How Can “Personality” Be Defined in Personality Disorders?

When someone hears the diagnosis “Personality Disorder”, it can seem quite extreme – as if to suggest there is something fundamentally wrong about their personality.

But this isn’t the case. It is important to realise that the “disorder” element is due to certain traits in a person’s personality which cause them to have problematic issues in their life.

Background

It’s not easy to pin down exactly what we mean by the word ‘personality’. It seems obvious, but it can be hard to put into words.

This can be because the words we use to describe people tend to have wide meanings – and these meanings often overlap.

It is also difficult because the way we behave – and appear to other people – can be very different in different situations.

You can know a person well at work, but find that they behave quite differently in their private life.

Personality in Mental Health

In mental health, the word “personality” refers to the collection of characteristics or traits that we have developed as we have grown up and which make each of us an individual.

These include the ways that we:

• Think
• Feel
• Behave

By our late teens, or early 20s, most of us have developed our own personality. We have our own ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.

These feelings are unique. While some people may have a similar personality, everyone has their own distinct personality. In more detail to the above, areas that our personality involves include drives, abilities, emotions, and interests – all of which feed into our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

The way we are can depend on a huge number of factors – including upbringing, genetics, experiences, friendships, relationships, environmental factors, and many other areas.

These stay pretty much the same for the rest of our life. Usually, our personality allows us to get on reasonably well with other people.

However, for some people, this isn’t true. In extreme cases, where a person’s personality causes significant problems, they may be diagnosed with a personality disorder.

What is a Personality Disorder?

Personality Disorder: A Personality Disorder is a condition which involves an individual thinking, behaving, feeling or relating in a very different way from the average person. There are ten different personality disorders, split into three clusters. The clusters are “odd and eccentric”, “dramatic, emotional and erratic’” and “anxious and fearful”. The different disorders vary considerably, and thus the symptoms of each differ too. Those with a personality disorder may find their symptoms cause them distress, and results in them not living their life how they want to.

Treatment

Seeking treatment for a personality disorder is very important. These disorders won’t get better on their own – especially with personality being such a complex thing.

Personality Disorders can be treated, with treatment available. Treatment normally involves a form of talking therapy, which aims to change and challenge the harmful traits someone has.

In some cases, medication may be prescribed. However, it should be pointed out that no medicine is specifically licensed to treat a personality disorder. Medication is normally only ever used in cases where the symptoms of a patient are causing them distress.

For example, someone with Dependent Personality Disorder may be very depressed due to their symptoms, which may result in an antidepressant being prescribed.

Summary

Personality is certainly a difficult concept to get a grasp of. It is very complex! For those being told they have a personality “disorder”, it can be quite difficult.

But at the end of the day, this is just a diagnosis. What truly matters is getting treatment for the condition, which will hopefully result in a better quality of life and healthier mental wellbeing.

See Also

• Personality Disorders Homepage
• How Can Personality Disorders Be Treated?
• Everything You Need To Know About Talking Therapy
• Talking Therapy or Medication: Which is Better for Mental Health Problems?