What is Personality Disorder?
Before discussing personality disorder, we need to understand what personality is. Personality is the way you think as a person and relate to the world.
The personality disorder refers to a dysfunctional pattern of thinking, feeling or behaving. These patterns are rigid and inflexible, and affect your ability to function in society. They are mainly problems with how you perceive yourself and the world, and how you relate to others. This affects how you feel about yourself, your relationships with others, and your ability to control your own urges. Self-esteem may be inappropriately high or low. You may be detached or overemotional.
What are the symptoms of a personality disorder?
There are 10 types of personality disorders according to DSM 5. Each has specific symptoms but all greatly disrupt the life of the affected person and those around them.
Types of personality disorders:
- Antisocial personality disorder. If you have this disorder you would have little concern for others. You may deceive, bully, or even harm others without remorse.
- Avoinant personality. If you have this you might avoid social activities due to fears of being criticized or rejected.
- Borderline personality disorder. You with this disorder would have an intense fear of being alone. Yet you may push others away. You may have wide mood swings and change their values and beliefs often.
- Dependent personality disorder. This causes an intense need to be cared for by others.
- Histrionic personality disorder. With this you will do almost anything to be the center of attention.
- Narcissistic personality disorder. If you have it you might exaggerate achievements and talents and have the need for recognition and admiration.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). With OCPD you would have a strong need for order, perfection, and control. This often causes them great distress.
- Paranoid personality disorder. When suffering from it you would be preoccupied with baseless doubts of the trustworthiness of friends and associates. You would have a general distrust and suspiciousness of others always thinking their intentions are malicious.
- Schizoid personality disorder. With this you would avoid close relationships, including being a part of a family. You would prefer to be alone and shows little emotion.
- Schizotypal personality disorder. If you have this, you might feel intensely anxious in social settings. You may develop distorted perceptions and often behave in socially unacceptable ways.
How common are personality disorders?
It is estimated that 10 percent to 13 percent of the world's population suffer from some form of personality disorder. In USA, OCPD is considered as the commonest type.
What causes personality disorders?
No one knows what causes these disorders. They are sometimes triggered by childhood abuse or neglect. They also may occur when certain brain chemicals are out of balance. Most likely, both nature and nurture play a role.
What is the course and outcome of personality disorder?
These types of personality patterns usually first appear in adolescence, and may decrease or resolve over time.
Many people with this disorder don’t realize or admit that they need help. And it may take a while before treatment begins to work. But most people who get good treatment live a healthier, happier life.
What can be done?
To get better, you must want to change your life and the old ways of behaving. No one can do this for you. This means changing the way you think about yourself and others and changing the ways you act. Therapy and medicines can help, but counseling therapy is the main treatment.
Home care?
- If you were referred to a therapist, counselor or psychiatrist, make the appointment and keep it.
- Tell each of your healthcare providers about all of the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Certain supplements interact with medicines and result in dangerous side effects.
When to seek medical advice?
- Feeling extreme depression, fear, anxiety, or anger toward yourself or others
- Feeling out of control
- Feeling that you may try to harm yourself or another
- Hearing voices that others do not hear
- Seeing things that others do not see