Some people are given the diagnosis of a Personality Disorder. There are various types of personality disorders, including:
- Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), also known as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Avoidant (or anxious) Personality Disorder
- Dependent Personality Disorder
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
Some people find the diagnosis of a Personality Disorder reassuring as it helps them and others to understand their difficulties. They can find it validating and normalising knowing that others share similar struggles. However, other people dislike the term ‘Personality Disorder’ as they feel it suggests that there is something wrong with them as a person and they can find it stigmatising.
Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline Personality Disorder
EUPD/BPD is perhaps the more commonly diagnosed Personality Disorder. It is characterised by:
- Intense emotions that are difficult to cope with
- A fear of being abandoned or rejected
- Difficulties maintaining stable relationships
- Becoming easily irritable and can become angry quickly
- Not having a strong sense of who you are
- Feeling empty and lonely
- Acting impulsively, such as harming oneself and putting oneself in risky situations
Therapy for Personality Disorders
Our therapists at Therapy Central are experienced in working with people whose struggles are in line with the diagnoses of Personality Disorders. We will explore with you how you view your difficulties and how you feel about the diagnosis you may have received. Rather than focussing on any particular diagnosis, we feel it is more important to focus on your individual struggles and subjective experience. We can help you to understand your difficulties and to explore the links between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. We can introduce you to various coping strategies to help you manage your emotional struggles. We may also explore with you how past experiences may have led to the development of your difficulties.
Our therapists tend to work integratively, meaning that we have knowledge and experience of various therapy models. We will draw upon the therapy models that we feel would be suitable for you based upon your presenting difficulties, your preference and research recommendations. Therapy models that research has shown to be helpful for people with difficulties in line with the diagnoses of Personality Disorders include Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy and Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT).