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Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is characterized by certain features that present challenges to socialization, as well as emotional and behavioral regulation. Your personality is your unique way of feeling, behaving, and interacting with the world. Although your interests and the circumstances of your life may change over time, your personality remains relatively static. Experts agree that your personality is set by the time you are about 18 years old.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 9% of the population has at least one personality disorder. There are 10 personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. 

Diagnosis of a personality disorder has to be made by a mental health professional and generally isn’t made until an individual is 18 years old. There is stigma attached to personality disorders, which may delay treatment in individuals living with a personality disorder. However, there are gentle and compassionate treatment options out there, including therapy (psychoanalytic therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy are commonly used), group therapy, lifestyle modifications, and medication. 

histrionic personality disorder
Read More
Published on: 23 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • 4 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

A Guide to Histrionic Personality Disorder

Published on: 23 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Jan 23, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
Do you have someone in your life that needs to be the center of attention at all times?…
antisocial personality disorder
Read More
Published on: 22 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

A Guide to Antisocial Personality Disorder

Published on: 22 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • Written byJessica Weinberger
  • Jan 22, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
The term “antisocial” has become synonymous with someone who prefers alone time over group events, but add “personality…
avoidant personality disorder
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Published on: 21 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • 4 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

A Guide to Avoidant Personality Disorder

Published on: 21 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Jan 21, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
All of us experience periods of shyness, social awkwardness, and fear of rejection among our peers. This is…
paranoid personality disorder
Read More
Published on: 20 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
  • 3 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD

A Guide to Paranoid Personality Disorder

Published on: 20 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
  • Written byJessica DuBois-Maahs
  • Jan 20, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
Impacting between 2-4% of the population, paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a group of conditions that involve odd…
narcissists
Read More
Published on: 17 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
  • 4 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD

Once a Narcissist Always a Narcissist?

Published on: 17 Jan 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
  • Written byClare Wiley
  • Jan 17, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD
There once was a man who fell in love with his own reflection. Forget polished Instagram feeds and…
wine glass at the dinner table
Read More
Published on: 04 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • 4 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S

4 Questions About Addictive Personalities Answered

Published on: 04 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Written byElizabeth Su
  • Oct 04, 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
Often, people ask me why I often avoid drinking alcohol, refuse to get an Apple Watch, or stray…
eye in broken glass
Read More
Published on: 06 Jul 2019
  • 4 minute read

What is a Sociopath?

Published on: 06 Jul 2019
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Jul 06, 2019
“What a sociopath!” one might exclaim to describe someone’s erratic, cruel, strange, or manipulative behavior. It’s not a…
woman embracing male partner staring blankly toward camera
Read More
Published on: 15 Jun 2019
  • 6 minute read

Pathological Liars: Understanding Compulsive Lying

Published on: 15 Jun 2019
  • Written byLadan Nikravan Hayes
  • Jun 15, 2019
Updated on 11/15/2020 A pathological liar exhibits the chronic behavior of habitual or compulsive lying. While it’s common…
woman pointing finger at man
Read More
Published on: 03 May 2019
  • 11 minute read

Victim Mentality: Signs, Causes, & How to Escape It

Published on: 03 May 2019
  • Written byBethany Biron
  • May 03, 2019
Updated 10/22/2021 You can’t go through life without having a bad day every now and then. Most of…
A man's silhouette behind a screen in black and white
Read More
Published on: 31 Jul 2018
  • 5 minute read

5 Ways Black and White Thinking Poisons Your Perspective

Published on: 31 Jul 2018
  • Written byReina Gattuso
  • Jul 31, 2018
I’m a terrible person. My sister is so beautiful and I’m so ugly. My boyfriend is the most…

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