Dianna’s Dimensions
By Dianna 

I wanted to write a fun and original column about one topic.  In General Hospital Land that is so hard.  Even harder is to not just start a rant column.  Everything about GH makes you want to complain.  It is actually funny, but I really think GH fans need to vent and rant and rave or else they will totally implode.   

We all know that each character in Port Charles suffers from a unique personality disorder.  By diagnosing each character we can see who is the most insane.  Fell free to comment, agree or disagree.  And please – don’t start diagnosing yourself – that can be dangerous.

Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid personalities are introverted, withdrawn, solitary, emotionally cold, and distant. They are often absorbed with their own thoughts and feelings and are fearful of closeness and intimacy with others

1.  Sonny.  In these last few months and in many months leading, Sonny truly is a cold man.  He has no feelings for anyone other than himself.  He is a freak and every action in his life goes against every word he speaks.  He has no loyalty to anyone and has betrayed everyone that has ever cared for him up to and including Jason. 

Paranoid Personality Disorder    The essential feature for this type of personality disorder is interpreting the actions of others as deliberately threatening or demeaning. People with paranoid personality disorder are untrusting, unforgiving, and prone to angry or aggressive outbursts without justification because they perceive others as unfaithful, disloyal, condescending or deceitful. This type of person may also be jealous, guarded, secretive, and scheming, and may appear to be emotionally “cold” or excessively serious.

1.  Sonny.  He truly believes that Jason wants to HURT him and will not admit that that Jason is one of the only self-less people involved. 

Everyone wants to “get” Sonny.  Faith, Alcazar, Jason, Carly, The Q’s, Jax . . .  Soon Michael and Morgan will be plotting to take him down.  And thanks to the wonderful set people sonny will have many a crystal decanter to smash.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder            People may have odd or eccentric manners of speaking or dressing. Strange, outlandish or paranoid beliefs and thoughts are common. People with schizotypal personality disorder have difficulties forming relationships and experience extreme anxiety in social situations. They may react inappropriately or not react at all during a conversation or they may talk to themselves. They also display signs of “magical thinking” by saying they can see into the future or read other people’s minds.

1.  This one is great!  I have to go with Faith.  I have no doubt she believs she can see the future.  She will wear anything.  And hell even when Faith is having a conversation with someone she sounds as if she is telling herself.  Social situations make her want to kill (which can indeed be interpreted as anxiety) and the only real relationship she has is with herself and her gun.

Antisocial Personality Disorder              People with antisocial personality disorder characteristically act out their conflicts and ignore normal rules of social behavior. These individuals are impulsive, irresponsible, and callous. Typically, the antisocial personality has a history of legal difficulties, belligerent and irresponsible behavior, aggressive and even violent relationships. They show no respect for other people and feel no remorse about the effects of their behavior on others. These people ware at high risk for substance abuse, especially alcoholism, since it helps them to relieve tension, irritability and boredom.

1.  Luke!    Luke is constantly defying local authorities, in so far as he tried to burn the Police Station down.  He fell in love with his wife after he raped her.  He never once thought an action through not even when he sold everything in his club and threw away his cash.  The best is that Luke hardly never apologizes or excuses himself.  He has no remorse.  Everyone knows Luke and his bottle are often inseparable.  Finally, Luke has never once acknowledged the damage he is causing Lesley Lu. 

Borderline Personality Disorder People with borderline personality disorder are unstable in several areas, including interpersonal relationships, behavior, mood, and self-image. Abrupt and extreme mood changes, stormy interpersonal relationships, an unstable and fluctuating self-image, unpredictable and self-destructive actions characterize the person with borderline personality disorder. They often experience the world in extremes, viewing others as either “all good” or “all bad.” A person with borderline personality may form an intense personal attachment with someone only to quickly dissolve it over a perceived slight. Fears of abandonment may lead to an excessive dependency on others. Self-multilation or recurrent suicidal gestures may be used to get attention or manipulate others. Impulsive actions, chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness, and bouts of intense inappropriate anger are other traits of this disorder, which is more common among females.

This one is tough.  We have a few.

1. Sonny.  He indeed sees the world in black and white with no concept of gray.  He fluctuates from feeling of superiority then spirals down to self-loathing.  His mood changes on a dime and he changes his love every other day.
    

