Learn More About Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are identified as being enduring patterns of behavior that are pervasive and inflexible. People with personality disorders have significant impairment in relationships, thinking processes, self esteem, and occupational functioning. Below you’ll find articles and resources to help you both understand and deal with personality disorders.
Featured Personality Disorder Articles
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by arrogance, self-importance, and grandiosity. NPD can be difficult to treat, but individual and family therapy can be beneficial for those with a true desire to manage their condition.
14 Tips for How to Deal With a Narcissist
Learning how to deal with a narcissist is challenging because narcissists lack empathy, need excessive praise, and have inflated self-images. They are often deceptive and have profound insecurities that make getting along with them nearly impossible. When handling a narcissist, avoid confrontation, keep interactions brief, and remove yourself from a relationship when possible.
11 Signs of a Narcissistic Relationship & How to Cope
Being the partner of a narcissist can leave a person feeling alone, unheard, and uncared for. While narcissists may appear kind at first, this façade soon falls flat as they begin exhibiting their true manipulative and abusive identity. Eventually, the narcissist’s repeated criticisms, gaslighting, and rageful reactions to perceived slights can result in the partner thinking that they are “not good enough.”
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is marked by emotional instability, problems regulating moods, feelings of emptiness, and impulsivity. The symptoms of BPD can result in relationship challenges, poor self-image, and declines in overall functioning. Treatment for borderline personality disorder includes psychotherapy, sometimes combined with medication.
Borderline Personality Disorder Treatments: Therapies, Medication, & Lifestyle Changes
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment typically includes a heavy emphasis on psychotherapy, such as DBT or CBT. While therapy is the frontline approach for those with BPD, providers may prescribe medications to treat co-occurring conditions. Along with traditional treatment, self-help strategies can help individuals manage their symptoms of BPD.
Symptoms & Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder symptoms include erratic emotions, unstable self-image, impulsivity, or self-destructive behavior. Those with BPD often struggle to maintain healthy relationships, partly due to trauma, trust issues, and fears of abandonment. Early recognition of borderline personality disorder symptoms and signs can be important for coping with the condition.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder marked by a need for orderliness, perfectionism, and control. Someone with OCPD is often rigid and critical of both themselves and others. Symptoms of OCPD may result in workaholism, burnout, depression, or procrastination, which can have a negative impact on an individual’s relationships and ability to perform tasks.
OCD Vs. OCPD: Understanding the Differences
Despite their similar names, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) are significantly different conditions. OCD is marked by specific obsessions (unwanted, intrusive and persistent thoughts) and compulsions, such as checking the oven or washing hands repeatedly. OCPD, in contrast, affects the entire personality with the need for control and perfectionism.
Treatment for OCPD: Therapy, Medication, & Self Help
Treatments for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often include a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and relaxation or mindfulness skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy and radically open DBT are the most common forms of therapy for OCPD, but there are numerous other modalities available. While treating OCPD be difficult, an individual’s often rigid adherence to rules and dedication to tasks can paradoxically be helpful when applied to a comprehensive treatment plan.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is characterized by an avoidance of social interactions due to a severe fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy. Those with AVPD often struggle with low self-esteem, shame, maintaining relationships, and expressing themselves. While having AVPD can impair one’s quality of life, symptoms can be better managed with treatments such as psychotherapy, medications, and social skills training.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Treatment
AVPD treatments typically include cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, and occasionally medication.
Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a condition marked by a pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to rejection. Common symptoms include self-isolation, poor self-image, extreme anxiety in social settings, and avoidance of situations in which one may be subject to criticism or disapproval.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is characterized by a pervasive disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Antisocial behavior typically includes frequent lying, impulsivity, and violence. Commonly, these actions result in functional difficulties, issues with the law, and relationship challenges.
Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatment
AsPD is considered a chronic disorder. Various symptoms of the condition may be treated using therapy and/or medication throughout someone’s life.
Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms
Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by deficits in empathy, remorse, and conscience. People with this disorder are more likely to behave in ways that are socially unacceptable, cruel, and sometimes even violent or illegal.
Psychopathy & Sociopathy
What Is a Psychopath? Definition & Traits
A psychopath lacks empathy for others and displays an elevated level of self-esteem while using charm to manipulate others. The term may be frequently used in the media to describe a person with intense criminality, but clinicians rarely use the word to describe patients. While psychopathy is not an official mental health condition, it may be related to certain personality disorders.
15 Signs of a Sociopath: Traits & Characteristics
A sociopath is a term used to describe a person with a severe form of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Sociopaths do not have a fully functional conscience and tend to be manipulative, exploitative, or even abusive toward other people. Other sociopathic traits include superficial charm, impulsiveness, poor emotional control, and a tendency to behave in illegal, immoral, or violent ways.
Sociopath Vs. Psychopath: Understanding the Differences
While both psychopaths and sociopaths have serious forms of antisocial personality disorder, psychopaths have the most severe form, limiting their ability to experience emotions, empathy, or remorse.
More Articles About Personality Disorders
15 Movies About Narcissists
From abusive parents to gaslighting partners, here are ten movies that encapsulate the narcissistic experience.
10 Signs of Being Raised by Narcissists & Effects in Adulthood
As parents, narcissists are often emotionally unavailable, neglectful, and abusive. Unfortunately, their children typically have difficult childhoods where they constantly try and fail to live up to the changing expectations of their parents. Children begin to believe that their parent’s love is conditional, which can result in struggles with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy relationships that follow them into adulthood.
16 Phrases to Disarm a Narcissist
Narcissists tend to get extremely angry and volatile, especially toward those they’re fighting with. Many people who are arguing with a narcissist cope by simply leaving the conversation or avoiding them. For others, they try to stick around and deescalate the argument. This can be extremely challenging but with time and patience, it is possible.
