What Are Personality Disorders?
If the term personality disorder has ever been used casually or as a label to describe someone’s behavior, it’s often a sign that the concept is being misunderstood. In reality, a personality disorder refers to a long-standing pattern of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that differ from cultural expectations and can significantly impact how a person relates to themselves and others.
Someone with a personality disorder may have difficulty regulating their emotions and thoughts, or they may have trouble processing things emotionally. They can also be impulsive and act on urges without considering the consequences, or they can struggle with their sense of identity or self-image.
There are different types of personality disorders, but they all fall into one of three categories:
Cluster A (odd or eccentric)
These are the “odd or eccentric” personality disorders, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. People with these disorders may have odd beliefs or magical thinking (like believing they can control things with their minds), and often seem to be in their own world. They may also have poor eye contact and body language skills, a very limited social circle, and difficulty developing close relationships.
Cluster B (dramatic, emotional or erratic)
These are the “dramatic, emotional or erratic” personality disorders, including borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders. People with these disorders may feel very strongly about themselves and others but often have trouble controlling their emotions. They may display intense anger or jealousy, as well as dramatic mood swings that can last for hours or days.
Cluster C (anxious or fearful)
These are the “anxious or fearful” personality disorders, including avoidant, dependent and paranoid. People with these disorders often feel extremely anxious about criticism or rejection, so they may hesitate to interact with others. They may also have trouble trusting others due to feelings of low self-worth.
Effective Personality Disorder Treatment Options
Though researchers do not entirely know the causes of personality disorders, brain chemistry and genetics may contribute to them. Some people with these disorders may also have a mental illness, such as depression. However regardless of the cause, the symptoms can be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a well-known treatment for personality disorders, and it’s one of the oldest forms of treatment. It can be hard to find a good psychotherapist, so it’s important to know what psychotherapy actually means.
Psychotherapy is simply a conversation between two people who want to talk about their issues, problems, and feelings. Treatment focuses on the present moment and helps individuals develop healthier ways to cope with difficulties and navigate daily life. Therapists may use a variety of approaches depending on the client’s needs, including talk therapy, behavioral therapy, play therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is widely used because it emphasizes current patterns of thinking and behavior. It teaches individuals practical skills to reframe unhelpful thoughts and gain greater control over their responses, thus reducing distress, improving relationships, and developing healthier coping skills.
The goal of psychotherapy is not just to make you feel better; it’s also about helping you identify what’s causing your negative behaviors so that you can change them into positive ones. This process can take anywhere from six months to several years. However, it depends on how long it takes for you and your therapist to feel comfortable with talking openly about the most personal details of your life.
Medications
Medications are one of the most popular treatments for personality disorder. Researchers estimate that around 75% of people with a personality disorder will receive some form of medical treatment, and many of these individuals will receive medication.
A medication is a chemical substance that patients take in pill or liquid form to treat a condition or illness. Providers prescribe these medications as part of an ongoing treatment plan to help patients manage symptoms associated with a disorder. While medications are often used as part of other treatments for personality disorders, it’s not always necessary for them to be used in conjunction with other types of therapy in order for them to be effective.
Several different types of medications can be used to treat personality disorders including:
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can be used to treat depression, anxiety and other mood disorders associated with personality disorders. Providers may also prescribe them for people who have PTSD or other conditions that cause them to experience severe anxiety.
Mood stabilizers
Human brain chemistry is complex and scientists are still working to understand all of the factors that contribute to personality disorders. One of the main theories regarding how mood stabilizers work is that they help restore balance in brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which can affect a person’s mood. By targeting these chemicals, mood stabilizers may help people with personality disorders manage their emotions and reactions to stressful situations.
Antipsychotic medications
Antipsychotic medications are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that causes people to experience hallucinations and delusions. Providers may also prescribe them for people with other types of personality disorders in order to treat some of their symptoms. For example, an antipsychotic medication may be given to someone who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as well as a co-occurring condition like bipolar disorder or depression.
Anti-anxiety medications
Anti-anxiety medications are used to treat anxiety disorders, which are conditions that cause people to experience excessive and irrational worrying. Providers may also prescribe these for people with other types of personality disorders in order to treat some of their symptoms. For example, an anti-anxiety medication may be given to someone who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as well as a co-occurring condition like bipolar disorder or depression.
Get Professional Help From The Blanchard Institute
When you’re dealing with a personality disorder, it can be hard to know where to turn for help. Many factors contribute to this challenge and mental health stigma remains widespread. Since there are so many types of personality disorders, diagnosing and treating personality disorders is often difficult.
At The Blanchard Institute, we understand the importance of getting professional mental health support. Our comprehensive mental health program is designed to meet each person where they are. We offer compassionate, evidence-based care that helps clients strengthen emotional regulation and develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior. Our individualized treatment planning, skilled clinical support, and warm, nonjudgmental environment, helps individuals gain the tools they need to move toward lasting emotional stability and growth.
We are in-network with a variety of insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Cigna, Aetna, and more. Verify your insurance or give us a call at 704-288-1097 to learn more about our program or to schedule a same-day assessment.
Personality Disorder Treatment FAQ’s
Technically, according to DSM-5, a person can receive more than one personality disorder diagnosis. People who receive a diagnosis of a personality disorder most often qualify for more than one diagnosis. A person with a severe personality disorder might meet the criteria for four, five or even more disorders! In practice, clinicians usually recognize that meeting more criteria for personality disorders means more severe disorder.
Both borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder involve impulsivity and unstable emotional experiences and mood. People with borderline personality disorder, however, also have problems in self-image and relationships. Individuals with borderline personality disorder have identity disturbances, such as an unstable sense of self and chronic feelings of emptiness. They also have relationships in which they alternate between extremes of seeing someone as good/worthy and seeing them as bad/worthless. They experience intense fears of abandonment by others on whom they feel dependent. Typically, the signs of borderline personality disorder are evident over at least several years (although they appear to wax and wane over time). In contrast, the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder appear in episodes. Seek out personality disorder treatment today if you feel you are suffering from this condition.
People with personality disorders may blame other people for problems in their life, and be aggressive and violent. They may upset others with their behavior and hurt relationships with those who truly care about them. Someone with a personality disorder may also have other mental health problems, such as depression and substance misuse.