2. Carly.  We cannot deny that Carly is her own worst enemy.  When it comes to getting attention she is no slacker.  She needs to be noticed.  She may not go as far as physically hurting herself but there isn’t much she won’t use in an effort to get her way.  She did stay “dead” on purpose for a while.

3. Sage.  I added her as an after thought but that girl is massively unstable.  If the writers could pull it off or even think of it, Sage would self-mutilate for Dillon and anything else that popped in her empty little head.  The ONLY reason she didn’t go along with Tracy was b/c she was too stupid to realize that Tracy meant “fake it” not do it for real.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder           People with narcissistic personality have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, are absorbed by fantasies of unlimited success, and seek constant attention. The narcissistic personality is oversensitive to failure.  Prone to extreme mood swings between self-admiration and insecurity, these people tend to exploit interpersonal relationships.

1.      Ric.  This is Ric for sure.  I don’t even need to delve into all the reasons why. 

Dependent Personality Disorder            People with dependent personality disorder may exhibit a pattern of dependent and submissive behavior, relying on others to make decisions for them. They require excessive reassurance and advice, and are easily hurt by criticism or disapproval. They feel uncomfortable and helpless if they are alone, and can be devastated when a close relationship ends. They have a strong fear of rejection. Typically lacking in self-confidence, the dependent personality rarely initiates projects or does things independently. This disorder usually begins by early adulthood and is diagnosed more frequently in females than males.

1.   Liz.  She was borderline when she first came to PC as the wild child and has since morphed to the ideal Dependent.  Case in point, she took Ric back.  There is no excuse for that.  This girl has no self-respect and no self-confidence left if she thinks Ric is the best she can have.  I have not seen her do one thing on her own accord of late – she simply follows Ric.  All through the fire she stood in front of a burning building with him (pregnant, might I add), hangs around the police station…you get the idea.

Compulsive Personality Disorder  Compulsive personalities are conscientious and have high levels of aspiration, but they also strive for perfection. Never satisfied with their achievements, people with compulsive personality disorder take on more and more responsibilities.

They are reliable, dependable, orderly, and methodical, but their inflexibility often makes them incapable of adapting to changed circumstances. People with compulsive personality are highly cautious, weigh all aspects of a problem, and pay attention to every detail, making it difficult for them to make decisions and complete tasks.  When their feelings are not under strict control, events are unpredictable, or they must rely on others, compulsive personalities often feel a sense of isolation and helplessness.

1.   Could this be Courtney?  This one is iffy.  I am not sure she is a perfectionist, but she sure wasted no time in trying to take over Carly’s life and kids.  We can always count on dear old Courtney to always do the same thing.  She sure as hell couldn’t adapt to life with Jason and because of her crazed emotions she has become the best little Mighty Morphin Power Ranger ever. 

2.   Alexis.  The old tried and true Alexis who right now should be off hyperventilating.  Her quirks and compulsions once made her endearing but then they took it too far.  She was the Gatekeeper of all things Cassadine and her pairing with Luke (bring down Catherine bell) way back when was nothing short of fantastic.  There could not be any two personalities that clashed so well. 

Funny if you think about it, truly is there not a female character on canvas that was not ruined by Sonny?  They pair ‘em up, knock ‘em down and the character is never again the same. 

It is sad to say that mostly these disorders apply to the “fab four”.  By my call Sonny wins hands down as the most messed up.  I think though, that the most warped and twisted is Robert Guza who had played a hand in everyone of theses neurosis.  They always say a writer or creator takes a part of themselves and writes what they know, perhaps our GH scribe need to take a long look in the mirror. 

I wrote this about 2 weeks ago and I am now finally posting.  I find myself wishing I watched another soap these days.  GH is just so frustrating.  I keep read Soaps in Depth and there is talk about a search for this character and that character.  We don’t need “fresh” faces we just need to see the old ones again.  GH was my escape from reality, as any good soap should be, but no longer do I feel immersed in the lives of my characters.  I’d rather read an old favorite book with characters I can count on.  If I wanted neurotic I would instead spend my GH hour actually thinking about my own life