Personality Disorders. General Review

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

Each person's nature is unique. We all have our own characteristics, manifesting them in behavior and through the palette of our thoughts and feelings. These manifestations make up the personality of each of us, distinguishing us from each other. Some people like to be in company, while others like to be alone. Someone is emotional, someone is imperturbable. Some people like new experiences and experiences, others need to stick to familiar things. This diversity is what makes human relationships interesting. But there are people whose characteristics (thoughts, feelings, behavior) can interfere with them and make the relationship painful. In this case, we can presumably say that the person has this or that personality disorder.

The term "personality disorder" is not ideal. Its use in relation to a particular person can lead to stigmatization, because it is often used inappropriately as a label. “Something is wrong with you,” - few people will like these words. However, personality disorders are real mental disorders that cause suffering. It is important to understand the nature of these conditions so that people have the opportunity to receive the necessary, adequate help.

Personality disorder is a persistent complex of characteristics of thinking, behavior and emotions that leads a person to difficulties in everyday life. It is difficult for a person with personality disorder to change their behavior and adapt to a variety of life situations. He may have problems with work and maintaining stable positive relationships with people.

Types of personality disorders

There are many different types of personality disorders. Some people are distinguished by excessive anxiety or alienation, others are excessively emotional and unstable, and still others are eccentric and eccentric. But the symptoms of all of them are so serious and stable that they manifest themselves in all areas of life.

Personality disorders begin to manifest themselves in adolescence or a little earlier and, as a rule, smoothed out by old age. Personality disorders are often combined with other painful conditions - depression, various types of addictive behavior.

There are many approaches to typologizing personality disorders. Simplifying, we can say that each person carries all the variety of possible personality traits, some of which can be too strongly expressed. What traits are sharpened and to what extent - this determines the type of personality disorder. Since the pointed features lie in the same spectrum with the normal ones, it is not always possible to talk about a pronounced personality disorder, but only about some of its manifestations. Some people may also carry signs of more than one personality disorder.

I will present one of the most common typologies of personality disorders, in which they are divided into groups, the so-called clusters.

Cluster A. Strange and eccentric behavior

Paranoid personality disorder. People with this disorder are suspicious and distrustful and tend to interpret the behavior of others as unfriendly or demeaning. A person with this disorder is stubborn, sullen, angry and aggressive without reason. Often perceives other people as unscrupulous, disloyal, condescending, or deceitful. This type of people is also characterized by jealousy, secrecy and even deceit, they may seem to others emotionally cold or too serious

Schizoid personality disorder. Schizoid individuals are introverted, withdrawn, prone to loneliness, emotionally cold; they are often absorbed in their thoughts and feelings, afraid of getting closer to other people. Establishing and maintaining intimate relationships is a serious problem for them. People with schizoid disorder have no interest in social contacts, in communication situations they demonstrate extremely poor emotional expression

Schizotypal personality disorder. People with this disorder are eccentric and often in appearance. They may wear clothes that are unusual or inappropriate for the season, or express strange ideas and beliefs. In social situations, they experience severe anxiety, which results in inappropriate, inappropriate behavior. It is not easy for them to maintain close relationships. Such people may react inadequately during a conversation, or not react at all, talk to themselves. There are frequent cases of "magical thinking" when a person with schizotypal disorder is convinced, for example, that he can see the future or read the thoughts of other people

Cluster B. Instability of emotional states, drama and impulsive behavior

Antisocial personality disorder. People with antisocial personality disorder are characterized by conflict and disregard for social norms of behavior. They are impulsive, irresponsible and callous. A common place for an asocial personality is problems with the law, aggressive and irresponsible behavior, manifestations of violence. They show no respect for other people and have no remorse for the pain that their behavior causes others. Because of the low or absent capacity for empathy, the person with ASD is unfamiliar with remorse. For such people, the risk of substance abuse is high, as it helps them relieve stress, irritability and boredom

Hysterical personality disorder. People with this disorder are very emotional and demonstrative, their need for attention and recognition is too excessive, they are often obsessed with their appearance. They have an irresistible desire to be noticed, and they resort to inappropriate behavior to get attention. The expression of emotions of a person with this disorder is intense and even pretentious, exaggerated, the emotional states themselves are unstable. The self-image of such people is distorted. The self-esteem of a hysterical person depends on the approval of others and is not based on self-esteem

