Personality disorder

Per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­ders main­ly affect the fol­lo­wing pro­blems.

Iden­ti­ty and self-image:
Peo­p­le with a per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­der do not have a clear or sta­ble self-image. This means that their self-image chan­ges depen­ding on the situa­ti­on and the peo­p­le they come into cont­act with. For exam­p­le, they may see them­sel­ves alter­na­te­ly as cruel or kind. Or some may chan­ge their values and goals depen­ding on the situa­ti­on. For exam­p­le, they may be deep­ly devout in church, but irrever­ent and dis­re­spectful out­side. Self-con­fi­dence can be irra­tio­nal­ly high or low.

Rela­ti­onships:
Peo­p­le with per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­ders are unable to form clo­se and sta­ble rela­ti­onships. They may be tact­less or emo­tio­nal­ly distant towards others or lack empa­thy.

Peo­p­le with per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­ders often appear incon­sis­tent, con­fu­sing and frus­t­ra­ting to fami­ly mem­bers and others around them, inclu­ding their doc­tors. Their paren­ting style can be incon­sis­tent, distant, over-emo­tio­nal, abu­si­ve or irre­spon­si­ble, which can lead to phy­si­cal or psy­cho­lo­gi­cal pro­blems in their child­ren.

Peo­p­le with per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­ders can strugg­le to reco­gni­ze how to behave in a sen­si­ble, safe and accep­ta­ble way in the pre­sence of others.

Peo­p­le with per­so­na­li­ty dis­or­ders may not under­stand what role they play in a con­flict.