Personality Disorders
Personality disorder (PD) is a type of mental health condition in which a person has long-lasting patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that significantly differ from cultural expectations, cause distress, and impair functioning in relationships, work, or social situations.
Key points:
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These patterns are inflexible and pervasive, affecting many areas of life.
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Symptoms usually appear in adolescence or early adulthood.
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Personality disorders are not temporary mood swings; they are enduring traits that affect how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with others.
Some may experience psychological symptoms such as:
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Distorted thinking about self or others (e.g., suspiciousness, grandiosity)
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Rigid beliefs and difficulty seeing others’ perspectives
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Black-and-white thinking
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Intense or unstable moods
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Difficulty managing anger or stress
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Chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom
Some may experience physical symptoms such as:
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Impulsive or risky behaviours
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Difficulty maintaining relationships
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Avoidance of social interactions or excessive dependence on others
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Repetitive patterns of conflict or drama
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Trouble trusting or empathising with others
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Manipulative, controlling, or exploitative behaviours
When should you seek help with a personality disorder?
If you are experiencing extreme symptoms (either physical, psychological or both), difficulty with consistency at work, school or with relationships, emotional distress or symptoms are getting in the way of normal daily functioning, it may be time to seek help with your personality disorder.
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Below, you’ll find a variety of resources that may help support you with your personality disorder. Please take a moment to explore them.