1. Remember a Few General Signs
Personality disorders are marked by rigid, maladaptive behavior that develops into a recurring pattern. People afflicted with them will often use maladaptive coping mechanisms to deal with whatever traumas led to the creation of the disorder. Personality disorders vary, and are arranged into 10 basic types that are further grouped into three clusters, but the basic signs are often the same.
If you have a personality disorder, you may act out in irresponsible ways, project your feelings or emotions onto others, use hypochondria or feigned illnesses as a way of getting attention, divide things into absolute terms of black and white, hurt yourself through self-mutilation, or fantasize as a means of avoiding unpleasant realities. In some cases, these signs can be very subtle and only noticeable to others after lengthy interaction. But in all cases, these behaviors will create problems in the rest of your life, and you may resist the need to acknowledge your condition.
2. Note Odd or Eccentric Behavior
Cluster A personality disorders cover behavior that is considered odd or strange. There are three types of Cluster A disorders.
If you have paranoid personality disorder, you hold unreasonable beliefs that others are out to get you. You tend to distrust those around you for no apparent reason, often lashing out or making outrageous accusations.
If you have schizoid personality disorder, you tend to be withdrawn to an unhealthy level. You keep a considerable emotional distance from those around you and often retreat into internal thoughts or fantasies.
If you have schizotypal personality disorder, you are detached from others as well, but you also exhibit signs of unusual thought patterns associated with schizophrenia. For example, you may display magical thinking, believing you can control a person or event with your mind.
3. Examine Emotional Reactions
The four types of Cluster B disorders include those who demonstrate erratic behavior or grand gestures designed to provoke an emotional response.
Histrionic personality disorder involves excessive attention-getting tactics, and you may have a need for approval, undue concern with appearance and dramatic shifts in mood.
If you have narcissistic personality disorder, you tend to cover up for an extreme lack of self-esteem by appearing overconfident and obsessed with your own importance. You likely make up grandiose stories about yourself, react with hostility at perceived criticism and exploit those around you to further your own ends.
Antisocial personality disorder involves flagrant disregard for other people's feelings and emotions. If you have this disorder, you exhibit poor impulse control, use lies and rationalization to get what you want and often blame others for your own mistakes.
If you have borderline personality disorder, you often feel empty and alone. You are given to random outbursts of emotion, shift your moods often and are afraid of being by yourself, despite the damage you inflict on others.
4. Record Intense Fear or Anxiety
The third set of personality clusters includes people grappling with intense fears or anxieties.
If you are an avoidant personality, you fear rejection or failure. Though you often crave affection, you stay away from intimate relationships to prevent others from spurning you in some way.
If you have a dependent personality, you likely exhibit low self-esteem, which makes you afraid of making decisions on your own. In response, you likely get someone near you, such as a spouse or parent figure, to take on those responsibilities.
If you have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, you are fixated on organization and control. You have a hard time adapting to unforeseen change, and your focus on perfection often keeps you from getting anything done.
