Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders:

• Disruptions in perceptions of self and others, relational problems, and emotional distress or impulsivity.

• Caused by relational anxiety and difficulties processing relational emotions.

• Triggered by repeated traumatic experiences in relationships, often early on in life.

• Leads to emotional reactivity and impairments in functioning and relationships.

• Cured by processing relational emotions and the traumatic relational events which triggered them.

Unlike most disorders, which tend to affect specific areas of a person’s life, personality disorders tend to have a more global effect.

Rather than an isolated injury, which can be targeted directly for healing, personality disorder affect a whole person: their sense of self; their perception of others; their relationships; their thinking, emotions, and behavior.

It’s like having the flu. EVERYTHING hurts. And until the root cause is addressed, nothing feels good.

Symptoms include:

• Chaotic, or confused thinking, especially about self or others.

• Emotional instability, reactivity, or distress

• Impulsive or destructive behaviors

• Social isolation or relational problems, including difficulties with trust and vulnerability

Common associated diagnoses: 

• Antisocial personality disorder

• Avoidant personality disorder

• Borderline personality disorder

• Dependent personality disorder

• Histrionic personality disorder

• Narcissistic personality disorder

• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

• Paranoid personality disorder

Why do personality disorders occur?

We all need a basic sense of emotional and relational safety early in life when our personalities are forming.

This helps us develop a positive sense of ourselves, trust in other people, and the ability to navigate our relationships effectively to get our needs met.

It also helps us learn to think logically, understand and regulate our emotions, sooth our anxiety, and behave appropriately.

But what if our early environments are chaotic, hostile, or even abusive? Rather then consistent safety, what if traumatic events are the norm?

Then these capacities become impaired or can’t fully develop. Instead, we feel that we are bad, that others are untrustworthy, that our emotions are dangerous, and that our anxiety is bottomless. We become confused, reactive, or overwhelmed.

It’s like being lost at sea in a storm.

So what can we do?

At EmotionFit, within the safety and consistency of a caring therapeutic relationship, we help you develop the capacities that were never fully developed.

We teach you to identify and process your emotions, regulate your anxiety, and learn to value yourself for who you are.

We help you identify what makes you afraid around other people, where those fears originated, and how to know when you can trust another person.

We show you how to see and control your anxiety, so you can be more in control in your life.

We reveal what sets you off and why, and we help you heal the past traumas which interfered with your healthy development.

In doing so, the internal storm begins to settle. You start to listen to your inner voice more, and it becomes easier to trust. Your relationships become less chaotic, and your feelings become more predictable. Your anxiety lessens and your body feels better. You start breathing normally again.

It’s time to start feeling more stable. Why wait any longer?

Contact a therapist today to begin the journey.