What is a Helicopter Parent and How It Impacts Your Child’s Life
Helicopter parenting or helicopter parents are topics frequently discussed across different forms of media, and most of us have a vague idea of what...
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Williamsburg Therapy Group : May 15, 2023 3:45:44 PM
Key Takeaways:
Psychologists divide personality disorders into clusters in order to help define and classify them. There are three clusters: A, B, C.
Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd behavior: schizoid personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder are a few examples.
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic and overly emotional behavior: antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder are all examples of cluster b personality disorders.
Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by nervousness and fearfulness: OCD, avoidant personality disorder, and dependent personality disorder are a few examples of cluster C disorders.
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Cluster A Personality Disorders
Cluster B Personality Disorders
Cluster C Personality Disorders
How do I know if I have a personality disorder?
Treatments for Personality Disorders
Personality Disorder Testing and Treatment in Brooklyn: Williamsburg Therapy Group
Cluster A, in psychology, is a group of disorders with eccentric behavioral symptoms - that is, behavior that may be strange, awkward, and isolating.
Within cluster A are several disorders that each carry their own set of symptoms and challenges.
Some of the most common cluster B personality disorders are:
Cluster A personality disorders affect about 3.6% of the American public.
Cluster B, in contrast to cluster A, is characterized by dramatic and intensely emotional behavior. Cluster B disorders include:
Cluster B personality disorders affect about 1.5% of the American public.
Cluster C personality disorders are defined by fearful and anxious thoughts and behaviors.
The most common cluster C disorders include:
Cluster C personality disorders affect approximately 2.7% of the American public.
The only way to know for certain if you have a personality disorder is to get tested by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist.
Self-diagnosing any medical disorder is very dangerous. Self-treatment can also lead to adverse effects and ultimately do more harm than good.
If you suspect you may have a personality disorder, talk to a licensed psychologist.
You can determine whether you may have a personality disorder by asking yourself the following questions:
Officially, a personality disorder is diagnosable if the above three are found to be true by a mental health professional and if other causes can be ruled out.
Having a personality disorder can be extremely debilitating, but it can also be very treatable with the right medications, therapy, or intervention.
The treatment your mental health professional recommends for your personality disorder will depend on the disorder itself as well as how your specific case is presenting.
Most commonly, psychotherapy is the first course of treatment. If necessary or appropriate for the case, there are also medications that may help reduce symptoms.
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a common and well-studied form of therapy.
CBT emphasizes the identification and interruption of negative and unhealthy thought patterns.
This can be particularly effective for personality disorders, which are often characterized by distorted, inaccurate, and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
Some medications have shown that they may be able to help reduce the symptoms of personality disorders.
Some medications that may be recommended for people with personality disorders include:
It's important to only take medication as prescribed by a medical professional. Taking too much or too little medication, particularly in the context of a psychiatric disorder, can be extremely dangerous for yourself and others.
For more severe personality disorder cases, a mental health professional may recommend inpatient treatment.
These facilities exist to help and treat those with mental disorders severe enough to make living outside of a controlled facility extremely stressful or dangerous.
Inpatient facilities often administer therapy and medication in the same manner as those with outpatient treatment plans, but the controlled nature of the facility makes treatment far more likely to be effective (and to be taken as directed.)
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have a personality disorder, it's time to talk to a mental health professional about your options for testing and treatment.
At Williamsburg Therapy Group, we pride ourselves on our neuropsychological testing and treatment teams. We care about our community, and we're honored to help them get the treatment they deserve.
Give us a call to talk about our neuropsychological testing options in Brooklyn. Feeling better may be closer than you think.
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