Do you think you have the potential to go crazy?

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I wonder about it sometimes. You read the news or watch TV and learn that a stalker or serial killer or arsonist may have also been autistic. When you think about it, a lot of us are predisposed to isolation and meltdowns and other behavior that can potentially lead to something worse. Our sometimes lack of empathy and unpredictable reaction to common stressors are well documented. I certainly hope such a dark day never arrives. If it did, would I have the wherewithal to stop myself?

I used to obsess on this as well, as I've gotten deeper into some of my interests and moved to different places emotionally I've relied on media less; not giving it the attention I once did.

I strongly believe outside interference is what takes these cases far beyond what would have been just a regular MD; if alcohol/chemicals/cowboy attitudes become involved that's what pushes them over the edge

Statistically NTs and autists have the same chance of being a serial killer. I don't worry about it too much, although I have thought about the repercussions it would have for my closest if I were a serial killer. I guess anyone without any close relations would be in the dangerzone of becoming a serial killer if they lack empathy of some kind.

If you "overcome" concern for close relations in the aftermath, "overcome" the fact that killing is wrong, "overcome" the moral and ethical dilemma, then anyone would be prone to becoming a serialkiller.

...so, in conclusion, autistic people are more prone to becoming isolated, aka there will be no aftermath for close relations, so I guess thats one factor less to "overcome".

Yes and no...but I'm not going to elaborate.

I don't think that I have the potential to go crazy and hurt other people but I think that if I get too depressed and anxious I have the potential to go crazy and end up in the hospital.

Last edited by lostgirl1986 on 18 Jun 2012, 6:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

I find the idea that someone would ask that question slightly funny. ... no offense intended.
I know it's an edgy subject.
I don't know you too well, redrobin62, so I'll stick to fictional 3rd person hypotheticals.

I could imagine a man worrying if he might
assault a belligerent boss or coworker,
or kill an incompatible roommate in a fit of rage.
Law-abiding citizens who keep concealed guns can, and do
senselessly kill innocent people in moments of extreme fear or anger.

But becoming a serial killer is different because
it would take time, planning, and effort.
I don't think that happens on an impulsive whim because
by the time one gets to the hardware store to buy
duck tape, zip-ties, bolt cutters, hockey mask,
ammonia, a bag of lye, a tarp, a shovel, etc.
one forgets what one was so mad about in the first place.
If the time it takes to acquire deadly weapons
far exceeds the duration of a of severe anxiety attack,
then the danger is marginally contained.
(That's why I support waiting-period and background-check laws for gun purchases.)

Those rare individuals who do go to the malicious effort to
become serial killers comprise such a tiny sliver of the population
that I don't worry about it.
Even if the statistics were slightly higher for Aspies than NTs (I don't know what they are),
I still wouldn't worry because I'm still much more likely to be
killed by a police truncheon or a disgruntled road-hog
with a glock in his glovebox than by some quirky, reclusive
misanthrope who hates his job and never speaks (a stereotypical extreme).

(I'm making light of a touchy subject, but, like I said before, I intend no offense.)

^yup that makes sense.

This for me too. I can certainly imagine a situation in which I went mad and hurt myself (that's happened before) but I can't imagine in a situation in which I hurt another person, or lots of other people. After 7/7 in London I used to sit on the bus and look at my fellow passengers and wonder how someone could sit so close to people and watch them texting their loved ones, reading a book, listening to music and other basic everyday human things and then kill them. I cannot imagine that mind set at all.

I think so, I've been "crazy" before but not the violent kind.

I already am!

Maybe, if under stress. Maybe I'm already crazy anyway. Crazy people don't realize they've gone crazy, so yeah. I used to seriously think about hurting others at work. Feeling under appreciated, used, and as if others were not expected to do as much and still got paid more, all fueled my hatred for them. Of course, I couldn't myself to do that, and eventually I just quit despite my parents being quite angry and disappointed in me. Now, I suppose without anyone around me to project this hate on to, I take it out on myself. I've felt so useless the past few years, not really being able to get anywhere in life, that I wish I was dead myself.

From my understanding most serial killers aren't really 'insane.' or 'crazy.' psychopathic maybe but I always had the impression obviously they are smart enough to lure their prey in and make the kill so they probably aren't what I'd consider insane.

As for the title of this thread...I am going insane, and now I am not so sure I want to get help, I mean its not going to get better but I guess I can only sit around and stagnate so long before I have to do something to escape the restlessness.

I mean this also brings up questions of if I really do want an official diagnoses of anything...Though I imagine its a little to late for that thought now, since knowing my luck my insanity symptoms might come out at the wrong time around the wrong people, and then its off to the psych ward I'd be taken. Besides I am more afraid of the government and society, than trying to make a living and failing and having to just barely get by. I mean its not paranoia if i have reason to be distrustful.

To answer the OP yes.

But like a number of other posters here I don't fear I'd be violent to anyone else...

I think it's a lot less likely now, I can recognise when I starting to lose it and take steps to protect myself.

Downside of this is I may have become a bit too cautious and now may not be pushing myself as hard as I possibly can.

I kinda think that given the right set of particular circumstances most people have the potential to go nuts.

Locked up crazy yes.

Hurt people crazy no.

As for someone who has the tenancy to get violent when under too much stress and her buttons get pushed, I do feel I can go crazy. I say I turn into a psycho. I have thrown stuff at my husband and punched him and hit him. I am not proud of it. For about a year, he joked about me throwing cell phones because I threw one at him when he told me to "calm down" and it hit him right in the face. I have been violent towards my family too as a kid and I used to get in fights with kids in my school when they push my buttons. I would tell them to leave me alone and go away and I would try and ignore them before I snapped and I never got in trouble for that with my mother. Of course any child can snap when they have been provoked too much and pushed too far. It wouldn't mean they are psychos. But of they brought guns to school or knives or any sort of weapons, then I would think so because a none psycho would hit or punch or kick or shove when they snap.

I also get violent thoughts in my head and I had them about my ex's when I was with them. I had them in my childhood too and I used to think all this was normal until my shrink told me most people don't have violent thoughts and told me it was something that aspies have. But I have never read anything about aspies having violent thoughts and wishing they would do this or that if it were allowed and if there be no consequences. Some doctors do seem to compare psychopathic behavior to autism and say we do those things due to it or have the thinking due to it. I think they get confused.


I do not fear of becoming a serial killer because it will never happen. I don't want to kill innocent people and how the heck would I do that? I'd be too chicken and that is a good thing. Most people would not do that and those who do are cold blooded people and true psychopathic. Low functioning I would say because they went out and let themselves do it.