PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible and consistent patterns involving the following areas (not exclusively though)

• thought and perception,

• behaviour,

• relating to others,

• mood,

• social interaction

• emotional expression

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Examples:

• Thoughts and perception: The distorted idea that others intend to harm them e.g. Parnanoid Personality Disorder

• Behaviour: aggression,violence (Antisocial Personality Disorder) suicidal attempts, self-mutilation e.g. cutting (Borderline Personality Disorder)

• Social  interaction: No interest in engaging at any social level and would prefer to be isolated like a hermit e.g. Schizoid Personality Disorder.

• Mood: erratic, unstable, fluctuating from a bad mood, irritability, anger e.g. Borderline Personality Relating: no sense of compassion (Antisocial Personality Disorder)

More common personality disorders:

• Borderline

• Anti-Social

• Avoidant

• Dependent

• Obsessive-compulsive

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Note that this is not intended for diagnosis but to help readers appreciate the core features of this condition.  

Core Features:

Instability in the following areas:

• Self

• Others

• Mood

• Ill-considered behaviour

Self: Erratic sense of self, unstable self-esteem

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Relationships: Inconsistent,unpredictable, swings between good and bad, no middle ground, either held in high esteem or worthless.

Mood:

Very inconsistent, extremes, very emotional sensitivity, irritable.

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Behaviour:

Ill-considered, rash actions e.g. substances, spending, sex. Self-mutilation e.g. cutting. Very temperamental.

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ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER

No remorse or care when they:

• engage in wrongful or unlawful behaviour,

• harm, manipulate, deceive or take advantage of others.

• don't fulfill promises, commitments, responsibilities. 

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AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDER

Core features:

• Don’t feel good enough, low self-esteem

• Sensitive to how others perceive them

• Very self-conscious

DEPENDENT PERSONALITY DISORDER

Core features:

• Unable to do almost everything on their own.

• Must have somebody to assist them.

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY

Core features:

• Very inflexible individuals that must have things done in a particular way.

• Their obsession with perfectionism interferes with achieving the goal, and compromises relationships.