When thoughts, behaviors, and relationships with others become difficult and complicated, it could be a personality disorder. Recognizing it is not that simple and sometimes takes time.
Everyone has one or a few personality traits that not everyone likes, but in a personality disorder, these traits are rigid and overwhelming, so much so that they cause suffering or interfere with adaptation and survival. operation in different situations.
Personality disorders result from a persistent and inappropriate use of adaptive strategies or behaviors which can be useful for the survival of the species (avoidance, resistance, aggression, isolation…). While the normal person uses one of these strategies appropriately in response to a particular situation, the person with a personality disorder uses them constantly, rigidly and compulsively, even when these strategies are clearly disadvantageous.
Personality disorder is a problem
There are many personality disorders, all cited in the “Manual of Diagnosis and Statistics of Mental Illness,” the DSM, the bible of psychiatrists. In any case, whether in borderline, paranoid, antisocial or narcissistic personality cases, there is always a different psychic functioning that deeply affects relationships with others and adaptation to the environment.
The personality disorder always causes suffering for the person but also difficulties to integrate professionally, or to maintain an emotional relationship over time, whether as a couple or as a friendship. This results in suffering, depression, anxiety …
There are different personality disorders
Everyday language gives pride of place to so-called borderline, obsessive or paranoid personalities, even if this most often only corresponds to personality traits and not to real disorders. The following pathological personalities are the most common:
• The paranoid personality is characterized by suspicious distrust of others, all of whose intentions are interpreted as malicious.
• Antisocial personality is characterized by contempt and infringement of the rights of others.
• Borderline personality is characterized by marked impulsivity and instability of interpersonal relationships and affects.
• The narcissistic personality is characterized by fantasies or grandiose behaviors, a need to be admired and a lack of empathy.
• The histrionic personality is characterized by excessive emotional responses and a constant quest for the attention of others.
• The obsessive personality is characterized by a permanent concern for order, perfection and a permanent control of the environment.
But there are other pathological personalities (schizoid, avoidant…).
What makes a personality disorder different from other psychiatric illnesses?
Personality disorders usually appear during adolescence or in young adults. Unlike depression or bipolar disorder for example, they are long lasting, rigid, and persist in all areas of life, whether on a personal, professional, family or social level.
Even if each disorder has its own symptoms, certain signs are common to all and make it possible to differentiate from other psychiatric illnesses:
• Thinking disorders,
• Emotional responses inappropriate to a situation,
• Relational difficulties with others,
• Difficulty controlling urges and behavior.
How to diagnose ?
Even for a psychiatrist, the diagnosis of a personality disorder is not always easy and often takes several years.
If you tend to be a little dependent, avoidant, obsessive, or narcissistic, then you are probably completely normal. On the other hand, if this causes problems in your life and suffering, it is better to consult.
For physicians, personality traits are only considered diagnostic criteria when they are rigid and inadequate and interfere with social, professional or family functioning.
It is this inflexibility that distinguishes the person who suffers from a personality disorder from one who also presents lasting modalities of functioning, but whose personality traits are more flexible or who is able to change his behavior for the better. ‘adapt to different situations.
Thus, stability over the years and in different situations is a very important diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of personality disorder.
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