Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are long-term patterns of inner thoughts and behaviors that affect the way we think about ourselves and how we relate and respond to others. They cannot be diagnosed before age 18 because some symptoms are developmental. Personality disorders can be difficult to treat because people with personality disorders usually don’t recognize their own behavior as problematic. Some of the most common include:

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD):
People with Antisocial Personality Disorder are typically charming, reckless, and manipulative. They typically  feel no guilt or remorse for lying, stealing, cheating, or engaging in illegal activities, and often have little or  no empathy for the feelings and rights of others, even when their actions cause harm. They often have trouble sustaining jobs and relationships, and may have a history of criminal behavior. They may be completely uninterested in therapy and have no desire to change, but anger management and talk therapy can often help. 

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):
Those with Borderline Personality Disorder often experience intense emotions and a deep fear of abandonment that can complicate their relationships. They typically experience mood swings, rage, and impulsive behaviors, and view things in extremes: everything is either all good or all bad. People with BPD are at risk for self-harm and suicidal thoughts, so finding a therapist who can encourage them to stay safe and learn healthy ways to relate and respond to difficult situations is essential. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is especially effective for BPD because it teaches that there is more than one way to view a situation.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD):
People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder have a grandiose sense of self and a need for constant praise and admiration. They may feel superior to most people, lack empathy,  and genuinely believe they deserve VIP treatment. Inside, they actually have fragile self-esteem, are highly sensitive to criticism, and get easily upset if they feel slighted. Although people may use the word “narcissist” to describe someone who acts self-centered at times, NPD is an actual clinical diagnosis of a long-term mental health condition that can prevent someone from living a healthy, meaningful life. CBT, individual, group, and family therapy can be effective in helping people with NPD see how their behaviors can be hurtful to others. 

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
Different from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), OCPD is a chronic preoccupation with perfection and orderliness that is so pervasive in people who have it that their constant, overwhelming need to control their environment often results in self-imposed solitude and an inability to complete tasks in a timely manner, or at all, due to their interference and attempt to achieve impossible standards of perfection. Unlike people with OCD, individuals experiencing OCPD are comfortable with their need for perfection. Talk therapy may help clients identify the origin of their rigid behaviors, and approaches like CBT that change negative thoughts and behaviors can be extremely helpful. 

Other personality disorders include Avoidant, Paranoid, Dependent and Histrionic. Whether you suspect you may have a personality disorder, or are in a home or relationship with someone who exhibits rigid, unhealthy behaviors, finding a therapist who specializes in personality and mood disorders can help you get a healthy perspective on your thoughts, actions, and relationships.