The symptoms of a personality disorder can affect your life in many ways. Fortunately, personality disorder treatment is available and effective. Therapy for personality disorders can help you maintain meaningful relationships and meet career or educational goals. Contact BlueCrest Recovery at 888.292.9652 today to learn more about personality disorder therapy.
What Is a Personality Disorder?
Everyone has a unique “personality,” a combination of traits that allows them to adapt to change and cope with life’s challenges. Some people have maladaptive traits, meaning they have unhealthy coping skills or are inflexible and unable to adapt.
A personality disorder may be diagnosed if a person has a lifelong pattern of reacting in ways that hurt their lives or the lives of others. There are many different types of personality disorders and many various symptoms. They are divided into three main categories: clusters A, B, and C.
Some of the most common personality disorders include:
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Schizoid personality disorder
Treatment for personality disorders varies according to the individual’s diagnosis and the type and severity of their symptoms.
Personality Disorder Symptoms
Because there are many personality disorders, there is a wide variety of symptoms to be aware of. Some symptoms are difficult to recognize and may be seen as “eccentricities” instead of signs of mental illness.
Some of the most recognizable symptoms include:
- Depression
- Substance use
- Chronic anxiety
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Risk-taking behavior
- Self-destructive behavior
- Difficulty getting along with peers at school, work, or in social circles
- Poor self-image
- Social isolation
Personality disorder symptoms are not fixed. They may change or worsen over time without treatment.
Therapy for Personality Disorders
There is no cure for a personality disorder. The goal of treatment is to help people prevent the maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that make functioning challenging.
Therapy for personality disorders may include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal therapy
- Family-focused therapy (FFT)
Treatment for personality disorders is effective, but convincing those needing treatment can be difficult. The condition itself encourages denial of any problem. Many people with personality disorders reject the reality of their situation. Substance use disorders frequently co-occur with personality disorders.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Personality Disorder Treatment
Cognitive-behavioral therapy may be the most widely used treatment for personality disorders because it is highly effective. CBT focuses on current negative thinking and behavioral patterns. This approach to therapy helps clients develop new patterns and regulate their emotions more successfully.
The behavioral skills practiced in personality disorder therapy enable clients to tolerate distress and build more meaningful relationships with others.
Unlike some forms of therapy that require clients to excavate their past, CBT encourages a focus on the present. The goal is to both accept things as they currently are and make the changes necessary for improvement.
CBT is a fast form of therapy. It is not intended to last months or years like some types of talk therapy. Most clients complete their course of treatment in 12 weeks or less.
Find Personality Disorder Therapy in New Jersey at BlueCrest Recovery
Accepting the diagnosis may be difficult if you have been diagnosed with a personality disorder or co-occurring disorders. Both personality and substance use disorders affect the brain in a way that encourages denial. It is tempting to blame others for your situation, but embracing treatment can improve life.
At BlueCrest Recovery, we understand the unique challenge that personality disorders present to the client and the treatment staff. We have the experience to develop an individualized treatment plan to address your specific needs, including treatment for substance use disorder if needed. Contact BlueCrest Recovery today at 888.292.9652 to learn more.
