What is it?
Personality disorders are mental health conditions where a person has long-lasting patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ from what is typical, which can lead to difficulties in relationships and daily life.
Here's more detail
Description
Personality disorders involve longstanding difficulties in managing relationships and emotions, often stemming from early experiences of abuse or neglect. These experiences shape how individuals perceive the world and interact with others, often leading to risky behaviors, emotional disconnection, and unstable relationships.
Personality disorders are considered part of a person’s enduring personality rather than a collection of symptoms and usually require long-term help for better self-understanding and relationship management. Diagnoses are typically made in adulthood, though “emerging personality disorder” might be used for adolescents showing similar patterns.
Personality disorder diagnoses can be controversial. Opinions on the terms described below may vary, and not everyone agrees with using them. Regardless, the feelings and behaviors associated with personality disorders are challenging to live with. No matter how you interpret your diagnosis or what terms you prefer, you deserve empathy and support.
Symptoms
Personality disorders are complex and can manifest through a variety of symptoms that significantly affect an individual’s emotions, behavior, and interactions with others.
Here are some common symptoms of personality disorders:
- Emotional Instability
Individuals may experience rapid and intense mood swings, often triggered by interactions with others. This is particularly noted in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), where emotions can fluctuate dramatically.
- Difficulty in Relationships
Maintaining stable and close relationships can be challenging. People with personality disorders might feel emotionally disconnected, avoid social interactions, or experience tumultuous and unstable relationships.
- Impulsive and Risky Behavior
There may be a tendency to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse, self-harm, or reckless driving. These behaviors are often coping mechanisms for dealing with overwhelming emotions.
- Distorted Self-Image
Individuals might have a fragile or unstable sense of self, leading to frequent changes in goals, values, and aspirations. This can result in a persistent sense of emptiness or lack of identity
- Paranoia and Distrust
Individuals with a personality disorder might feel suspicious and mistrustful of others’ intentions, sometimes leading to social isolation or difficulties in professional settings.
- Difficulty Managing Emotions
Managing emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors can be difficult. This often includes issues like anger, anxiety, PTSD, and depression, which can co-occur with personality disorders.
gap
Stat
gap
What causes personality disorders?
Causes
Personality disorders can be caused by a mix of different things. Sometimes, these disorders run in families, meaning you might be more likely to have one if a close relative does. Difficult experiences during childhood, like abuse or neglect, can also play a big role. Growing up in a tough environment without much support can make it harder to handle emotions and relationships in a healthy way.
Additionally, differences in the brain and how it works can affect how people feel and act. All these factors together can lead to the development of personality disorders.
Gap
Types
Psychiatrists typically use a diagnostic system that identifies ten types of personality disorders, grouped into three categories:
Suspicious
- Paranoid personality disorder
People with Paranoid personality disorder often feel very distrustful and suspicious of others. They might think others are out to harm or deceive them, even without evidence. This makes it hard for them to form close relationships.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
Individuals with schizoid personality disorder tend to be distant and prefer being alone. They often seem indifferent to social relationships and might not express much emotion.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
This disorder involves odd thoughts and behaviors. People might believe in unusual things, have strange ways of speaking, or feel very uncomfortable in close relationships.
Learn more on the Mind website.
Emotional and impulsive
- Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is marked by a consistent disregard for others’. People with ASPD often lie, manipulate, and engage in unlawful activities without remorse. They may act impulsively, struggle with maintaining relationships, and show little regard for social norms and responsibilities.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Borderline Personality Disorder
People with BPD experience intense emotions and mood swings. They often have unstable relationships, a poor self-image, and may engage in impulsive behaviors, like self-harm.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
Those with histrionic personality disorder seek attention excessively. They might be very dramatic, emotional, or sexually provocative to be the center of attention.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
This disorder involves a strong need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. People with narcissistic personality disorder often have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for excessive attention.
Learn more on the Mind website.
Anxious
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
Individuals with avoidant personality disorder are very sensitive to criticism and rejection. They often feel inadequate and avoid social situations due to fear of being embarrassed or disliked.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Borderline Personality Disorder
People with this disorder have a strong need to be taken care of by others. They often feel helpless when alone and may go to great lengths to get support and approval from others.
Learn more on the Mind website.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
This disorder is characterised by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder might be very rigid and struggle to be flexible or delegate tasks.
Learn more on the Mind website.
gap
voice
While many people believe the diagnosis is not useful or valid, others feel a sense of relief on receiving it. The label can be stigmatizing but the diagnosis also helps some people to make sense of their experience and enables them to put a name to things they grapple with but are difficult to explain.
Getting help
If you are worried that you might have a personality disorder, it is important that you speak to your GP. While your GP cannot diagnose BPD they can refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or your community mental health team for a specialisaed assessment. Additionally, they can provide information about other local supports such as support groups that may be available to you.
There are different treatment options depending on your presentation and symptoms. Below are some examples.
- Therapy
Further research is needed to explore effective talking therapies for individuals with personality disorders. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests several types of talking therapies that may be beneficial:
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is made especially for borderline personality disorder (BPD). It includes both one-on-one sessions and group therapy to teach skills for handling emotions.
Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) is a kind of therapy that helps you understand your own thoughts and feelings, as well as other people’s thoughts and feelings. It encourages you to think about why you feel and act the way you do.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you understand how your thoughts affect your feelings and actions.
- Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), which combines practical methods with building a trusting relationship with your therapist to help you understand your problems better and find healthier ways to cope.
- There are also other therapies like schema-focused cognitive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, and arts therapies that might help too.
Therapeutic communities are programs where you join a group to support each other in recovery, guided by a professional. These communities are often residential, meaning you might stay in a large house for all or part of the week. Activities can include various types of therapy, both one-on-one and in groups, along with household tasks and social events. The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities offers a list of these communities across the UK.
- Medication
There aren’t any medications approved specifically for treating personality disorders. However, many people with personality disorders also have other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or psychosis. They might be prescribed medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilisers to help manage these conditions.
- Looking after yourself
Seeking help for a personality disorder is vital, but there are also self-care strategies that can be beneficial.
Different things work for different people, so you’ll need to find what works for you. Some things that work for people are:
- Speak to someone you trust. Whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, or another supportive person you feel comfortable confiding in. Having a personality disorder can often feel very lonely, so you might want to seek support from others going through a similar experience.
- Look after your physical health. This might include eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and drugs and taking care to reduce your stress levels.
Monitor Your Mood: Keep track of your mood changes over time. You can create an account on Waiting Room and use the Mood Tracking and Journal function to do this. Recognising patterns can help you prepare for mood swings.
Find coping strategies for self-harm. People with a personality disorder may use self-harm as a way to manage difficult feelings. Mind.org have a useful page on self-harm and alternative ways of coping.
Create a crisis plan involving listing emergency contacts, such as family members or mental health professionals, and outlining steps to take if you start experiencing severe symptoms. This page on Waiting Room has a list of crisis services that you may find useful. Make sure to include coping strategies that help you feel safe and a reminder to reach out for support immediately when you notice warning signs. Mind.org have a useful page to help you plan for a crisis.
Some resources that may help
Was this resource useful?
Your feedback helps us improve.
Let us know how you found this resource or service, but please note that this feature is not monitored regularly, and it’s not a way to get help or speak to someone.
For information about urgent help, please visit our crisis support page.
We may include your comments on this page, but we will not share your name unless you ask us to.
You may also like...
