Do you know someone with a personality disorder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother has DID. I think our relationship has improved slightly over the years, but there was so much trauma for everyone involved before he actually got the diagnosis that it burnt a lot of bridges. I do feel for him and I think educating myself about the disorder helped me heal a lot. I do not know how his wife deals with it, because I would not be able to. I’ve seen him disassociate in real time and take on his alters. I think I’ve learned his triggers and learned when to back off or walk away before things escalate. It’s been especially difficult for my parents who, due to their generational views, have a hard time understanding his diagnosis and feel they somehow are responsible for it. Anyway, I think you can still maintain a “normal” relationship. How were things beige the diagnosis? My opinion is that having a diagnosis may actually help improve your relationship as you are better able to understand his disorder and work with it.

*meant to say, before the diagnosis. Not beige.

[Anonymous]

I dated someone with NPD. It was a nightmare. It took me months to extricate myself from the relationship and I only got out by tricking him into ending it himself. That was about six years ago and he still texts regularly. I'm afraid of what his reaction would be if I block him, so I try to keep thinks brief, civil and cool. He scares me so much that I have a safety deposit box full of incriminating things should he ever kill or hurt a woman who presses charges against him. I know that he has harmed sex workers, but none of them has ever come forward and I can't prove it myself. I'll be relieved when he's dead.

[Anonymous]

Is your significant other in a DBT program? That is the best evidence therapy for personality disorders.

[Anonymous]

My sister has borderline personality disorder. Her life was hell and our relationship was terrible for a long time. She was abusive to me in her teens and twenties. We have a lot of shared childhood trauma. Our relationship is cordial now but I don’t see her or leave her alone with my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your significant other in a DBT program? That is the best evidence therapy for personality disorders.

DBT is great. I suffer from anxiety and depression and have done CBT. Out of curiosity I did a DBT program last year and it was really helpful. I think a lot of people are wary of it because it’s often used to treat personality disorders but it can be helpful for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your significant other in a DBT program? That is the best evidence therapy for personality disorders.

DBT is great. I suffer from anxiety and depression and have done CBT. Out of curiosity I did a DBT program last year and it was really helpful. I think a lot of people are wary of it because it’s often used to treat personality disorders but it can be helpful for anyone.

My BPD relative refuses any kind of therapy and DBT in particular. It is frankly infuriating. She’s so superior, so much “smarter” than therapists, it doesn’t do anything, yada yada. Yet we’re all expected to be supportive when she breaks down every few days and we are the ones left to sift through the carnage and misery she leaves in her wake.

I wish it weren’t virtually impossible to have someone committed these days. That is the only thing that could even potentially help her.

[Anonymous]

Bipolar is not a personality disorder.
Borderline is a personality disorder.
Multiple personality disorder is a personality disorder.
Anxiety is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar is not a personality disorder.
Borderline is a personality disorder.
Multiple personality disorder is a personality disorder.
Anxiety is not.

yes, good point. Not all mental illnesses are personality disorders. There is a difference between mood disorders (generalized/social anxiety, depression, bipolar) and personality disorders (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline, Histrionic Personality Disorder, etc.) -- many people who have Personality Disorders also have comorbid mood disorders, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar is not a personality disorder.
Borderline is a personality disorder.
Multiple personality disorder is a personality disorder.
Anxiety is not.

Yes seriously thank you, was surprised it to so long in this thread before someone mentioned depression and anxiety et all are separate things from recognized cluster B personality disorders

[Anonymous]

I would say out of all the personality disorders the ones to stay furthest away from are antisocial and narcissistic (especially if this is part of the dark triad- machiavellianism and psychopathy with narcissism).

With OCPD it would depend on how severe it is, what was the relationship like before the diagnosis (I.e. was it somewhat manageable) etc.

[Anonymous]

My sister has borderline personality disorder as well as bipolar depression and Schizotypal personality disorder.

She medicates and it really helps if she stays on top of it. Still struggles and is very difficult to get along with but she manages pretty well. Has a decent job and lives alone. Struggled hard with relationships.

Runs in our family and my uncle was far worse off. Thank God for modern medicine and advancements in mental healthcare

[Anonymous]

I have a family member with BPD. I just keep my distance and try not to engage her too much. I read up on BPD and understand how to deal (or not) with them. She has the potential to make your life a living hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coworker's son is full on paranoid schizophrenic. I believe co worker is also high functioning but mentally unstable.

Schizophrenia is not a personality disorder. It’s a thought disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar is not a personality disorder.
Borderline is a personality disorder.
Multiple personality disorder is a personality disorder.
Anxiety is not.

Not sure if it was mentioned yet, but Multiple Personality Disorder is an outdated term. The correct term is now dissociative identity disorder or DID for short.

[Anonymous]

I strongly suspect my 7th grade DD’s former friend has BPD or is on her way to a diagnosis. I’ve been trying to put my finger on the word for her behavior towards my daughter all year and keep coming up with gaslighting. But thanks to this thread and going down a wormhole about personality disorders, it’s startling how BPD is a near perfect description.

Just need to get through the rest of this week.