Mental Health Treatment in New Jersey

Personality Disorder Treatment in NJ

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Our various characteristics mean that we may not please everyone all the time. But people with personality disorders will find forging relationships extremely difficult.

Personality disorders are characterized by an unhealthy pattern of thinking. People that deal with them may have trouble relating to others. They may end up losing jobs and have difficulty forming friendships.

This article will look at personality disorders and personality disorder therapy treatment that can help if you or a loved one is suffering.

Introduction & Overview of Personality Disorders

There are several types of personality disorders. They are categorized into clusters A, B, and C. They are further broken down into different types of disorders. Here are the various types to be aware of.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Cluster A personality disorders involve odd or eccentric thinking and behavior. They are characterized by the following symptoms:

Paranoid Personality Disorder Symptoms:

Distrust of others
Hesitancy to confide in others for fear they may use the information against you
Perceiving innocent remarks as being threatening or insulting
Holding grudges
Unjustified suspicion that a partner is being unfaithful
Unjustified anger and hostility

Schizoid Personality Disorder Symptoms

Preferring to be alone as opposed to engaging in social situations
Limited show of emotions
Difficulty finding pleasure in most activities
Difficulty exhibiting normal social behavior
Acting cold and indifferent to others
Little interest in having sex with another person

Schizotypal Personality Disorder Symptoms

Having strange ways of dressing, thinking, speaking, and behaving
Odd perceptions that verge on hallucinations
Social anxiety
Exhibiting a lack of emotion or inappropriate emotional responses
Indifference or suspicion towards others
Difficulty forming close relationships
Unrealistic thinking

Cluster B Personality Disorders

People with cluster B personality disorders may be dramatic, overemotional, and unpredictable. Here are the conditions that fall under this category.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms

A lack of care for the needs, feelings, and safety of others
Persistent lying, cheating and stealing
Problems with the law
Aggressive and violent behavior
Impulsivity
Failure to exhibit responsible behavior
Lack of remorse

Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms

Engaging in risky and impulsive behavior
Lack of self-confidence
Difficulty maintaining relationships
Fear of being alone
Mood swings
Suicidal thoughts and behavior
Depression
Anger
Paranoia

Histrionic Personality Disorder Symptoms

Constantly seeking attention
Acting emotional, dramatic or sexually provocative to gain attention
Easily influenced by others
Obsession with physical appearance
Misperception of the closeness of relationships with others
Rapidly changing emotions
Passionately opinionated with few facts to back them up

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms

Believe you are more important than others
Extreme arrogance
Envy of others
Believing others are envious of you
Unreasonably expectations of others
Exaggerations of success
Fantasies of success
A constant need for praise and admiration
Failure to recognize the needs of others

Cluster C Personality Disorders

These disorders are characterized by anxiety and fearful thinking and behavior. Symptoms include the following.

Avoidant Personality Disorder Symptoms

Sensitivity to criticism and rejection
Feelings of inadequacy
Avoidance of activities that involve personal contact
Social inhibition
Extreme shyness
Fear of disapproval

Dependent Personality Disorder Symptoms

Excessive dependence on others
Fear of having to care for yourself
Lack of self-confidence
Difficulty making decisions
Difficulty disagreeing with others
Tolerance of poor treatment or abuse
The desperate need to start a new relationship after a close one ends

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Symptoms

Repeating the same actions over and over
Hoarding
Extreme perfectionism and distress when perfection cannot be achieved
Desire to be in control
Neglect of friends due to commitment to a specific task
Rigid, stubborn and inflexible in beliefs
Tight control over spending money

Causes of Personality Disorder

Personality disorders often form during childhood. They may be caused by any of the following:

Genetics: If you have a close relative that has been diagnosed with a personality disorder, you may develop one as well.
Environment: People who have grown up in a stressful environment and have been exposed to abuse are more likely to experience a disorder.

When to Get Help for Personality Disorders

Inability to Hold Down a Job: Many people with extreme personality disorders are unable to complete tasks and forge professional relationships making it impossible for them to hold down a job.

Difficulty Maintaining Friendships: Those with personality disorders may have traits that drive people away making it difficult for them to maintain friendships.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Individuals with personality disorders may not realize they have a problem and may not reach out for help. Instead, they self-medicate to deal with the symptoms they are experiencing. Although drugs and alcohol may provide temporary relief, they end up doing more harm than good in the long run.

Legal and Financial Difficulties: It is not uncommon for people with personality disorders to engage in dangerous behavior that can lead to legal issues that go hand in hand with financial difficulties.

Causing Harm to Others: People with personality disorders may act impulsively causing harm to themselves and others. Actions that cause damage can be mental or physical in nature.

Suicidal Thoughts: Personality disorders often go hand in hand with depression that can lead to suicidal thinking. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, do not hesitate to get therapy treatment for personality disorders. If you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself, call 911.

What to Expect in Therapy Treatment for Personality Disorder

There are a variety of treatment plans you can choose from, but a borderline personality outpatient program may be most effective. This is a program that allows you to engage in therapy while going about the tasks of everyday life. Here are some types of outpatient personality disorder therapy treatment you can choose from.

Partial Hospitalization: Partial hospitalization requires you to stay in the facility from 9 AM to 3 PM. During this time, you are made to follow a therapy program that is customized to your specific needs. It aims to target the source of your disorder and find healthy coping mechanisms to replace unhealthy behavior.

If an addiction has formed, patients may also go through an assisted detox to rid their bodies of harmful toxins before they start therapy.

Intensive Outpatient Program for Borderline Personality Disorder: The borderline personality disorder outpatient program provides therapy sessions as needed. Therapists will analyze your condition to determine how often you should be attending sessions to treat your condition. If improvements are being made, treatment will be reduced and may even no longer be necessary.

Our Borderline Personality Outpatient Program

There are many personality disorder therapy treatment centers to choose from, but Relevance Recovery is known as offering the most effective care.

We take a unique approach combining traditional strategies with holistic, integrative, multidisciplinary methods. We analyze each patient to find a customized plan that may include the basics, like medication and psychotherapy, as well as alternative therapies such as meditation, biofeedback, yoga and more. We work out a diet and exercise routine that will promote a balance that’s beneficial to mental health.

Our intensive outpatient program for borderline personality disorder includes partial hospitalization and outpatient therapies. After patients graduate from our program, those that are dealing with addiction are sent to a sober living facility where they learn skills that will help them integrate back into the real world.

They are also encouraged to participate in our nonprofit substance abuse prevention program, CFC. This will give them the support they need to maintain sobriety.

Personality disorders can greatly reduce quality of life. Don’t let one get in the way of your relationships. Call Relevance Recovery today. We will give you the help you need to cope with your emotions in a healthy way so you can be happier overall.