Personality disorders refer to a group of ten mental health problems containing rigid, irregular, and long-lasting thinking, feeling, and behaving patterns. People with personality disorders cannot identify these problems themselves because they think their thinking patterns, emotional capacity, and behavior are entirely normal.
Personality disorders can severely impact a person’s ability to function appropriately. It can cause them stress because they feel they are different from those around them. Their viewpoint is quite different from a large majority of people’s perspective. Hence, they find it difficult to blend in with the social milieu.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 9 percent of the US population has some type of personality disorder. In comparison, 6 percent of the global population has one or more personality disorders.
Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters based on their symptoms and characteristics. Some people might be diagnosed with more than one disorder. Here is a brief overview of all the personality disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):
Table of Contents
Cluster A Personality Disorders:
People with cluster A disorders are usually suspicious and paranoid and display unconventional behavior. They can be treated through an optimal combination of treatments. Your healthcare provider will monitor your symptoms and design a treatment plan for your personality disorder. It is common for people dealing with personality disorders to feel isolated and regularly deal with depression, despair and anxiety. Consequently, they may become dependent on substances to alleviate their symptoms, like overindulgence in alcohol or opioids, or stimulants and other drugs. To seek help in recovering from addictions, visit delphihealthgroup.com.
Cluster A Personality Disorders Are As Follows:
Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD):
People who suffer from this disorder are often paranoid and exhibit mistrust and suspicion when dealing with others. There is often no reason for them to be paranoid or suspicious, but that is how their minds work. They often engage in self-harm. Some specific signs of PPD are:
- Cannot Confide In People, Be It Family Or Friends
- Cannot Relax
- Look For Danger And Threats In Each Situation In Their Lives
Schizoid Personality Disorder:
This personality disorder entails a consistent pattern of detachment and disregard in interpersonal relationships. Those that suffer from it exhibit little emotions when interacting with people in social settings.
They Also:
- Have An Independent Lifestyle
- Have Next To No Interest In Intimacy
- Have Difficulty In Being Able To Relate To Others
Schizotypal Personality Disorder:
People who struggle with this disorder believe that they have the power to influence people and their thoughts. They often misread situations and hence have inappropriate reactions to them. You’ll see that people with schizotypal personality disorder often avoid intimate relationships.
People Who Suffer From This Disorder Also:
- Have Distorted Thoughts And Perceptions
- Have Paranoid And Anxious Feelings In Social Interactions
- Have A Strong Belief In The ‘sixth Sense.’
Cluster B Personality Disorders:
People with disorders grouped under cluster B are often dramatic and display erratic and impulsive behaviors. They usually have unstable and intense emotions and often overreact to simple situations.
From 1 to 6 percent of the US population suffers from cluster B personality disorders. They are also often involved in substance abuse, so the best way to treat them is to provide them with healthcare and rehabilitation.
Here Are The Personality Disorders Grouped Under Cluster B:
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD):
People who suffer from ASPD are rule breakers and are often stubborn. They show a lack of respect for everyone around them and avoid following rules set by society. They may also cause severe physical, emotional, and mental harm to other people around them.
If Someone Around You Shows These Signs, Then They Have ASPD:
- Unpleasant Behavior
- Illegal Conduct
- Aggressive Demeanor
- Disregard For Other People
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):
People who suffer from BPD have difficulty regulating their emotions. They often have low self-esteem and mood swings. They feel empty and abandoned no matter the amount of support they receive. They are also involved in excessive drinking and often go for risky situations like gambling. They also exhibit:
- A Constant Fear Of Abandonment
- Have No Emotional Regulation
- Struggle With Self-Image
- Instable Relationships
- Engage In Harmful Activities Like Drinking, Substance Abuse, Etc.
Histrionic Personality Disorder:
People who have this disorder have intense self-image problems. They are emotionally unstable and often seek approval from others. They want to be noticed and often do inappropriate things to get attention.
They Also:
- Make Impulsive Decisions
- Seek Validation
- They Are Overemotional And Often Dramatic
- Are Easy To Manipulate
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
People who have this disorder think they are superior and better than others. Yet, they have low self-esteem and lack self-confidence. They want to be praised and admired by others and often have low empathy.
They Often Exhibit The Following Symptoms As Well:
- Resent Other People
- Jealous Of Other’s Success
- Selfish And Demanding
- Like Attention And Hate Being Ignored
Cluster C Personality Disorders:
People with cluster c personality disorders feel intense fear and are almost always anxious. Other people perceive them to be withdrawn and tired. Different cluster C personality disorders are:
Avoidant Personality Disorder:
Such people often feel inadequate and are very sensitive to being judged negatively. They avoid all social interactions because of the fear of being rejected by others.
They Also:
- Expect Criticism For Everything
- Avoid All Kinds Of Relationships
- Feel Isolated And Inferior To Others
Dependent Personality Disorder:
These people want someone to care for them 24/7. They cannot make decisions themselves and are very submissive; they depend on others for everything, even happiness and contentment. They fear separation and are often clingy.
They Also Show:
- Low Self-Confidence
- Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)
- Agree To Things Just For Acceptance
- Don’t Take Responsibility For Anything
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD):
People with OCPD are perfectionists and want everything to be in order and under control. They follow all rules and regulations religiously. They have low emotional capacity when it comes to relationships and often prefer the task at hand to working on their relationship.
They Also:
- Set Unrealistic Standards For Themselves And Others
- Feel Anxious When Things Are Imperfect
- Are Self-Assured
Bottom Line:
Millions of people in the world experience some form of mental distress or trauma that can lead to personality disorders. These disorders can alter your chance of having a normal lifestyle. However, these disorders are treatable. If you or anyone you know exhibits signs of these disorders, approach a counselor or therapist instead of judging and self-diagnosing. To recover from the skewed perceptions triggered by these mental health conditions, you must contact the right people at the right time.