Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are a type of mental health condition in which a person has long-term patterns of behavior and thought that are unhealthy and inflexible. Personality disorders are rare and usually greatly interfere with life and cause serious problems with personal relationships and work. Generally, individuals suffering from personality disorders are socially isolated and distrustful. They may have difficulty making friends and tend to have mood swings, poor impulse control, turbulent relationships, and angry outbursts.

There are a number of different personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive) and the symptoms of each disorder are different and can range from mild to severe. Sometimes people suffering from a personality disorder do not realize they have one because their way of acting and thinking seems normal to them.

No one knows what exactly causes personality disorders, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Seeing a mental health professional is an important part of treatment for individuals who have personality disorders, which often get worse without help.