Hi
friends,
It is common knowledge that each one of us is unique in our own way. We all
have our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes. We all have our own
ways of dealing with a situation and solving problems. All these give us our
unique personality.
Personality refers to our habitual ways of thinking, feeling and
behaving. Although we are all so different, we are also similar in many ways.
Some of us are extroverted and outgoing while others are introverted and like
to keep to themselves. Some of us are very disciplined while others are more
carefree. It is based on such similarities and differences that several
personality types have been identified.
So when does a normal personality style become a personality disorder?
Sometimes, the traits described in
the above examples become accentuated and overtly rigid. For instance, having a
need to keep things perfect is a welcome and adaptive trait. However,
sometimes, perfectionism can become so high as to interfere with completion of
a given task. For example, while drawing a picture, it is alright to erase and
redo it a few times, but if this process goes endlessly in an attempt to make
it better and better, it becomes maladaptive. Similarly, desire to be
disciplined and hard working is desirable, but if it becomes excessive to the
exclusion of all pleasurable activities and causes considerable difficulty to
people around you, it is probably abnormal. When too many of these traits are
seen together on a regular basis, it is probably time to call it a personality
disorder.
Although the personality disorders are many, they can be grouped into three
broad groups or clusters. Cluster ‘A’ represents people who tend to stay alone
and aloof and generally have no desire to go out and meet people. Personality
styles such as paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal figure under this group.
Those with paranoid personality, in addition tend to have a strong sense of
distrust towards others and take setbacks and rebuffs very seriously and hold
grudges. Cluster ‘B’ represents persons who are generally outgoing and like to
mix with people. This includes the dissocial, borderline, histrionic and
narcissistic personalities. Lack of concern for feelings of others, mood
swings, excessive sense of self importance additionally are seen in the
dissocial, borderline and narcissistic personalities respectively. Finally,
cluster ‘C’ includes people, who, although desirous of going out and meeting
people, tend to withdraw because of anxiety. They can be categorized into
anankastic, anxious-avoidant and dependent personality styles. Anankastic
personalities tend to be excessively disciplined and preoccupied with
perfectionism in addition.
So how common are personality disorders?
Well, as
many as 20% of the general population has personality disorders! A lot of us do
not have a disorder but have a strong tendency towards one or more of these
styles of thinking and behaving. More often than not, people tend to have a
mixture of these different traits than having any of these in pure form.
So can personality disorders be ‘treated’?
Yes,
contrary to popular belief, they can be. However, the duration of treatment may
run into several months. Typically, the mainstay of treatment is psychotherapy,
often done once a week. Medicines can be useful to treat extreme features such
as aggression, mood swings, anxiety etc featuring as a part of the personality
disorder or as its complication.
So that
was about personality disorders friends!
Please let me know if you want me to discuss any specific issue
by typing in the comments section below.
Write in at stayhappy.prakash@gmail.com
So
until next time, STAY HAPPY!
Dr.
Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant
Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Behavioural Sciences Expert
No comments:
Post a Comment