Personality disorders involve mainly problems with
- Identity and a sense of self:
- Individuals with a personality disorder lack a clear or stable image of themselves.
- That is, how they view themselves changes depending on the situation and the people they are with.
- For example, they may alternate between thinking of themselves as cruel or kind.
- Or they may be inconsistent in their values and goals.
- For example, they may be deeply religious while in church but irreverent and disrespectful elsewhere.
- Self-esteem may be unrealistically high or low.
- Relationships:
- Individuals with a personality disorder struggle to form close, stable relationships with others.
- They may be insensitive to others or emotionally detached, or they may lack empathy.
Individuals with a personality disorder often seem inconsistent, confusing, and frustrating to family members and other people around them, including doctors.
Their parenting style may be inconsistent, detached, overemotional, abusive, or irresponsible and sometimes causes physical and/or mental problems in their children.
Individuals with a personality disorder may have problems knowing what are reasonable, safe, and acceptable ways to treat and to behave around others.
Individuals with a personality disorder may be unaware of their role in creating their problems.
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