Personality Transformations

[Project Blaze]

I was wondering about this too. Have you ever changed your entire personality, and if so, how long did it take? Was it for the better, or worse? By changed it, I don't really mean conciously. And how do you feel when you change for better or worse? I'm going through such a change these days is why I'm interested in the topic. C'mon, share! I DEMAND IT!!! >_<

EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to say this, but what do you also think about other peoples' changes in their personality? (The permanent changes that is)

[HamadaLFC8]

Is that even possible ? I would never do that :S I love the way I am right now... Selfish? Maybe, but sometimes you have to be selfish ;)

[EpsilonX]

people change every few years. Experience new things, lose interest in some things, their environment and friends change. plus, as people age, they mature, and it changes how they act. people can grow out of old habits and into new things. it's just a natural part of life.

do you really expect to act the same when you're 15 as when you're 18?

[Project Blaze]

lolz Mebbe. But I meant as you grow up and such in life. Or feel free to just say that you haven't changed from your younger years (hahah, coming from me that sounds funny. "younger years" XD Barely old enough to drink!) of being a kid.

[BobTD]

I think all teens make a transformation, and that by setting goals and maintaining relationships they actively choose who they want to be, weather or no they realize it.

As for more solid transformations I think I have observed at least two other main examples:

Relationships

People change all the time, and sooner or later people you date may not be the same person they once where. They could change for better or worse, but usually I think we tend to learn from our mistakes first. Most people screw up their first few relationships, at their own or loved ones expense. But think most of us learn and adapt. A bad relationship is usually enough to stir us up enough emotionally to make positive changes.

Myself (not to be an attention whore sry)

My mum always firmly believed I have Asperger syndrome. She still does, but I think all around I have grown (or changed) for the better. Meaning there has been a major personality shift.

Most of my extended family would describe me as an angry withdrawn child growing up as well. I was smart enough to use logic to frustrate adults and get my way, and I preferred playing by myself. Usually finding some activity to do alone with a strong intensity, or obsessive behavior to it. And I didn't make many friends.

While I admit to this day I can hardly walk down a sidewalk without timing the steps to avoid the cracks and step the same number of times in each square. And while there are other examples and compulsions I deal with, they are not overwhelming. They simply seem to be set as a default action, like breathing that I have to think about to control the behavior. If I did have Asperger syndrome it would be considered a mild case at worst.

On the topic of a possible disorder being mostly overcome, I don't know what a professional would say. there is a lot of dispute on the topic and not as much is know as we would like. I wouldn't go so far as to call it High-functioning autism, but Asperger syndrome is considered somewhat related.

I don't see myself having any of the skills autistic people sometimes have, possibly because there isn't a very high trade off. If I was smarter then average I certainly have wasted it with poor grades, possible due to having played to many video games and having no interest is school.

The characteristics given by Wikipedia:


A pervasive developmental disorder, Asperger syndrome is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by qualitative impairment in social interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests, and by no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in language.[19] Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject, one-sided verbosity, restricted prosody, and physical clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for diagnosis.[5]

I guess I fit many of those. Specifically in how well I relate to others and my sometimes troubling lack of ability to follow nonverbal communication. =P (and I can never catch a hint)

I don't have trouble with speech, or dexterity. Or at least I don't think I do, though I am particularly bad with spelling and grammar. (thank god for spell check)

One could also say that I hyper focus on objects or tasks until I can perfect them, though I have a hard time maintaining interest in most things if I feel I have figured them out. And an absolutely horrible memory (I remember forgetting my mum name once as a child, and didn't even try with teachers)

Even though all of my relationships have ended up horribly, I have still improved my social skills considerably. I have for the most part many groups of friends. Though since we have moved around a lot I have no longtime friends.

All things considered I have probably made an incredible transformation from my past social behavior. I think the one thing that was hardest was going back into the public school system after several years of happily being home-schooled. Literally with no outside friends for several years. (other then on the internet)

Actually, I'm almost normal now. If you don't look to closely. =P

[LemonRising]

For me, change is a good thing. It can reveal new things about yourself, give you confidence and help you understand what you're good at.

Like.. right now for me, I've changed a lot since a year or so ago. I'm starting to see a future and direction I want to take my life in, seeing whats important to me and who I want in my life.
Some friends are too petty and judge everyone around them, they make you feel insecure all the time, so I've decided that a quick "hello" and "how are you?" on msn is all the interaction I want from them.

Change can happen in so many ways and sometimes it might not be good but we take the good with the bad, and work with it.