We Can Do Hard Things I’m a Sociopath: Patric Gagne’s Story
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Dec 17, 2024 
Patric Gagne, a writer and former therapist diagnosed as a sociopath, shares her journey of understanding sociopathy and its impact on her life as a wife and mother. She reveals the surprising prevalence of sociopathy and argues that it can be a superpower rather than a liability. Gagne contrasts sociopathy with psychopathy, challenging societal stereotypes and emphasizing the need for compassion. Her insights into emotional disconnect and the complexities of empathy add depth to the discussion, advocating for open conversations about emotional experiences.
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Defining Sociopathy
- Sociopaths struggle to connect with social emotions like shame, guilt, and empathy, relying on maladaptive coping mechanisms.
- This difficulty stems from a struggle to learn these emotions, not an inability to feel inherent emotions like anger or joy.
Childhood Experience
- Patric Gagne recounts her childhood, marked by an awareness of her difference and the pressure to conform to social expectations.
- She describes resorting to destructive acts, like stabbing a child with a pencil, to neutralize this pressure and experience a sense of euphoria.
Apathy vs. Societal Pressure
- Patric Gagne explains that acting out isn't caused by apathy, but by societal pressure to conform.
- The feeling of apathy is not inherently negative; it becomes problematic when coupled with societal disapproval.