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Coping with Personality Disorder


It is not easy to accept that you have a personality disorder and so a person may not want to seek medical attention. If you or someone you know suffers from a personality disorder, it is important to work closely with a mental health care provider for support and encouragement on the path to recovery. Any form of mental illness can affect the lives of the patient along with his family and friends. A doctor or therapist will also help people develop boundaries and strategies to look after themselves without the guilt associated with caring for a mentally ill person.

Living with personality disorders may seem impossible, but with the correct guidance and support, it can be done. If you want to succeed in coping with personality disorders you should:

  • Lead a simple life. Cut down on extra obligations and sources of stress and tension.
  • Set reasonable goals.
  • Give vent to your feelings by talking to your therapist or writing in a journal.
  • Avoid staying isolated. Interact with family and friends regularly.
  • Eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly and get enough of sleep.
  • Join a support group so that you can share with other people facing the same problems as you.
  • Be committed to your recovery. Treatment and recovery is often a long, ongoing process and can prove difficult to stay motivated.
  • Plan your daily routine and organize your activities so that you don’t get overwhelmed or too bored.
  • Avoid making any major decisions in the midst of treatment for your disorder.
  • Never skip therapy sessions or check-ups with your doctor.
  • Always take your medication as prescribed. If the symptoms and side effects are too unpleasant talk to your doctor about changing them but do not stop taking any medications without consulting your doctor.
  • Learn to recognize your trigger factors and stay away from friends, places and situations that may lead to an episode.
  • Stay away from drugs and alcohol as these can aggravate symptoms and react adversely with medications prescribed to treat your condition.

Here are some useful links that will help you connect with support groups, counselors and psychologists in your area, or over the internet:

  1. Mental Health America
  2. American Counseling Association - Counselor Directory
  3. Find a Psychologist

Treatments
Personality Disorder
References
  1. Laurence Claes, Stefaan Vertommen, Dirk Smits, Patricia Bijttebier, Emotional reactivity and self-regulation in relation to personality disorders, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 47, Issue 8, December 2009, Pages 948-953, ISSN 0191-8869, 10.1016/j.paid.2009.07.027.
  2. Jonathan Davidson, Robert Miller, Rosemary Strickland, Neuroticism and personality disorder in depression, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 8, Issue 2, March–April 1985, Pages 177-182, ISSN 0165-0327, 10.1016/0165-0327(85)90042-4.
  3. Patricia Bijttebier, Hans Vertommen, Coping strategies in relation to personality disorders, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 26, Issue 5, 1 May 1999, Pages 847-856, ISSN 0191-8869, 10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00187-1.
  4. Mary McMurran, Conor Duggan, Gary Christopher, Nick Huband, The relationships between personality disorders and social problem solving in adults, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 42, Issue 1, January 2007, Pages 145-155, ISSN 0191-8869, 10.1016/j.paid.2006.07.002.