Don’t Let A Personality Disorder Hinder Your Life

The human brain is so amazingly complex that it can’t even figure itself out. Our brains are capable of allowing us to experience a huge range of emotions—from ecstasy to depression, from beautiful feats of kindness to horrific acts of violence. This enormous assortment of emotions includes what are called personality disorders. Personality disorders are ways of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviate from cultural expectations.

These mental health conditions affect your everyday life and relationships. They cause distress or problems functioning, and involve behaviors that make it difficult for a person to succeed in interpersonal relationships. There are three categories of personality disorders: odd or eccentric; dramatic, emotional or erratic; and anxious or fearful.

People who have personality disorders often don’t recognize their disorder. They don’t believe they have one. Their revelation may come to light only when they get therapy or counseling for another psychological reason, such as anxiety or depression. Their counseling is sometimes on their own volition and other times because someone important in their life insists on it. 

It’s unfortunate that individuals with personality disorders frequently handle them well enough to get by, because many then never seek the help they require. Only a professional can identify a personality disorder.

A psychiatrist diagnoses personality disorders by asking a patient questions whose answers will determine if parts of his (or her) character are so stringent that they damage his personal and work relationships. 

A psychiatrist will also examine to what extent a patient controls his impulses, as well as determine if the patient’s impression of himself matches reality. 

Talk therapy is the most common treatment, but if a patient’s symptoms are serious, a psychiatrist may prescribe medication such as an antidepressant, a mood stabilizer, an antipsychotic or an anti-anxiety med.

At the office of New Rochelle Psychiatry Office, all of our clients are treated with the utmost patience, compassion and conviction. We’re not here to judge; we’re here to help. Our skilled psychiatrists are deeply experienced with personality disorders and are highly educated in their various types of treatments. Please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment.