Personality Disorders New York

Personality disorders are a complex type of mental health issues which define a man through his thoughts, emotions and behaviours over a long period of time against cultural or social expectations. Personality disorder forms around 9% of US individuals which translates to 1.4% of borderline personality disorder in adults which classifies this issue as a normal behaviour over time which may arise in early adulthood if not controlled. When it is time for them to work and build interpersonal relationships these traits can greatly weaken or severely inhibit an individual from participating fully during these activities. When a person doesn’t understand the control they have over their thoughts and actions, it becomes very difficult to carry out any tasks due to the person’s mind being infested by their habitual state.

Can personality disorders be treated?

While around 9 percent of Americans are estimated of having at least one personality disorder, around 1.4% are diagnosed of borderline personality disorder. Even though these attitudes and behaviours can begin during a person’s teenage years, it can keep on extending through the young adulthood and then entire life if not properly dealt with. It has been estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that a large percentage of the population have issues particularly related to managing emotions, controlling their actions, and having an interpersonal connection.

Varieties of Personality Disorders

As Classification Evolution, ASDP has it described in three sections based on the manner of behavioural indicators, which includes:

Cluster A: Strange or Eccentric Disorders

Individuals with cluster A personality disorder are strange and socially isolated. These include:

Schizoid Personality Disorder: These individuals desire to maintain a distance away from social happenings and prefer to engage in activities that require personal space. Schizoidism is marked by lack of voluntary social activities and self-effacing sentiments.

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Individuals have pervasive mistrust of others and are better off without any close relationship due to constant fear of being fooled even though that may not be the case

More people talk differently and behave differently based on society which is known as Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Certain individuals may tend to suffer with agoraphobia and in some instances can reach depression during intimate interactions while retaining patterns of odd speech.

Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Disorders

Multi-cultural societies support individuals of cluster B P disorder which is better enriched and fosters ones’ emotions in erratic and dramatic behaviourism. Some include but not limited to:

People who suffer from antisocial personality disorder need to ignore the thoughts and feelings of empathy and acknowledgement of the concept of being hurt while engaging in social activities which for them is usually deceit and manipulation. Consistently and sustaining breaking the laws in society as well as transgressing societal norms becomes a regular activity.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: People suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder perceive themselves in a much larger perspective than the actual reality, they think they are better than others and always want to be at the centre of attention. They never try to sympathize with anyone, and all their dealings are self-serving.

Histrionic Personality Disorder: This condition is defined by a chronic need for reassurance and validation, difficulty in regulating emotions, and distress in situations where an individual is not the focus of other people’s interest. Some of them are prone to overacting or becomes too emotional to capture others attention.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder usually have disorderly or traumatic relationships, self-esteem issues or identity problems, and experience drastic moods. They may have difficulty making and maintaining friendships, owing to impulsivity, extreme fear and concern regarding being deserted, and highly sensitive emotions.

Cluster C: Anxious or Fearful Disorders

People that are suffering from cluster C personality disorders experience persistent and chronic irrational fears or anxiety. Included in this category are:

Avoidant Personality Disorder: Individuals diagnosed or suffering from Avoidant personality disorder are always in need of approval and attraction for themselves, feel worthless most of the times and fear abandonment which results in opportunity loss in professional social settings. This results in social interactions being scarce, and the affected individuals find it really difficult to trust anyone.

Dependent Personality Disorder: Affected individuals showcase overly dependent personality due to their submissive nature and desire to not make any decisions for themselves, rather expect others to take care of them. Such individuals do not have confidence and will require others for everything, from challenging themselves to making decisions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder OCPD: These individuals are very overbearing and have an unhealthy fixation over control, perfectionism and order. These individuals can also be extremely self-patterning. For example, they can be so controlling that they can over criticize themselves or many of their relationships.

Common Symptoms of Personality Disorders 

Though every personality disorder has its distinct qualities but there are certain symptoms which are common in most of them. 

Relationship Issues: Patients can have folded relationships because of their distorted perceptions. For example, a narcissistic abusive person would have no problem manipulating others while a person with overly avoidant would have a hard time with rejection. 

Self-Image and Self Identity: This makes it hard for them to cope with social and professional settings as many people suffering from these disorders are considered to have porous ideas about themselves or their self-esteem.

Insight Into Self: Most of the people suffering from Personality disorders remain oblivious of many aspects regarding their mental disturbance at such level. They fail to see how detrimental and toxic their actions are to professional and social relationships.

Causes of Personality Disorders

The ethology of personality disorders is still a subject of research, although it is suggested that the likelihood of them developing is multifactorial:

Genetics: There is evidence suggesting that genetics has a role in the development of personality disorders. People with a family history of mental health conditions might be at a greater risk of developing personality disorders.

Childhood Trauma: Experiencing abuse, neglect, or any form of emotional trauma in one’s childhood has strong associations with developing personality disorders. A difficult upbringing can affect how people perceive themselves and relate to others across the lifespan.

Verbal Abuse: Especially a chronic exposure to verbal abuse in childhood, is a risk factor for the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder.

Brain Functioning: It has been noted that there exist differences in the brain structural and functioning that are associated with personality disorders. For instance, patients suffering from paranoid personality disorder may have abnormal functional activity in the amygdala, a region of the brain that regulates emotions.

Personality Disorder Rehabilitation in New York

Individuals who possess personality disorders are difficult to treat, especially because most believe that the behaviour exhibited is normal. Still, there are some options that can be explored:

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is the Centre for treatment of all personality disorders. A qualified and trained professional has to be engaged to help the patient change the emotional, cognitive and behavioural patterns. Among people suffering from the BPD disorder, the use of the dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is very helpful as it emphasizes enhancing the patient’s control over emotions and his or her relationships. Goals of psychotherapy involve reducing uneasiness, fostering self-awareness and improving functioning.

Medication: No medication has been approved to treat personality disorders; however, some may assist in controlling signs. Relatively, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants and mood stabilizers can assist in the management of symptoms such as anxiety, depression or impulsiveness.

Self-Cares and Strategies to Cope: Several self-care techniques can also help people apart from professional treatment such as:

Physical Activity: According to various research, exercise assists in the relief of stress and boosts one’s mood.

Education: Providing a family and individual with knowledge regarding personality disorder can encourage them to recognize the hurdles and help them find proper assistance.

Avoiding Substance Use: Substance abuse can complicate recovery and makes it tougher to control and treat symptoms.

Support Groups: I find joining support groups engaging because interacting with people experiencing similar conditions is encouraging.

Mindfulness and Relaxation: Strategies such as yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises may help an individual cope with anxiety and other emotions.

Searching For Counselling For Treatment Of Personality Disorders In New York

If you or a loved one is experiencing some of the effects of a personality disorder, then accessing a professional in the field would be very productive in alleviating the symptoms and improving the general well-being. We are glad to announce that we offer treatment of personality disorders in New York at Advanced Psychology Institute. Our trained personnel use psychotherapy approaches that have evidence-based support and develop individualized treatment goals that suit the various aspects posed by personality disorders. So, if you, or someone you love, are interested in starting the process of healing, do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation. Take your first steps toward new, positive relationships, thoughts, and behaviour patterns.

Begin Recovery By Taking Action

Life may be challenging for those with personality disorders but there are ways to treat them. Therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes can help lessen the effects of these disorders. This is particularly important for those living in New York and want to throw away the weight of such a stigma. If your case requires clinical help than it is clinical help that you will receive.