What are personality disorders?

Personality is the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves that distinguishes them from others. Experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations), and inherited features influence an individual's personality. A person's personality tends to remain consistent throughout time. A personality disorder is a manner of thinking, feeling, and acting that differs from cultural norms produces distress or impairment in functioning and persists over time. A personality disorder is a mental illness in which you have a strict and harmful way of thinking, functioning, and acting. An individual with a disordered personality has difficulty perceiving and relating to situations and people. Relationships, social activities and employment are all hampered as a result of this.

Types of personality disorders:

Personality problems come in a variety of forms. They've been divided into three groups based on similar traits and symptoms. Personality disorders might show up in the form of signs and symptoms in certain people. The clusters have different disorders that are affiliated with them, and the types of personality disorders can be seen below:

• Cluster A- Personality Disorders characterised by Odd or Eccentric behaviours:
  • Paranoid personality disorder
  • Schizoid personality disorder
  • Schizotypal personality disorder
• Cluster B: Personality Disorders characterised by Dramatic, Emotional and Impulsive behaviours:
  • Antisocial personality disorder
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Histrionic personality disorder
  • Narcissistic personality disorder
• Cluster C: Personality Disorders characterised by Anxious or Fearful behaviours:
  • Avoidant personality disorder
  • Dependent personality disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

How are personality disorders treated?

Treatment for personality disorders varies based on the nature and degree of the disorder. Long-term psychotherapy has proven to be helpful. There are no drugs that have been approved to treat personality disorders. Psychotherapy might assist to shift negative patterns of behaviour and help an individual identify and understand how to deal with symptoms and habits that are dysfunctional.