Personality Disorders
Your thinking and behaviors differ from the norm.
The differences in the way you approach the world and those around you may result from a personality disorder – causing you to experience abnormal thoughts and behaviors that keep you from functioning as well as you should.
Those with a personality disorder display behaviors and symptoms that distinguish them from others.
You might display strange or unpredictable behavior, such as impulsiveness, risk-taking, or acting in ways that are inconsistent, confusing, or frustrating to others.
Maintaining close relationships may be difficult because you form intense but unstable relationships or worry about being abandoned. You might find it difficult to control emotions, display extreme mood swings or emotional outbursts, or feel overwhelmed with anxiety or distress. It could be that you lack self-awareness of how your behavior affects yourself or others or have issues understanding how to treat others.
The above are just a few of the symptoms associated with a personality disorder. Unfortunately, those dealing with such a disorder can experience other mental health issues, such as depression, drug addiction, or eating problems.
What are the specific types of personality disorders?
Some forms of personality disorder pertain to an inability to trust people or form relationships. For instance, people with paranoid personality disorder may feel suspicious of others and unable to trust them. Those with schizoid personality disorder may prefer to be alone and may form attachments with objects or animals instead of people. People with schizotypal personality disorder may find it challenging to form close relationships.
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder fail to display how others feel, and those with borderline disorders lack stability and fear being alone. Those with histrionic personalities can be appeasing, vivacious, tempestuous, disingenuous, theatrical, or infantile. Individuals with a narcissistic personality disorder display an inflated sense of self-worth and superiority over others and are often overly sensitive to criticism.
Other forms of personality disorders involve avoidance behavior, staying away from social gatherings, and fear of not being good enough. A dependent personality disorder relies on the approval of others. Obsessive-compulsive individuals are rule followers and perfectionists.
Those displaying the above characteristics may very well have a personality disorder, and determining the severity of this disorder and addressing the problem requires consultation with a professional.
Perhaps it’s time to seek guidance from a professional.
The first step involves proper diagnosis. Each personality disorder has specific diagnostic criteria; a person must meet some requirements to receive a diagnosis. The minimum number of criteria varies by type, but it’s usually more than one or two.
Next comes determining the most effective means of treating the specific personality disorder. Typically, some form of psychotherapy, known as talk therapy, is involved. However, with treatment, a client might receive medication.
The type of treatment I will use depends on the specific personality disorder, its severity, and the individual’s circumstances. Some common types of psychotherapy include Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These forms of treatment can help people with some of the most common disorders.
Perhaps it’s time for some self-reflection and to gain answers about your emotional state, behavior, and how you relate to those around you. If so, contact me today and find out how I can help.