Ten Types of Personality Disorders and How They Impact Us
Great summary of co-occurring personality disorders – Taylor Brown, B.A.Com., MAADC II
When faced with a crippling addiction to drugs or alcohol, it’s common for someone to feel alone. Unfortunately, that same feeling of isolation can occur because of another condition that plagues millions of Americans who may or may not cite substance abuse as an influence.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 9% of adults in this country struggle with a personality disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a book published by the American Psychiatric Association, defines a personality disorder as: “an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture.”
Classifications of personality disorders
Since its first edition, the DSM has been the authority on this facet of mental illness, adding and removing types or subsets of disorders as researchers learn more. There are now 10 different personality disorders named by the DSM as outlined in the fifth and most recent edition from 2013.
It’s also important to note that the DSM segments out personality disorders into three clusters. Here’s a brief look at the different types of clusters and an explanation of each disorder that falls within.
Cluster A personality disorders
The disorders within this group are all associated with behavior that others might consider to be strange or eccentric.
- Paranoid personality disorder — As the name implies, this disorder involves extreme and unwarranted paranoia or suspicion of others, including an inability to trust.
- Schizoid personality disorder — Though it shares a name similar to schizophrenia, it is in no way related to that brain disorder. Rather, people with this disorder tend to avoid social relationships, opting instead for a solitary life detached from others. Those with schizoid personality disorder may also struggle to find joy in the things most people find pleasurable.
- Schizotypal personality disorder — While this disorder is on the schizophrenia spectrum, it rarely presents with episodes of psychosis. Symptoms that do accompany schizotypal personality disorder include peculiar beliefs, odd speech patterns, extreme social anxiety, and other strange behaviors.
Cluster B personality disorders
This group contains those that are most closely linked to emotion or overdramatization.
- Antisocial personality disorder — While this disorder sounds like something that would allude to seclusion, it’s actually linked to an utter disregard for the feelings or values of others. People with antisocial personality disorder are likely to lie or deceive to better themselves or their situation with no remorse.
- Borderline personality disorder — Unstable is the best word to describe this disorder. From feelings of anger to emptiness and abandonment, followed by bouts of impulsivity and recklessness, there are ups and downs throughout the day.
- Histrionic personality disorder — People with a histrionic personality disorder crave attention and will stop at nothing to receive it, even if that means acting out inappropriately or provocatively in social or unsuitable settings.
- Narcissistic personality disorder — Much like the name suggests this disorder is best attributed to narcissists or people who believe they are better than others. They may feel an overwhelming need for admiration and have a sense of entitlement.
Cluster C personality disorders
Disorders that fall within this group have to do with being overly anxious or fearful.
- Avoidant personality disorder — Though people with this disorder battle with the feeling of loneliness, they usually avoid establishing relationships that could address it. Typically, they are extremely shy and fear social rejection.
- Dependent personality disorder — By not believing in their own abilities to thrive, people with dependent personality disorder become reliant on others to meet needs. They lack confidence, have trouble offering conflicting or disagreeing opinions, and fear being alone.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder — Similar to OCD, people with this disorder become consumed with schedules or rules, frequently choose work or projects over relationships, and lack flexibility.
Personality disorders and substance abuse
While there’s no chemical connection between personality disorders and substance abuse, there is a particularly high correlation between antisocial personality disorder and drugs and alcohol. We also know that someone struggling with any of these personality disorders can (and often does) resort to substances to escape the pain and symptoms of these debilitating conditions.
The staff at Midwest Recovery Centers understands you may be battling demons that are more complicated than drug or drink. We have on-site therapists and Peer Support Specialists that create recovery programs rooted in a supportive environment to help you overcome your problems.
Reviewed and Assessed by
Taylor Brown, B.A.Com., MAADC II
Tim Coleman, M. of Ed.
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Have A Midwest Recovery Centers' Team Member Call You Today.
