People who struggle with personality disorders, mental health conditions that a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can diagnose struggle to cope with life and its inevitable ups and downs. Regardless of the type of personality disorder, receiving personality disorder treatment is the best way to address something that can, if left alone, make life quite difficult.
To learn about the most common personality disorders and get help deciding what course of action is best for you, reach out to Apex Recovery Nashville. We offer addiction rehab and mental health treatment at our center in Tennessee. Call 615.703.4639 today or complete this online form to connect with a staff member.
About Personality Disorders
Personality disorders typically are characterized by pervasive and ongoing dysfunctional traits that affect two or more of the following categories:
- Cognition, including perceptions of self, others, and events
- The ability to experience feelings, judgment, and motivation
- The ability to function interpersonally
- Impulse control
A personality disorder is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior deviating markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture.
Types of Personality Disorders
The ten types of personality disorders are not all equally represented in the general population. They are:
- Anti-social
- Avoidant
- Borderline
- Dependent
- Histrionic
- Narcissistic
- Obsessive-compulsive
- Paranoid
- Schizoid
- Schizotypal
These conditions may all be personality disorders, but they are different. For example, paranoid personality disorder is characterized by extreme distrust or suspicion and can be accompanied by delusions, such as believing someone is out to get you. Compare this to histrionic personality disorder, characterized by exaggerated emotions and behaviors that draw attention to oneself.
Clusters of Personality Disorders
They are typically categorized in clusters:
- Cluster A disorders are characterized by unusual thinking and behaviors or a lack of emotional responses (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal)
- Cluster B disorders are the most unpredictable, characterized by dramatic or intensely emotional reactions (histrionic, narcissistic, borderline, and anti-social)
- Cluster C disorders are characterized by anxious thinking (dependent, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive)
The therapies and treatments for each personality disorder are not all the same. Each individual and each specific diagnosis requires personalized treatment options, including therapy and, in some cases, medication to mitigate some of the associated symptoms and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
Most Common Personality Disorders
Researchers always look into the most prevalent personality disorders to learn what they are and devise effective treatments. According to recent studies, the three most common personality disorders are:
- Anti-social personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
Some of the essential characteristics of the three most common personality disorders are listed below.
Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Someone with this disorder is likely to:
- Be charming
- Rely on manipulation and flattery
- Have no regard for the law
- Struggle with substance abuse and addiction
- Not caring about the safety of self or others
- Exhibit extreme arrogance
- Be prone to rage
- Lie, steal, fight, and cheat without regard to consequences
- Show little or no remorse or guilt
Anti-social personality disorder is often associated with an individual’s upbringing.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Those who are diagnosed with this disorder tend to:
- Have an inflated sense of self-importance (arrogance)
- Be preoccupied with success, power, and beauty
- Look down on people they consider unimportant and seek companions who are special, successful, or famous
- Be extremely entitled
- Lack empathy
- Be willing to exploit others in pursuit of personal gain or a feeling of winning
- Feel envy toward others and believe others are envious of them
- Insist on being admired
Narcissistic personality disorder is often triggered by trauma, failure, or loss.
Borderline Personality Disorder
People with borderline personality disorder do not have a strong sense of who they are. They commonly:
- Hate and cannot tolerate being alone
- Are terrified of abandonment
- Exhibit irrational and inappropriate anger
- Frequently feel a sense of emptiness
- Experience self-induced crises
- Engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
- Have a distorted sense of self
- Engage in risky and impulsive behaviors
- Are vulnerable to substance use disorders
Borderline personality disorder treatment typically involves a combination of talk therapy and medication.
Find Personality Disorder Treatment at Apex Recovery Nashville
At Apex Recovery Nashville, we are committed to our clients’ individual well-being and mental health. We strive to treat everyone under our care with dignity and respect and provide our services with integrity and accountability. Call 615.703.4639 to learn more, or use this online form to connect with one of our staff.