What Is A Personality Disorder?

I thought I would give some quick information on Personality Disorders - Bite size.

So what is a Personality Disorder?

The chances are you already know.

You probably have a Personality Disorder if you are a regular reader of this blog
a friend, colleague or parent who has a Personality Disorder.

Approximately 10% - 15% of the general population are suspected to be living with a Personality Disorder, with concentrated numbers found among people with criminal records and middle and upper management positions. Go figure.

There are a few different types.

Essentially, a Personality Disorder is a set of personality types and behaviours which are viewed as being sufficiently different from the "cultural norm", as to create, generally, a disruptive impact upon the individual's life, and upon the lives of those around them.

A person who is living with a Personality Disorder may have difficulties with -

- Communicating and relating with others
- How they respond to people and situations
- Containing themselves and controlling their impulses

Some broad examples of Personality Disorders include -

- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Perfectionism, rigidity, fixation, literal interpretation, anxiety

- Histrionic - Attention seeking, manipulative, dramatic, egocentric, flirtatious, easily influenced

- Narcissistic - Lacking empathy, seeking admiration, deceptive, self-serving

- Paranoid - General suspicion and mistrust of people and situations, emotionally isolated

- Borderline - Mood swings, self harm / suicide, black and white thinking, dissociation

- Passive Aggressive - Obstructive, resistive, learned helplessness behaviour, resentful


Now, some of you may read this post and think you have a Personality Disorder. We can all look at the above information, and see some of these traits within ourselves. What allows some of these traits to be classed as a Personality Disorder includes -

- What other other traits are co-existing

- The length of time theses traits have been in presentation (did they develope in early adulthood?)

- To what extent these traits impact our lives and the lives of people around us

Some people, particularly under times of great stress, may exhibit some of these traits, as part of a coping mechanism. This does not mean they have a Personality Disorder.

If you are reading this, and think you, or someone you know, may have a Personality Disorder, please consult with a doctor. Seek advice from the experts. With advice and support, life can be made a little easier.

The very nature of Personality Disorders mean that those people living with such a diagnosis, may appear to be odd, difficult, awkward or down right evil. This is not the case. These people are not well. Their emotional and mental health is compromised, and they need help, even if they do not see it that way.

For more information, click here and here.

Here is a test for you that may or may not reveal a Personality Disorder.