Personality Disorder Treatment

Personality disorders affect people from all walks of life. They are more common than people think. Unfortunately, a lack of mental health awareness, education, and support can lead people to struggle with undiagnosed mood disorders. At NuLife Behavioral Health, we provide dual diagnosis treatment for personality disorders for holistic mental health recovery and support. 

If you or someone you love is showing signs of a personality disorder, know you are not alone. The team at NuLife Behavioral Health can help. Our Massachusetts clinics provide clients throughout the state with comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment. Call us now at 888.568.2057 to learn more about the benefits of our personality disorder treatment centers in Massachusetts. 

What Is a Personality Disorder? 

A personality is the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves in the world. Influenced by childhood, environment, and belief systems, someone’s personality does not change over time. A personality disorder is a mood disorder that affects a person’s behavior, emotions, and personality often radically and frequently. A personality disorder often causes people to react to social situations in ways that may not make sense and be uncomfortable for others. Personality disorders present long-term patterns of unexpected inner experience, ways of seeing others, and behaviors. This can cause distress and feelings of isolation for those living with personality disorders and their loved ones. Living with a personality disorder affects:

• How someone thinks about themself
• How someone emotionally responds
• How someone relates to others
• How someone controls their behavior
• How someone thinks about others

People living with personality disorders may feel their experiences are distinct from others and may struggle to empathize with others. Left untreated, personality disorders can have lasting, detrimental effects on overall mental health and well-being. 

Getting to Know Different Personality Disorders

Currently, there are 10 types of identified personality disorders. Most often, signs and symptoms present in late adolescence. The 10 include:

• Narcissistic personality disorder: A lack of empathy and feelings of self-importance.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Preoccupation with work, avoiding others, obsessing over schedules. 
• Paranoid personality disorder: Struggling to connect with others out of fear they will be harmed. 
• Antisocial personality disorder: Impulsivity, lying, and disregarding the rights and feelings of others.
• Avoidant personality disorder: Extreme shyness, avoidance, low self-esteem, and feeling unworthy around others. 
• Borderline personality disorder: Poor-self image, impulsivity, anger, and intense emotions.
• Dependent personality disorder: Trouble making decisions or feeling hopeless without others. 
• Histrionic personality disorder: Needing to be the center of attention and often experiences intensely shifting emotions. 
• Schizoid personality disorder: Detaching from social relationships, showing little emotion, and often preferring to be alone.
• Schizotypal personality disorder: Experiencing excessive anxiety, social isolation, eccentric behavior, and distorted thinking. 

Current studies show that 9% of adults live with personality disorders. While symptoms may present in late adolescence, diagnosis and treatment most often happen in adulthood when a person’s brain is fully developed. Diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified therapist. If someone you love shows signs of a personality disorder, our team can help. 

What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual diagnosis is a treatment approach to co-occurring disorders. As the name suggests, co-occurring disorders happen at the same time as one another. Studies show that at least half of people living with addiction also struggle with a mood disorder. At NuLife Behavioral Health, our dual diagnosis treatment approaches recovery by assessing a person’s entire health. Life history, mental and physical health, belief systems, and thought patterns all affect the diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring disorders. Behavioral therapy and alternative therapies alongside medication management, group, and family counseling can help someone and their loved ones manage a personality disorder.