Personality Disorders

Self-HermThe following page includes discussions of self-harm and suicide. If you are uncomfortable or get triggered by this topic, it is recommended to not read this page.

**Personality Disorders** (**PDs**) are conditions in which ones pattern of behavior, cognition, and inner experience is altered/abnormal in some way. Personality disorders form from hormonal imbalances, head injury/abnormalities, and/or trauma.

It's important to note that personality disorders are not diagnosed until adulthood, as ones personality hasn't fully developed until then.

## Types of Personality Disorders

There are multiple types of personality disorders, which are discussed briefly in the following list:

### Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by a lack of empathy and compulsive behavior that causes an individual to do harm to others, often times not realizing the harm and/or not feeling remorse for it. Those with this disorder are not 'evil' and cannot control the way their mind functions. Their lack of empathy may cause them to disregard others' distress, or even use it to their advantage (as they do not understand why it is wrong to do so).

### Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD)

AVPD is a condition characterized by heightened insecurity and intense fear of being rejected, ridiculed, and embarrassed to the point of being unable or extremely hesitant to form bonds.

### Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

BPD is a condition characterized by a distorted sense of self, instability in relationships, and intense emotional reactions/mood swings. Those with BPD often experience paranoia, insecurity, impulsive desires, intense anger and/or suicidal thoughts, and often times have an extreme fear of separation/loneliness.

### Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)

DPD is a condition in which the affected individual feels as though they are unable to be alone. They have intense fear of abandonment/rejection, are often easily distressed/hurt by disapproval, (most times) following others leads/demands, and often times rely on others decisions (rather than making their own).

### Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)

HPD is a condition in which the affected individual bases their self esteem/self image on others compliments, approval, and attention. Those with HPD tend to desire to be the center of attention, as they often feel insignificant/rejected if they are not. They are typically easily influenced, and thus tend to copy behaviors that 'popular' or 'more liked' individuals have (speech, movement, clothes, etc).

### Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

NPD is a condition in which the affected individual views themself as a priority (to an unhealthy extent). This often includes the lack of attention to how others may feel, intense feelings of self importance, a desire for constant approval/praise (followed by low self-esteem when not given approval/praise), and difficulty understanding when one is upset at them.

### Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

OCPD is a condition characterized by an excessive need for orderliness, neatness, and perfection. Those with OCPD may spend an excessive amount of effort and time into being as perfect/orderly as possible, or keeping their surroundings as perfect as possible. Those with OCPD tend to see nothing wrong with their excessive needs, and often fail to realize the issue.

### Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)

PPD is a condition in which the affected individual has intense paranoia, pervasive distrust of those around them, and paranoid delusions. They consistently tend to believe they are in danger, and often times fear the world around them.

### Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD/SzPD)

ScPD is a condition characterized by an intense lack of interest/desire for relationships, detachment from those around them, apathy, selectiveness, and/or solitary nature.

### Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD)

STPD is a condition characterized by non-typical thought patterns, feelings of social anxiety, episodes of derealization, episodes of psychosis, and unconventional beliefs. Those with this disorder tend to feel uncomfortable keeping relationships, tend to have peculiar speech patterns, and often interpret things in an odd way.

### Other Specified Personality Disorder

Other Specified Personality Disorder is when one closely fits a personality disorder but does not fit the full diagnostic requirements. They may be considered "close enough" to a condition to be diagnosed as it (such as being diagnosed with SzPD, despite not fitting all the symptoms).

### Unspecified Personality Disorder

Unspecified Personality Disorder is when one shows symptoms of a personality disorder but does not fit any specific subset enough to be diagnosed with a specific one.

## Offensive Wording/Terminology

*Warning: This section contains mentions of harmful terminology and misinformation used to describe those with personality disorders, and may be triggering to some. If you& are triggered by the act of demonizing and/or misportraying personality disorders, then not reading this section is advised.*

There are many words used in a medically incorrect, offensive, misleading, and demonizing manner, which in actuality are associated with personality disorders. These words include the following:

* **Psychopath**: this word is *supposed* to be used to describe someone with antisocial personality disorder (and sometimes those with a psychotic disorder); however, society has taken up this word to mean "violent and aggressive individual" or "evil individual" which perpetuates the idea that *actual* psychopaths should be feared. Psychopath should *only* be used in reference to an individual with a psychotic disorder, and should *not* be used to mean "evil/violent/aggressive." This also applies for variants of the word (such as psychotic, psychopathic, psycho, etc).

* **Sociopath**: this word is *supposed* to be used to describe someone with ASPD; however, society has taken up this word to mean "manipulative, aggressive, and emotionless" which perpetuates the idea that *actual* sociopaths cannot be fulfilling friends, family members, partners, associates, etc. Sociopath should *only* be used in reference to an individual with ASPD, and should *not* be used to mean "manipulative/aggressive/emotionless." This also applies for variants of the word (such as sociopathic, sociopathy, etc).

* **Narcissist**: this word is *supposed* to be used to describe someone with NPD; however society has taken up this word to mean "manipulative, self-absorbed, abusive, and loveless" which perpetuates the idea that *actual* narcissists cannot be compassionate, loving, and kind individuals. Narcissist should *only* be used in reference to an individual with NPD, and should *not* be used to mean "manipulative/abusive/self-absorbed/loveless." This also applies for variants of the word (such as narcissism, narcissistic, etc).

If one is using these words in an incorrect and offensive manner, it is important to practice deviating from such behavior, as it can cause harm for neurodivergent individuals around the world, and can encourage others to misuse these words in the same way.

## References

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000921.htm

https://www.healthline.com/health/avoidant-personality-disorder#symptoms

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20370237

https://www.healthline.com/health/dependent-personality-disorder#causes-and-symptoms

https://www.healthline.com/health/histrionic-personality-disorder

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9784-paranoid-personality-disorder

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoid-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354414#:~:text=Schizoid%20personality%20disorder%20is%20an,limited%20range%20of%20emotional%20expression.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizotypal-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353919