Personality Disorder

Our personality relates to how we think, feel, and behave.

You may be diagnosed with personality disorder if you have difficulty with how you relate to yourself and others. And if you have problems coping day-to-day.

Diagnosing personality disorder can be complicated. And health professionals may use terms you're not familiar with, such as traits or categories. These are meant to help you get the right treatment.

You may receive a diagnosis of personality disorder if all of these apply:

• The way you think, feel, and behave causes you significant problems in daily life. For example, you may not feel like you can trust others. Or you may often feel abandoned, causing you or others distress in day-to-day relationships. You may also struggle with your identity and self-worth.
• You experience these problems across different aspects of your life. For example, you may struggle to start or keep relationships, or control your feelings and behaviour. You may change your jobs, hobbies, goals or plans regularly. Some people self-harm or use drugs or alcohol to cope with intense emotions which feel frightening and overwhelming.
• These problems have lasted for a long time, usually over 2 years. They may have started when you were a child or teenager and carried on into your adult life.
• These problems are not caused by taking drugs or drinking alcohol, or by another medical condition.

Some of your problems may come from difficult or traumatic childhood experiences. For example, if you experienced abuse or neglect, or if you experienced a sudden bereavement when you were a child. These can affect your feelings about yourself, other people and relationships.

But not everyone who has these experiences will be diagnosed with personality disorder. The support and care you had will make a difference.