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Medical
Midwest Recovery Centers believes strongly in a client-centered approach. Substance Use Disorder is not what it was 5 or even 2 years ago. The substances on the street are constantly changing and so are the number of contraindications and fatal threats that substance use imposes on the person suffering. Our Medical team continues to stay up to speed with new advances of evidence-based approaches in treating those with both substance use disorder as well as their co-occurring mental health diagnosis. There are many varying pieces to each client’s situation when it comes to tackling the puzzle of a medical detox, and each step in the treatment planning is carefully selected, reviewed, and communicated for the best possible outcome of each client. We understand that consideration of the medical history, family history, past trauma, past and current substance use are all key indicators to most effectively give each client the best chance at developing a recovery process. Each client may present with a different scope of medical needs whether it’s their blood work or the most effective medications for them. Midwest Recovery Centers is proud to have the finest medical team to meet these individual and specific needs of each client that walks through our doors.
Clinical
When it comes to the therapeutic treatment of patients with substance use disorder, Midwest Recovery Centers believes in a client-centered approach guided by evidence-based practices. Substance use disorder has been identified by the American Medical Association as a disease, but because addiction is a disease that impacts behavior, treatment of this disease is often heavily focused on modifying behaviors and thoughts as well as establishing a new way of life. We place a strong emphasis on educating patients about this chronic illness and empowering them to practice treating it as such. Our clinical team is composed of leading experts in the field. We believe in having a staff as diverse as the clients we serve; from Licensed Professional Counselors to Licensed Clinical Social Workers, our staff is highly trained and educated in not only addiction but the mental health issues and life circumstances that often accompany it. Many of our clinicians have their own personal experience in long term recovery which lends them to an even better understanding of what our patients are experiencing. Our staff is highly skilled in choosing the most effective therapeutic modality for each client’s needs, to give them the best chance of securing the recovery process that will change their lives. Our clinical team understands that this is a family disease. This is why clinicians will offer weekly updates to families as well as concrete tools for families to utilize as they journey through this illness with their loved one. Those tools will be offered by the patient’s individual clinician as well as at our free Family Night on the first Wednesday of each month, offered to anyone in the community.
Our Origin Story
I began Midwest Recovery in honor of my mother, Betty Lou Wallace, who taught me responsibility in life and sobriety.
Mom was born, raised, and lived most of her life in Missouri, a state I'm still proud to call home. She had five children. The youngest were my older brother Don and me.
We knew that the disease of addiction ran in the family, but it wasn't until Don and I grew older that we realized we were falling into addictive patterns. Through it all, Mom was supportive of her children but firm about one principle: whether the disease was inherited or developed through your environment, you were responsible for your recovery from addiction.
"I will be supportive of your recovery but I will not enable your addiction," she was fond of saying.
Ultimately, I stayed sober from 1990 to 1997, when I relapsed. With Mom's support, I was able to get sober again in 2002. Tragically, Don was not so lucky. He passed away in 2005 from complications of an injury and continued addiction.
Mom wanted no parent to suffer from the sorrow and anguish of losing a child, so in 2002, she helped me establish my first treatment center business.
As Mom grew older, she shared with me some lessons she had learned through her affiliation with Al-Anon, a support group for family members of loved ones struggling with addiction. She asked me to stay clean and sober one day at a time and to use the lessons I learned in my own recovery to help others who were suffering.
In 2008, Mom passed away from throat cancer, one day after my six year sober anniversary. I still remember that one of the last times we spoke, she told me she was proud of my recovery.
Mom would be so happy to know that myself, our partners, and our team are carrying on her legacy in her home state. I don't know if my own recovery process would be intact without her and the lessons she shared. So much of what we share with our clients at Midwest began with Betty Lou.
Above all, Mom imparted several teachings that I carry with me every day: that people are inherently good, and if they fall into addiction, this makes them sick, not bad. She taught me to be patient, tolerant, loving, and kind to myself and to others.
Most of all, she taught me that recovery works if we are able to be honest with ourselves about our own behavior. That’s what she helped me accomplish and that’s what we strive to accomplish with every Midwest client.
On behalf of Betty Lou, I thank you for your interest in Midwest Recovery.
Jeff Howard
Start Your Recovery Now!
Have A Midwest Recovery Centers' Team Member Call You Today.
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Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate markedly from societal expectations. These patterns typically manifest in adolescence or early adulthood and persist over time, causing significant distress and impairment in various areas of life. Understanding the different types of personality disorders and available treatment options is essential for effective management and recovery.
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