Personality Disorder Therapy in the Flatiron District, NYC

According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) “Is marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships… may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.”

It is a complex mental health condition that is characterized by patterns of interpersonal difficulties, intense mood swings, Chronic feelings of emptiness, fear of abandonment and rejection, intense emotions that may not fit the event or are disproportionate to the event, episodes of dissociation. Those with BPD may feel inadequate, judged, worthless and insecure.

BPD may also be characterized by engaging in risk and impulsive behaviors, threats of suicide, suicidal ideation and engaging in self-harm behaviors such as cutting or burning. They experience intense shifts in mood that can either last for minutes, hours, or days. Those with BPD may often experience dissociation, and pervasive and consistent feelings of “emptiness.”

Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a difficulty and perceived inability in empathizing or caring for other’s thoughts, emotions, feelings and pain.  They often lack guilt and shame associated with actions that may cause themselves or others harm.

Those suffering from APD may engage in risky and impulsive behavior. Those affected by APD have difficulty abiding by the general laws and rules of society, and thus often break laws or do not seem to conform to society.

They may have had conduct disorder issues when they were younger, and will have most likely experienced a traumatic and invalidating childhood. A person with APD may also experience intense rage, and have difficulty sustaining long term relationships.

Those with Histrionic Personality Disorder often seek attention in order to feel validated. They perceive relationships as closer than they may actually be – attaching to people whom they have just met with the same trust and openness they would a long time friend.

Those who have HPD experience rapidly changing mood swings, and may speak as if they are performing for an audience; while missing genuinity or authenticity in their words. They also have a low threshold for distress, and are deeply influenced by and sensitive to rejection, disapproval or criticism.

HPD may also cause client’s to act impulsively, make quick and rash decisions, and be dependent on external validation such as wanting to be liked, as well as be noticed always by others.

Those with NPD’s primary defense mechanism is contempt. This means that they  often react to others by putting them down, belittling them, or bullying them. Those who have NPD have difficulty empathizing and sympathizing with others and often take advantage of other people due to this. They do not realize how their actions, choices and behaviors affect others.

A symptom of NPD is experiencing a sense of grandiosity. This means that the person has a large sense of superiority and importance over all others. They expect recognition of their efforts, achievements and talents. They also at times conflate these and other aspects of their lives in order to meet this sense of grandiosity. At times this sense of grandiosity will lead to a preoccupation with power, succes, money and fame.

Narcissists will often surround themselves with people who will provide them with praise and attention. They will have difficult relationships with people who do not conform to their grandiose sense of self and do not take criticism well. They often feel as if they can only be understood by “special” people or places.

APD is marked by avoidance due to nervousness and fear. They may present as extremely shy, and a preoccupation with fear and avoidance of social situations, social contact and intimate contact with others.

A person with APD may suffer from low self-confidence and low-self esteem. They have difficulty keeping close, long-term friends and often do not have any. They may feel unable to function in social situations “properly.” They are extremely sensitive to rejection and criticism.

Those with APD have empathy and sympathy; which mean that they are able to relate to others; however, due to fear of embarrassment and messing up – they often keep far away from others and avoid social contact and are often very or completely isolated.

Those with DPD are characterized by a perceived sense of helplessness without another person’s validation or input. They are unable to make decisions in their lives, and depend on others to do that for them or needs excessive advice and reassurance from others in order to do them.

A trait of DPD is the fear and inability to be alone due to feeling unable to take care of oneself. Those who have DPD are preoccupied with this fear that they will be unable to care for themselves, unable to make “right and good” decisions without the help of another person.

Those with DPD need external validation all the time and often will seek it out and disregard their wants, needs, values and desires in order to be nurtured and supported by others.

OCPD is characterized by a pervasive sense of perfectionism, not only within themselves but also on the environment and the people around them. This means that those with OCPD feel as if the environment they are in must meet the standards that they impose on themselves as well.

Those with OCPD may have a preoccupation with rules, organization and schedules. A sense of perfectionism that impedes their ability to perform tasks on time and complete tasks. They are unable to delegate tasks due to a sense of distrust in others being able to perform that task to their specifications. Their is a sense of “stubbornness” with their ideals; which is often difficult to challenge or discuss.

Those who suffer with OCPD may become irritated or angry when they are in situations that they do not feel in control of. This anger and irritability may be externalized or internalized meaning that they will either project it onto others, or ruminate in these feelings. Those with OCPD have difficulty being vulnerable and emotionally expressive.