Borderline personality disorder. At the root of the borderline personality structure is the fear of rejection. People with BPD are extremely unstable in interpersonal relationships, behavior, mood, and self-esteem. Sudden and intense mood swings, violent, dramatic interpersonal relationships, unstable self-images, unpredictable actions: these all characterize the borderline personality. These people have problems with a sense of identity. Their perception of reality is very flat, like "everything is good" or "everything is bad," and their self-esteem is very fragile. Borderline disorder is also characterized by impulsive actions, episodes of self-harm (cuts, burns), self-destructive and suicidal behavior, bouts of anger, chronic feelings of boredom and emptiness

Narcissistic personality disorder. The narcissistic personality is distinguished by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, absorbed in fantasies of unlimited success, strength and beauty, constantly seeking admiration and attention. Narcissists are hypersensitive to failure, prone to extreme mood swings between self-admiration and feelings of worthlessness. The narcissistic person uses interpersonal relationships to satisfy his need for admiration, and the lack of empathy does not allow her to be caring. Narcissists are also prone to hypochondria

Cluster C. Anxiety, threatening thoughts, avoidance

Avoidant personality disorder. People with this disorder avoid social interaction and are extremely sensitive to negative judgments from others. They often feel inadequate, timid and prone to social isolation. A person with such a disorder is hypersensitive to rejection and can only decide on intimacy if he is completely sure that he is loved. The avoidant personality is characterized by excessive social discomfort, shyness, fear of criticism, and avoidance of social or work activities. Such people are afraid to appear stupid, worried that they might blush or burst into tears in front of third parties. They may not have close relationships outside the family circle, and they yearn for intimacy and become frustrated at not being able to build relationships with others

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Such individuals are conscientious and have a high level of aspirations, they are characterized by perfectionism. They are rarely satisfied with their achievements, they tend to take on more and more responsibilities. They are reliable, trustworthy, accurate and methodical, but their inflexibility leads to an inability to adapt to changing circumstances. A person with this disorder tends to be scrupulous about solving problems, paying attention to every detail, which often makes it difficult to achieve success. In unpredictable situations or when it is necessary to trust others, the compulsive person may feel confused and helpless. Such people live by the rules and have a need to keep everything under control

Dependent personality disorder. People with addictive personality disorder are a model of addictive and submissive behavior, and they rely on others to make decisions for them. They require comfort, care, and advice, and suffer severe criticism and disapproval. They feel helpless in loneliness, they feel devastated when close relationships end. The dependent person is very afraid of rejection and is incapable of independent actions. She can be submissive and patient even in humiliating relationships

Causes

There is still no exact data on the causes of personality disorders.

It is believed that personality disorders can arise from a complex interplay of negative early life experiences and genetic factors. There is no reliable evidence that any gene is responsible for the formation of personality disorder. At the same time, it is known that characterological features are inherited. It is known that the quality of attachment between the child and the parent and a healthy parent-child relationship provide favorable conditions for the development of personality.

People with personality disorders (particularly those with borderline personality disorder) have had high levels of childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect.

Loss of attachment between a parent and lack of proper care in early childhood can have a negative impact on personality development.

Treatment of personality disorders

Personality disorder is difficult to manage on your own. Seeking help from a specialist is an important step towards receiving support and treatment. It can be difficult for people with personality disorder to do it, because trust in a doctor or psychologist is not an easy question. However, establishing a positive relationship with a professional assistant is essential on the road to recovery.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the most effective long-term treatment for personality disorders. Psychotherapy helps people understand their thoughts, motivations and feelings through a relationship with a specialist. As a result of psychotherapy, people begin to manage their symptoms, develop positive relationships with loved ones, and change their behavior.

The type of psychotherapy (individual or group) and psychotherapy school are often a matter of taste.

Medication

There is still no cure on this planet that can cure personality disorder. Nevertheless, medications - antidepressants, normotimics, antipsychotics - are effective in eliminating symptoms and conditions (depression, anxiety, mood swings) that often accompany personality disorders.

Medication works most effectively when combined with psychotherapy.

And, of course, it is possible to resolve the issue of the advisability of taking medications only at a face-to-face meeting with a qualified doctor.