So, why the distinction between personality disorders and psychoses?

In one words, insurance. Money and medications. The pharmaceutical industry is the biggest one in the world. Much bigger than the armaments, media, and computer industries combined. There is big money here. The DSM is a money allocation mechanism. Taxonomies and classifications are mechanisms to allocate money amongst the guilds. The commissions on anti-psychotic drugs go exclusively to psychiatrists. Psychiatrists get rich on prescribing the4m because they get bribed to over-subscribe.

5. How to Assuage a Narcissist

1. Apologize profusely in the same way you attacked him (publicly, etc.) and ASSUME the blame (you had your period, women are irrational, you are too ignorant or stupid to fully understand him, you are contrite, it will never happen again, etc.)

1. Invent a project which will keep him physically out of the premises AND cater to his special, unequalled abilities which the company is in "dire" need of (client interfacing? PR? an ad campaign? media exposure? political lobbying? running for the presidency?)

6. Don't Kiss Me without Permission

When I am treated this way I feel humiliated, objectified and demeaned. Just because someone wants to give me a kiss or a hug doesn't mean that he has the right to give me a kiss or a hug. To want is not to have a right to. We often want things to which we are not entitled. We often want to behave in ways which are forbidden by social custom or by the personal predilections of the person in the receiving end of our wishes.

I mean if someone gave ME a hug, or a kiss, or a birthday party or called me to wish me a happy birthday WITHOUT my prior consent - I would consider this to be an invasion of my privacy, an intrusion, being treated as an object, and an uncivil imposition. Nothing I hate more than being imposed upon (this is why I constantly clash with authority figures and the law).

7. The Root of Evil

Pathological narcissism is considered by many authorities to be the phenomenon underlying most mental disorders. I describe how pathological narcissism develops into various personality disorders in FAQ 40

The Excerpts pages contain many references to the artificiality of the DSM and its distinctions between personality disorders. All personality disorders are either variations on a theme or appear intermingled. Thus, a SINGLE mental health category with different axes and intensities would have been a more appropriate ("process-orientated") approach, to my mind.

I think that all Cluster B personality disorders (being mean is called "Antisocial Personality Disorder") are arbitrary points in a continuum.

8. Love as Domination

Sometimes we mistake guilt and self-assumed blame for love.

Committing suicide for someone else's sake is not love.

Sacrificing yourself for someone else is not love.

It is domination.

You control her by your giving as much as she controls you through her pathology.

Your generosity prevents her from facing her true self and from healing.

9. My Guardian Angel

I rarely stroll in parks or anywhere else for that matter.

Which makes my story all the more incredible.

Because today, in torrential rain, I did. I strolled.

Mindful of my infirmities, I dressed well, collapsible umbrella in hand and the disdainful look that I reserve to others, a fixture on my face.

I did regard the weather as a personal slight, it running contrary to my plans and aspirations in this particular eve. But I was determined to demonstrate my mettle by defying this divine impropriety.

As I passed the winged lions which keep a mossy vigil at the entrance to the park, the weather cleared and my gait acquired a more cheerful countenance.

From the corner of my eye (I never stare directly, a sign of lowly upbringing) I spotted an immaculately clad gentleman, poised rigidly on the edge of a metal bench.

I approached him and venturing forth my most civil voice I enquired: "May I, Sir?"

Not deigning so much as to look at me, he replied (if reply it was): "Certainly not, Sir. Can't you tell it is occupied?"