Personality Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) struggle to regulate their emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and self-image. Their emotions tend to be intense and short-lived, fluctuating rapidly from positive to negative. They have difficulty calming or soothing themselves during emotional storms. This emotional instability often leads to relationship trouble and impulsive, risky behaviors.

Those with BPD see the world in black and white, alternating between idealizing and demonizing people. Their relationships follow a pattern where someone is first put on a pedestal before being perceived as emotionally dangerous. These volatile relationships, combined with chronic emptiness and attempts to avoid abandonment, create much suffering for those with BPD.

People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) exhibit an exaggerated sense of self-importance along with a lack of empathy toward others. They have an unrealistic view of their talents, powers, and uniqueness that approaches grandiosity. They expect constant praise and admiration from others and often come across as arrogant or haughty.

Those with NPD are hungry for attention and validation from others to support their inflated self-views. But deep down, they feel insecure and often mask feelings of inadequacy.

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) navigate life through a lens markedly different from the average person's. Characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, those with ASPD often find themselves in conflict with societal norms and laws. This disorder is not about being unsociable or introverted, as the name might misleadingly suggest, but rather involves a more profound lack of regard for the well-being of others.

People with ASPD often appear charming or charismatic, using these traits to manipulate or exploit others for personal gain. They may engage in risky behaviors without considering the consequences, not only for themselves but for those around them. This lack of empathy and disregard for societal rules can lead to significant challenges in interpersonal relationships, employment, and overall societal integration.

Those with histrionic personality disorder exhibit excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors. They are uncomfortable when not the center of attention and misbehave in seductive ways to gain attention.

People with histrionic personality disorder feel unappreciated or ignored unless they are receiving constant attention and reinforcement. They may use their physical appearance to draw attention by wearing provocative or revealing clothing. They often shift emotions rapidly and seem insincere in their emotional expressions.

These excessive emotional behaviors are their way of securing attention and validation. But it often backfires and pushes people away, ultimately leaving them feeling empty.

Individuals with avoidant personality disorder avoid work activities and relationships that require significant interpersonal contact out of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection. Low self-esteem and hypersensitivity to rejection underly the avoidance behaviors.

People with avoidant personality disorder often view themselves as being socially awkward, unappealing, or inferior. They avoid or withdraw from work and social obligations to avoid potential rejection or criticism. They may also exhibit unusually intense anger or rage with perceived slights or criticism. Although they desire intimacy, they find it difficult to open up and trust others completely.

Avoidance protects them from feared rejection and shame.

Those with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) demonstrate perfectionism, preoccupation with orderliness, and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility and efficiency. They adhere rigidly to rules and regulations regardless of changing circumstances.

The obsessiveness, need for control, and perfectionism seen in OCPD are distinct from the intrusive thoughts and repetitive compulsions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCPD are not aware their behavior is unreasonable - they see their way as the right way. This inflexibility strains interpersonal relationships as they have trouble respecting other's valid ways of doing things.

They may also lack close relationships and overwork themselves due to devotion to productivity and rigid standards.