Personality Disorders

What is Personality Disorder ?

Everyone has a unique and consistent pattern of thinking, feeling or behaving that describes us. This is our personality. However, when there is a problem in our personality, it means that we are developing personality disorders. A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. It is a complete deviation from the normal way of thinking, feeling, or behaving. This deviation means that our thoughts, feelings, or behaviours are either in excess or deficit from normal.

Personality disorders may range from mild to severe and may often require urgent hospitalisation if severe. Personality disorders, if untreated, can develop into full-blown psychiatric conditions.

How do you know someone with a personality disorder?

• People with personality disorders can be very dramatic when in public places in order to be the centre of attention.

• People with personality disorders can be unnecessarily suspicious of everyone around them.

• They often prefer solitary activities and exhibit social detachment.

• People with personality disorder can be superstitious about life events.

• They often place emphasis on their accomplishments and may exhibit pride when talking in public places.

• They can have a constant desire to be lawbreakers, e.g., going against constituted authorities.

• People with personality disorders can be excessively fearful and often dependent on others to do things for them.

• They sometimes feel inadequate in social situations.

• People with personality disorder may also have a compulsion to be perfect and orderly in their daily living

What are the common types of personality disorders?

There are 10 common types of personality disorder.

1. Paranoid personality disorder – If you have paranoid personality disorder, you will be suspicious of everyone around you. You may often think that people around you want to harm you.

2. Schizoid personality disorder – This personality disorder means that you prefer solitary activities to intimacy.

3. Schizotypal personality disorder – People with this personality disorder often have odd beliefs about life events.

4. Antisocial personality disorder – This means a pervasive pattern of disregard for laws.

5. Histrionic personality disorder – If you have histrionic personality disorder, you will always be seeking to be the centre of attention in public settings, and if you are not the centre of attention, you may do something to make yourself the centre of attention.

6. Narcissistic personality disorder – People with this disorder are too full of themselves and their personal accomplishments.

7. Borderline personality disorder – This means that one has unstable emotions and relationships.

8. Avoidant personality disorder – This means that one has a fear of being negatively evaluated in social situations.

9. Dependent personality disorder – People with this disorder are mostly indecisive and depend on others to do things for them.

10. Obsessive-compulsive disorder – People with this type of personality disorder have a strong desire for orderliness.

What are the causes of personality disorder

Personality disorders are caused by mainly biological, psychological and social factors.

Biological factors – Personality disorders can be transferred from parents to children. Personality disorders can also be a result of chemical imbalances in our bodies.

Psychological factors – Traumatic experiences, exposure to violence, poor parenting, and substance abuse are potential psychological factors that can cause personality disorders.

Social factors – The type of environments, friends, and sociocultural norms/values around us are potential social factors that can determine our personalities.

Treatment for personality disorders

Personality disorders are mostly treated with psychotherapy and lifestyle modification techniques.

The treatment can be broadly grouped as follows:

Psychotherapy (e.g., relaxation techniques, cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion-focused therapy, etc.)

Lifestyle modification (e.g., exercise, having adequate sleep, reduction of stress, etc.)

A combination of the two (2) groups of treatment is often the most effective treatment for personality disorder.

Supporting the caregivers of people with personality disorder

Why should their caregivers be supported?

It is very important to support the caregivers of people with personality disorder because of the fact that most times, they often experience a high burden of care when providing care for their friends or family with personality disorder.

How can the caregivers be supported?

You can be supported by:

Dedicate time to know more about personality disorders. The more you know about personality disorders, the more you can plan the future, and the better the chances that your loved one can recover from a personality disorder.

Seek professional help or support if you notice that your health is getting affected by your care provision. For instance, you can schedule to speak with a counselor/therapist.

Sometimes, you can take a break from caregiving and spend time in pleasurable activities, e.g., seeing movies.

Practice healthy eating and reduce stress.

Ensure that you get quality sleep.

Join support groups around you, for instance, caregiver support groups for personality disorders.

Practice relaxation techniques, exercise, or yoga activities.