Personality disorders affect behavior and thinking by impairing one’s ability to perceive or relate to situations or to people. Without treatment, personality disorders make it very difficult to make and maintain relationships in areas such as school, work, and even within families.
Personality disorders impact all areas of ones life and often coincide with other disorders or conditions, including addiction or substance abuse. This can make identifying the form of personality disorder at work a challenge as distinguishing overlapping symptoms is often difficult.
Types of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders come in many forms which are categorized into three clusters:
- Cluster A
- Cluster B
- Cluster C
Cluster A involves odd, eccentric thinking or behavior found in:
- Schizotypal personality disorder
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Paranoid personality disorder
Cluster B involves dramatic, unpredictable, or overly emotional behavior and thinking found in:
- Borderline personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
Cluster C involves anxious, fearful thinking and behavior found in:
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Dependent personality disorder
Personality Disorder Treatment Options
The specifics of personality disorder treatment depend on the form of the disorder at work. Personality consists of the individual’s emotions, thoughts, behaviors, perspective, and outlook. Development begins in childhood and is influenced by both nature and nurture. Each personality disorder impacts individuals differently meaning that each treatment must be tailored to address all aspects of the unique situation.
To address the complexities of the disorder, doctors, clinicians, counselors, and therapists may work in concert to help patients regain control of their lives. Treatment should address the emotional, physical, mental, social, and psychological aspects of the condition with respect, support, and compassion for the client expressed at every stage. Integrated treatment also identifies and treats co-occurring conditions so that the negative impacts on the client’s health may be overcome at the same time.
If you need help finding treatment for a loved one, Heather Hayes and Associates can put our knowledge and expertise of trusted providers to work for you. We help families find treatments that demonstrate compassion, understanding, and lasting results.
