonder about myself. I am definitely a misfit.
mis·fit /ˈmisˌfit/ noun
- 1.a person whose behavior or attitude sets them apart from others in an uncomfortably conspicuous way:
- “a motley collection of social misfits“
(Definition by Oxford Dictionaries)
I am sometimes social and sometimes I just want to embrace my inner introvert.
Thank you for the question and I hope this helps any others who are curious about the difference 🤗.
For additional information on ASPD, here are two great resources:
- Antisocial personality disorder, Mayo Clinic
- 5 Signs You Have Antisocial Personality Disorder & Aren’t Just A Homebody, romper
xoxo,
Da’Nela, an American Misfit, [she/her/hers/trying to be humanish, maybe]
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