personality disorder refers to unhealthy patterns of thinking, relating to others and behaving. You may have trouble perceiving situations and interactions in a realistic &/or healthy way, causing struggles that are pervasive across your life in relationships, work or school.
This likely began in your teenage years. If you have actually received a diagnosis you may have a difficult trauma history. You can live well and function optimally despite this diagnosis &/or personal history.
Here are some types of personality disorders that you may have heard of or been diagnosed with:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Here is a specific example of how these issues can be treated in a therapeutic relationship:
Borderline Personality Disorder: This can be treated as an attachment disorder. People who present saying they have BPD, often feel they do not have the closeness and intimacy they crave. They feel people connect with them quickly and deeply, but then things spiral quickly into toxic, unhealthy dynamics, leaving them feeling abandoned and really hurt when things do not work out. Therapy can offer a safe, consistent environment for you to take the risk to try new things and learn new ways to relate, thereby getting the relationships you want. This would likely include a longer-term dynamic, interpersonal therapy to meet these goals.
