A personality disorder is a form of mental illness that can affect nearly every aspect of someone’ s life and can cause them hardships in family relations, intimate relationships, friendships, work responsibilities, financial aspects, and more. Many people who suffer from a personality disorder may show symptoms but may not recognize what they suffer from. Understanding the characteristics of several types of personality disorders can help someone to note if they or a loved one suffers from this:
- Cluster A – characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior. The following are disorders involved in this grouping:
- Paranoid personality disorder: unjustified suspicions that someone is out to harm you, angry/hostile reactions to perceived insults, tendency to hold grudges, hesitancy to confide in others
- Schizoid personality disorder: lack of interest and inability to take pleasure in activities, appearance of being cold/distant from others, inability to pick up on social cues
- Schizotypal personality disorder: Peculiar ways of dressing, thinking and behaving, indifferent or inappropriate reactions to others, “magical” thinking – such as feeling that you can control others and situations with your thoughts
- Cluster B – characterized by dramatic, emotional, and overly-sensitive behaviors. Personality disorders typically include:
- Antisocial personality disorder: disregard for others’ feelings, persistent lying, cheating, stealing, etc., disregard for the safety of others or self, impulsive behavior
- Borderline personality disorder: unstable mood swings, ongoing feelings of emptiness, intense displays of anger, fragile self-image
- Histrionic personality disorder: constantly seeking attention, easily influenced by others, speaks dramatically about something without having the facts or information to back it up, perceives relationships with them to be closer than they really are
- Narcissistic personality disorder: exaggeration of achievements/talents, fantasies about power or success, unreasonable expectations for self and others, the belief that you are more special than others
- Cluster C – characterized by anxious, fearful thinking and behavior. Personality disorders associated with this cluster are:
- Avoidant personality disorder: too sensitive to criticism, avoidance of work activities involving interaction with others, extreme shyness in social situations
- Dependent personality disorder: extremely submissive or clingy to others, tolerance of abuse or poor treatment, lack of self-confidence
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: desire to be in control of everything around them, rigid and stubborn, inflexible about morality and values, neglect of friends and other activities because of excessive commitment to a project
The above symptoms are not exhaustive, but if you feel that you suffer from several of these, you may want to speak with a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis. There are several treatment methods for people who suffer from a personality disorder, and hope is not lost. A combination of medication, therapy, and support groups are just a few effective ways to get back on track and leading a healthy, fulfilling life.
When you’re making a decision to change your life, you need a program you can trust. Avalon Malibu provides trusted results. Offering both primary mental health and substance use treatment, our full continuum of care seeks to heal mind, body, and spirit. For a confidential assessment and more information, call us today: 888-958-7511
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