What Does personality disorder Mean
A personality disorder is determined by a set of psychiatric conditions that alter the normal course of interpersonal relationships . Although its cause cannot be determined exactly, specialists speak of the existence of various genetic and environmental factors that contribute to its development .
The personality is a complex pattern of psychological characteristics that define an individual. From his personality, a person gives meaning to his environment, builds his own image and interacts with the environment. When a personality disorder appears, the subject cannot adapt to the different situations of daily life, since his personality becomes inflexible and functions in a distorted way.
Two of the main components of personality are temperament (which is innate and cannot be modified but can be controlled) and character (which is formed by experience). Failures in the development of the person affect temperament and character and can lead to a personality disorder.
The anxiety , the depression , the high level of stress and panic attacks may be symptoms of these disorders.
Among the different types of personality disorders are antisocial , histrionic , obsessive-compulsive , avoidant , narcissistic , schizoid and paranoid .
Specialists divide these disorders into three main types: Group A , where they include eccentric disorders; Group B , which includes dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders; and Group C , for anxious or fearful disorders.
Treatment of personality disorders includes psychotherapies and the use of drugs . The supply of remedies varies according to the type of disorder and the reaction of the patient.
Borderline personality disorder
Also called borderline , borderline or borderline, borderline personality disorder (BPD) has as its main characteristics the alteration of emotions , the presence of opposing ideas that constantly alternate and an inability to establish stable relationships with other people. In addition to presenting sudden, resounding and seemingly unpredictable mood swings, self-image perception is profoundly affected. This disorder is among the most common and belongs to Group B, mentioned above.
Generally, this disorder attacks apparently strong and determined people , with brilliant academic achievements. An individual affected by BPD goes through two very marked states of mind , since their nature does not usually admit the middle points:
* a very high level of self-confidence, which is enviable by those around him, an absence of fear in the face of intellectual or work-related challenges, and an apparent leadership capacity that quickly makes him the center of attention of a group of people ;
* a considerable loss of self-esteem, reaching the point of not believing capable of achieving anything, fearing to go out and be seen by others for fear of not living up to their own image.
In short, the same person who at one point becomes extremely powerful and self-confident suddenly fears failure and ignores his own strengths. Among the reasons attributed to this disorder, excessive pressure from parents to achieve great achievements in life, and sexual abuse are very common . When both situations coexist in a child's life, the severity is even greater, since he has real elements in his experience to consider himself superior to others (the expectations placed on him), but he also carries the guilt and confusion that It generates abuse, which leaves a stain on him, an indelible defect.