Kinds of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are severe mental disorders that cause changes in an individual’s personality and should be treated by professionals like those at Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic. The person has trouble perceiving information, and their cognitive patterns malfunction. A personality disorder causes disturbed patterns of;
• Thinking
• Functioning
• Behaving
Types of personality disorders
The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, DSM-V, groups personality, disorders into three groups; here is a summary of the grouping of personality disorders;
• Cluster-A (Paranoid/Suspicious)
• Cluster-B (Emotional/Impulsive)
• Cluster-C (Anxious)
Cluster-A personality disorders encompass a group of disorders characterized by paranoid behavior and suspicion, such as doubts. Cluster-B personality disorders have emotional imbalance and an element of impulsiveness. Cluster-C disorders are governed by anxiety and fearful thoughts.
Cluster-A personality disorders
In Cluster-A personality disorders, we will talk about disorders that have the main character of paranoia and suspicion.
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizoid personality disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder
Paranoid personality disorder
A paranoid personality disorder is marked by unreasonable mistrust and suspicion of others without reason. People with Paranoid personality disorder are always on the alert; they are worried that people are trying to hurt or demean them.
Symptoms
Here are some symptoms of paranoid personality disorder;
• Lack of trust in others
• Suspicion of others’ motives and actions
• The unreasonable belief that others are trying to cause harm
• Reluctance to trust others because of a fear that others are against you
• Treat innocent remarks or non-threatening situations as a personal insult or attack
• Responds to perceived insults or insults with anger or hostility
• Tendency to hold grudges
• Repeated and unfounded suspicions of the infidelity of a spouse or sexual partner
Schizoid personality disorder
A specific condition in which people avoid social activities and consistently run away from interaction with others.
Symptoms
• Lack of interest in social relationships or relationships prefers to be alone.
• Can’t pick up on normal social cues
• Indifference or indifference to others
• Limited range of emotional expression
• Unable to enjoy most activities
• Little or no interest in sex with others
Schizotypal personality disorder
People with this disorder show constant intense discomfort and a limited need for intimacy.
Symptoms
• Particular dressing, thinking, beliefs, words, or behavior
• Strange sensory experiences, such as hearing your name whispered
• An indifferent, inappropriate, or suspicious reaction to others
• The belief that you can influence people and things with your thoughts
• Flat feelings or inappropriate emotional responses
• Social anxiety and lack of intimacy with close relationships
• The belief that random events have hidden information that is only relevant to you
Cluster-B personality disorders
Cluster-B personality disorders are characterized by feelings of emotional disturbance and impulsiveness in actions and behaviors.
Here is a list of Cluster-B personality disorders;
• Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)
People with ASPD lack respect for others and do not follow socially accepted norms or rules. A person with ASPD may break the law or cause physical or emotional harm to those around them. Inappropriate to the needs or feelings of others. A psychiatric evaluation may be needed.
Symptoms
• Constant lying, stealing, using pseudonyms, deceiving others
• Impulsive behavior
• Constantly irresponsible
• Lack of remorse for the behavior
• Periodic legal issues
• Repeated violations of the rights of others
• Aggressive, often violent behavior
• Disregard for own safety or that of others
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
This condition is characterized by difficulty regulating emotions, leading to low self-esteem, mood swings, impulsive behavior, and subsequent relationship problems.
Symptoms
• Impulsive and risky behavior such as unsafe sex, gambling, or overeating
• Unstable or fragile self-image
• Unstable and strained relationships
• Mood swings, often in response to relationship stress
• Suicidal behavior or threats of self-harm
• Extreme fear of being alone or abandoned
• Permanent void of emptiness
• Frequent, intense expressions of anger
• Stress-related paranoia that comes and goes
Histrionic personality disorder
Strong, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image characterize the condition.
Constantly seeking attention.
Symptoms
• Too emotional, dramatic, or sexually provocative to attract attention
• Shallow, rapidly changing emotions
• Excessive focus on appearance
• Makes dramatic statements with strong opinions but almost no facts to back them up
• Easily influenced by others.
• Perceived relationships with others as closer than they are
Narcissistic personality disorder
This condition includes a persistent pattern of superiority and ego, an excessive need for praise and admiration with a lack of empathy for others.
Symptoms
• Believe that you are special and more important than other people
• Fantasies about power, success, and attractiveness
• Inability to recognize other people’s needs and feelings
• Exaggerate one’s achievements or talents
• Expect constant praise and admiration
• Arrogance
• Unreasonable expectations of favors and advantages, often taking advantage of others.
Cluster-C personality disorders
Cluster-C disorders have major elements of anxiety and fearful thoughts.
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
Avoidant personality disorder
People with this disorder have chronically low self-esteem and are highly sensitive to the negative judgments of others.
Symptoms
• Overly sensitive to criticism or rejection
• Social inhibition, shyness, and isolation, avoiding new activities or meeting strangers
• Extremely shy in social situations and relationships
• Inadequate, low self-esteem or feeling unattractive
• Avoid work activities that require human contact
• Fear of rejection, embarrassment, or ridicule
Dependent personality disorder
A constant and excessive need for the care of others characterizes the condition.
Symptoms
• Excessive dependence on others and need for supervision
• Difficulty starting or implementing projects on your own due to a lack of self-confidence
• Difficulty disagreeing with others, fear of rejection
• Tolerating harsh or abusive behavior even when other options are available
• Submissive or clingy behavior toward others
• Fear of having to fend for yourself or fend for yourself if left alone
• Lack of self-confidence requires excessive advice and reassurance from others on even small decisions
• When a close relationship ends, there is an urgent need to start a new relationship
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
This condition is characterized by a constant and extreme need for order, perfectionism, and control.
• Attention to detail, order, and rules
• Extreme perfectionism, which can lead to dysfunction and discomfort
when perfection is not achieved, such as not being able to complete a project because it did not meet one’s strict standards
• Wants to control people, tasks, and situations and is unable to delegate tasks
• Neglecting friends and enjoyable activities because you are too involved in work or projects
• Cannot drop broken or worthless items
• Stubborn
• Inflexible with morals, ethics, or values
• Strict, stingy control of budgets and expenses
Conclusion
Talk to your doctor if you or your loved one have signs or symptoms of a personality disorder. Untreated personality disorders can cause major problems in your life. Hence, do not delay the treatment if you suffer from the symptoms of personality disorders. Contact us right away!