If you or someone you love is diagnosed with a personality disorder, then you likely know that treatment can be a difficult process - but you may not know why. Simply put, personality disorders are difficult to treat because it's hard for someone suffering from one of these disorders to separate their personality (how they interact with others, how they view the world, and how they think about themselves) from the symptoms of their mental illness. Below we cover what to know about personality disorders, along with some of the reasons why personality disorders are so hard to treat, and why they require a dedicated, specialized approach.
What to Know About Treating Personality Disorders
First, let's take a look at what personality disorders truly are, as a proper diagnosis is vital to ensuring the most accurate, effective treatment.
Multiple Disorders Could Be Involved
"Personality disorder" is an umbrella term for a range of mental illnesses, which include:
Antisocial Personality Disorder
A personality disorder that presents with a persistent disregard for laws and social norms, and failure to comply with those social customs. Other symptoms include reckless behavior, lack of remorse, deceitfulness, and consistent irresponsibility.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of inadequacy, fear of rejection and risk taking, extreme shyness, high sensitivity to rejection or criticism, and avoidance in relationships or social settings.
Borderline Personality Disorder
A personality disorder known to cause impulsive behavior and emotional instability, often leading to long-term damage to self-image and relationships. Key symptoms include a fear of abandonment, self-harming behavior, and chronic feelings of emptiness.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
A disorder identified by an excessive need for perfectionism, order, and control, as well as emotional and work-focused rigidity. OCPD differs from OCD in that individuals with OCPD believe their behaviors to be “right” despite how it may affect relationships, situations, or career life.
Schizoid Personality Disorder
A personality disorder characterized by a lack of social, relational/romantic, and emotional interest, and as a result may appear cold or indifferent. Individuals with schizoid traits often display a restricted range of emotions and prefer a solitary life.
Any of these diagnoses will have unique symptoms that require their own approach to treatment. To add complexity, people with personality disorders often have multiple diagnoses. For example, it's common for people with panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression disorder to also have a personality disorder. That's why it's not possible to treat personality disorder with a "cookie cutter" mindset. Mental health clinicians and professionals must take a committed approach to developing a detailed treatment plan for each person with a personality disorder they meet with.
Digging Deep Is Necessary
It can feel frustrating for people with personality disorders to go through treatment because there are so many layers influencing how these disorders impact people's lives. These layers include:
Brain Chemistry/Genetics
Some elements of a personality disorder could be due to chemical differences and imbalances in the brain and hormones. Sometimes these characteristics are inherited, which makes it more difficult for people who grew up with them to believe things could be different, particularly if someone in their family, such as a parent, has struggled without proper treatment.
Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma can affect us in a range of ways, depending on what we're going through at any given time. We may never be "done" unpacking it, because it can come up at different stages of life for different reasons. For someone with a personality disorder, unresolved trauma can affect treatment, particularly if not properly addressed throughout the course of care.
High Sensory Sensitivity
If someone with a personality disorder is highly sensitive to changes in the environment that affect any of their five senses, it may feel more difficult for them to put what they're learning from a therapist or health coach into practice. It’s important for mental health therapists to take such sensitivities into account so that their patients successfully navigate through treatment at a pace that works best for them.
Only by taking all of these layers into account can an individual be fully treated through a comprehensive mind-body approach.
A Mind-Body Approach Is Key
Because so many factors can influence how a personality disorder develops and changes, it's important to treat the physical and mental impacts it can have. Many people who have tried traditional counseling or medication by themselves may find that it didn't feel like enough, like they were still feeling physically exhausted, wired, or overwhelmed, and that they are unsure how to deal with it. Without taking into account how someone feels physically, some of the most challenging aspects of living with a personality disorder remain unaddressed. That’s why it’s so important for mental health professionals to look at the entire person, taking a true mind-body approach that emphasizes the physical symptoms of care as much as the mental health treatment and growth.
Have a Personality Disorder? We Can Help
If you have a personality disorder, you are not untreatable. There is hope for greater well-being with the help of SOL Mental Health. We have a team of mental health professionals experienced in diagnosing and treating personality disorders compassionately and effectively. Our holistic behavioral health philosophy gives you multiple options for care, including working with a health coach, group counseling, individual counseling services, medication management, and nutritional support.
We understand that what you're facing is unique to you, and we'll take our time to develop a plan that makes you feel more comfortable, confident, and safe moving forward. We also understand how important the connection between your mind and body is, and we'll help you think creatively about new ways your body, mind, and emotions can care for one another as you learn to manage a personality disorder.
If you need help now, it’s easy to get started. Contact our team to complete a short screening and begin your intake process. We are eager to help you make a plan for a healthier body and mind.
Does My Insurance Cover a Therapist at SOL Mental Health?
SOL Mental Health is partnered with several insurance providers to make our services more accessible to you. You can verify your insurance through our website before scheduling an appointment.
