What is a personality disorder?
An individual’s personality is shown in the way he or she thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to other people. In many ways, our personality helps define who we are as individuals. For example, some people may tend to act impulsively while others are more thoughtful. This is normal. However, when a persons thinking, emotions, and behaviors create significant problems for that person or for others, professional help may be needed. It is common for people with personality disorders to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to escape the pain of their disorder.
There are many types of personality disorders. They can range from mild to severe in terms of how much they interfere with day-to-day functioning. Most people can live normal lives with mild personality symptoms. However, increased times of stress can make a personality disorder more problematic.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
People with this disorder seem to have no regard for either social norms or other people’s feelings. Typical traits include:
- Constantly breaking the law
- Acting deceitful, such as lying, using false names or trying to con other people
- Failing to plan ahead
- Acting irritable or aggressive, and getting into physical fights
- Behaving recklessly or putting other people in danger
- Failing to hold a job, pay bills or keep up with other responsibilities
- Lacking remorse for wrong-doing, including for hurting others
Borderline Personality Disorder
People with this disorder have trouble maintaining healthy relationships. Typical traits include:
- Fear of abandonment
- A pattern of unstable relationships
- A tendency to see people as either wonderful or awful
- Poor self-image
- Impulsivity
- Suicidal or self-harming behavior, such as cutting
- Intense moods which change fairly rapidly
- Inappropriate or uncontrollable anger
- Paranoia
Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Avoid social situations.
- Feelings of inadequacy; extreme sensitivity to criticism.
Dependent Personality Disorder
- Extreme need of other people, to a point where the person can’t make decisions, think, or act independently.
- Fear of separation, submissive behavior, lack of decisiveness, and self- confidence.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Exaggerated and often inappropriate displays of emotional reactions to everyday situations.
- Sudden and rapid shifting of emotional expressions.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Grandiosity, or an exaggerated view of one’s self.
- A lack of concern for others coupled with the need to be admired by others.
- An inability to see the viewpoint of others and hypersensitivity to the opinions of others.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
- Perfectionism and inflexibility.
- Recurrent unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors such as hand washing.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
- Believing that others are exploiting, harming, or trying to deceive them.
- Lack of trust and belief of others; unforgiving and grudge holding.
Recovery Ways specializes in treating a wide variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders, for more information on how to get you or your loved one help, call us toll- free: 888-986-7848.
