mental illness or just a weird person??

[TopCat1]

I know someone, who is EXTREMELY sensitive, if she comes to visit and you dont make a big deal of welcoming her, she will sit in uncomfortable silence and leave in a huff. If you don't do something she likes, she will fall out with you (this is a 50 year old woman by the way), she has been known to create issues in her mind as a reason to be annoyed but is not justified, even has been caught out lying just to create a valid reason for her annoyance.

She has thrown childish tantrums, to the point of jaw opening amazement, an example is, once she had a row with someone, she run into a room, sat in the corner and started kicking her legs, then got up ran screaming to her room and jumped into bed and pulled the cover over her face. (again, a 50 year old).

You always have to watch what you say incase she takes it the wrong way.

She does come across as a normal woman most of the time. But what triggered my suspicion to a mental illness, is she has complained about seeing things/shapes in front of her eyes, along with headaches. And for some reason, I'm not sure, but I may have read this is connected to something.

Any views folks?

[nancie]

Borderline personality disorder? She sounds like she needs to see a counsellor, get her to talk things over with her GP, it sounds like she needs attention to feel ok, and if it it not given she gets into a sulk. That behaviour is only normal for chidren, not adults. Sensitivity is OK but kicking and screaming as well as sulking indicate something a little more problematic. She sounds like she suffers from anxiety and is prob depressed. The things she is seeing are probably 'floaters'-nothing to worry about everyone get them to some dregree, and headcahes prob caused by stress and other emotional factors

[Kay]

I agree with nancie TC1, This sounds like a job for the medicals. Given her age, headaches and mood swings would be normal due to the menopause but tantrums and childish like behavior? No. She should really be getting proffesional help.

[smudge]

This certainly doesn't sound like 'normal' behaviour to me either, especially for a middle aged woman. Perhaps her character has always been this way, but as FINA has said, the menopause might have made it worse.

I would recommend she visits her GP very soon, who will look into it her problems further.

[David H]

Headaches and visions are usually migraine related, though many brain disorders will rpoduce the same.

Otherwise she just sounds like a tough person who is just what I would call 'part of human diversity'- don't we all have a little child in us that sometimes comes out like that?

[gessoo]

Sounds like my mother who is in her eighties! It is exaggerated now, but she has always been an attention seeker. Personality disorder rather than mental illness.

[gessoo]

I doubt the person concerned would dream of seeing a doctor - she probably doesn't even recognise it as being a problem and thinks everyone else is at fault. Years of experience speaking here!

[Lonnie]

its said that everyone is Autistic to a degree, i'm not saying this woman is Autistic, could well be something else, but there's obviously something wrong with her, best to treat her gently and kindly, and as others have said, try to get her to see a specialist, or better still, why don't you see one, and describe her behaviour in detail to them, then you'll know possibly who to try to get her to see, If she has family, you may have to speak to them. Good luck, and well done for worrying about her.

[sharpy36]

topcat are you a relative ?.Sounds like mum