Personality Disorders

Around 9% of American adults have a personality disorder. These disorders can create severe problems with relationships, work, school, or social settings. At Spectrum Behavioral Health, with offices in New Lenox and Hinsdale, Illinois, the group of dedicated behavioral health specialists offers excellent care for personality disorders. The practice serves patients 4 and older, providing treatments like medication and supportive psychotherapy. Call the friendly staff today or reach out online to book an in-person or telehealth appointment.

What are personality disorders?

Your personality is your unique way of feeling, thinking, behaving, and connecting with others. 

Personality disorders are conditions that involve chronic patterns of behaviors and thoughts that are unhealthy and inflexible. These disorders can make understanding emotions, tolerating distress, and relating to others difficult.

Which types of personality disorders are there?

The 10 types of personality disorders are grouped into three clusters.

Cluster A 

These personality disorders involve unusual behaviors and thoughts.

If you have paranoid personality disorder, you’ll experience paranoia and think that someone is trying to harm you.

With schizoid personality disorder, you prefer to be alone and avoid relationships with others.

Schizotypal personality disorder causes odd thoughts, behavior, speaking patterns, and trouble connecting with others.

Cluster B 

Cluster B disorders involve dramatic and shifting emotional thoughts and behaviors. 

With narcissistic personality disorder, you want to be constantly admired, believe you’re better than others, and you lack empathy.

Antisocial personality disorder involves the continual pattern of manipulating or violating the rights of others.

With borderline personality disorder, you’re impulsive and have a problem controlling your emotions.

Histrionic personality disorder involves dramatic, intense emotions. You consistently seek the attention of others.

Cluster C 

These personality disorders involve anxious and fearful behaviors and thoughts.

With avoidant personality disorder, you’re extremely shy, lack confidence, and avoid others due to a fear of rejection.

Dependent personality disorder leads to struggles with codependency and confidence.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder involves a consistent need to control people, tasks, and situations.

How are personality disorders treated?

Spectrum Behavioral Health might recommend one or a combination of treatments.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy educates you on your disorder, identifies triggers, and provides a safe space to discuss your feelings and thoughts. You can learn how to cope with symptoms and connect with others in a healthy way. 

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are helpful forms of psychotherapy.

Medication

Antidepressants can improve your mood, and mood stabilizers can even out mood swings and reduce irritability.

Anti-anxiety medication improves your anxiety and sleep problems but is only effective for specific personality disorders. Antipsychotic drugs can help if you’re losing touch with reality (psychosis).

Call Spectrum Behavioral Health today or schedule an appointment online for expert personality disorder care.