How people with personality disorders manifest?

The emotional symptoms of personality disorders vary between disorders and express themselves to varying degrees with each person, according to the Mayo Clinic. For example, people with avoidant personality disorder have an extreme aversion of conflict, allowing others to take advantage of them. Other symptoms can include poor impulse control and a propensity for substance abuse.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Individuals affected by paranoid personality disorder have a general suspicion that everyone is out to mistreat them. The condition usually does not extend into full-on psychosis, such as schizophrenia.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

This condition tends to cause patients to avoid social interaction and be indifferent to social cues. The disorder extends beyond introversion; introverts occasionally enjoy socializing.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

People with antisocial personality disorder have a noted disregard for the rights and feelings of others, often performing criminal acts for personal gain. 

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder causes patients to have unstable emotions and mood swings. Unlike bipolar disorder, it does not usually occur in cycles.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

This condition is characterized by acting in an overly dramatic or emotional way, usually as a bid to draw attention.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A narcissistic personality disorder is named for the figure from Greek mythology. It causes patients to have an inflated view of self or their importance, often at the expense of others.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

People with avoidant personality disorder are often timid and harbor feelings of inadequacy. They are very hesitant to confront others about their problems or to express their feelings.

Dependent Personality Disorder

People who have dependent personality disorder have difficulty functioning without the aid or encouragement of others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

This condition is characterized primarily by a compulsion to engage in repetitive behaviors and repetitive thought patterns.

Personality disorders affect the mind, but they can drive people to neglect their physical health as well. Someone affected by schizophrenia or a similar condition, for example, may neglect personal hygiene or suffer from insomnia due to fearful thoughts. At the same time, an obsessive-compulsive person may have raw skin from excessive washing. Because a personality disorder is challenging to diagnose by someone who lacks the necessary medical background, a detailed psychiatric evaluation is usually required.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of a Personality Disorder

Personality disorders have several effects on the psyche over time, both in the short- and long-term. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Difficulty in relationships
• Increased withdrawal from socialization
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Attempted suicide
• Decline in physical health due to lack of care

How we treat personality disorders?

There are a range of treatments that can help you if you experience a personality disorder. These include:

Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) – aims to help you understand how your thoughts and beliefs might affect your feelings and behaviour. Also, other treatments are indicated by international guides, like: art therapies, Cognitive analytic therapy(CAT) and Dialectical behaviour therapy(DBT)

Psychiatric Medication

There are no drugs licensed explicitly for the treatment of personality disorders. Many people with personality disorders also have other mental health diagnoses though, such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis, and may be prescribed medication for these.

These medications could include antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers.

Therapeutic communities

Therapeutic communities are programs where you spend time in a group supporting each other to recover, with the help of a facilitator. Activities can include different types of individual or group therapy, as well as household chores and social activities