A personality disorder is a type of mental health disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. Personality disorders are deeply ingrained ways of thinking and behaving that are inflexible and generally lead to impaired relationships with others. Person’s with a personality disorder struggle with perceiving and relating to situations, events, and people. Distorted perceptions can create significant challenges or interferes with building and sustaining relationships, engaging in social activities, and wok performance. Personality disorders like a lot of other mental health disorders can significantly disrupt the lives of both the affected person and those that love and care about them.

Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the symptoms of a personality disorder right away, as we often attribute characteristics such as grandiosity, and ego to “a component” of the individual’s personality style. In some cases, the person with a personality disorder may not realize he/she has a personality disorder because his/her way of thinking and behaving seems natural to them, as this have thought and behaved this way for a long time, sometimes most of their lives.

Symptoms of personality disorders typically emerge or become visible during one’s teenage years or early adulthood, which is also about the type social development and other biological changes are in full swing.

Personality Disorders are typically grouped into three clusters:

• Cluster A – Characterized by behavioral and thinking oddities, eccentric

• Cluster B - Characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, unpredictable thinking or behavior

• Cluster C – Characterized by by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior

Cluster A Personality Disorders

• Paranoid PD

• Schizoid PD

• Schizotypal PD

Cluster B Personality Disorders

• Antisocial PD

• Borderline PD

• Histrionic PD

• Narcissistic PD

Cluster C Personality Disorders

• Avoidant PD,

• Dependent PD

• Obsessive-compulsive PD

Although, the direct cause of the formation of a personality disorder is unknown it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Persons with a familial history of mental illness or personality disorders are more likely than others without a familial history of mental illness to develop a mental health disorder. However, certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing a personality disorder may include; trauma, family history, changes in brain chemistry, etc.

Personality disorders are often difficult to treat. They may need long-term attention to change the inappropriate behavior and thought patterns.

Treatment May Include:

• Medicine

• Psychotherapy

Treatment Depends On:

• Age, health, and medical history

• Type and severity of symptoms

• Extent of the disease

• Tolerance- medication, procedures, and therapy

• Personal expectations

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