Life with a personality disorder isn’t simple. At all. Thoughts and feelings swirl; relationships get derailed; sometimes even showering feels like a big task. It’s not just a “bad week.” It’s not a string of “mood swings.” It’s the way you think. The way you see yourself and others. But you are not broken beyond repair. You are not alone. Help is out there. Real treatment exists for common personality disorders..
Treatment, though, starts with information and understanding. We get that. It’s why we created this overview: to shine some light on what common personality disorders are (and, most importantly, how to treat them). Because even the longest-held patterns can change with the right support. Healing can take time, but it is possible.
What Are Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders aren’t moods. They’re persistent, maladaptive (counter to one’s ability to function effectively) patterns of thought and behavior that deviate from a culture’s expectations and can cause conflict, pain, and instability in a person’s life. They can affect relationships, careers, self-esteem, and more.
Clinicians group them into three main clusters:
- Cluster A: Odd, eccentric behavior patterns, like Paranoid Personality Disorder.
- Cluster B: Emotional, dramatic, unpredictable behaviors, like Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder.
- Cluster C: Fear-driven or anxious behaviors, like Avoidant Personality Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder.
They don’t just develop out of nowhere. Trauma, genetics, adverse early-life experiences, social and cultural pressures can all play a role. And other mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, and substance use, frequently co-occur with personality disorders, further complicating treatment.
Common Personality Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
If emotions are fireworks, Borderline Personality Disorder is someone who cranks them up to full intensity all the time. Watch them ignite and then crash just as fast. Friendships and relationships that one day feel like the air they breathe and the next are nothing but wreckage to be avoided.
Symptoms can include:
- Severe and rapid mood swings
- Impulsive behavior with major consequences, including substance use and reckless spending
- Trouble in relationships that feel unstable or “walking on eggshells”
- Persistent feelings of emptiness
- An intense fear of abandonment, even when it’s not happening or likely
With treatment, however, those with BPD can learn to better regulate their emotions, stabilize their lives, and find genuine security in themselves and their relationships.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Behind every mask is a face, and the one that faces the world when NPD sets in is hollow. What appears as arrogance or self-importance to an outside observer can often be a mask for insecurity and even deep self-doubt.
Symptoms can include:
- Inflated sense of self-importance
- Need for constant admiration
- Difficulty with empathy and authentic connection
- Intense sensitivity to criticism or failure
Treatment and support enable people to build their self-image by grounding it in truth, authenticity, and connection, rather than inflating it further.
Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD)
When the desire for connection is at war with the fear of rejection, AvPD is the battlefield. The push-pull of wanting to feel like you belong, to have friends, a family, a “normal” life, and the very real fear of humiliation, criticism, and loneliness is all too common.
Symptoms can include:
- Fear of rejection is so paralyzing it derails relationships and job opportunities
- Feelings of inferiority or “low self-worth” that can worsen over time
- Fear of and avoidance of social or work situations
- Avoidance of new activities for fear of embarrassment or criticism
Treatment for AvPD provides tools and confidence to break free.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
Obsessive. Controlling. Ordering every detail of life. It can make someone strong and successful, but only if those qualities remain in balance and do not consume a person’s life. OCPD is more than a personality style; when it’s on the level of a disorder, the focus on rules, order, and perfectionism becomes its own handicap.
Symptoms can include:
- Obsession with rules and regulations
- Perfectionism and focus on details can hinder progress
- Rigidity and refusal to delegate tasks
- A need for control of situations and people
Treatment, like the rest, can reduce the feeling of being at the mercy of these overwhelming patterns.
How Common Personality Disorders Are Treated
There are no silver bullets or magic wands in healing. At Excel Behavioral Health, you can expect no quick fixes, but you can expect steady, compassionate, and individualized mental healthcare that works.
Therapy at the Center
- DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is especially helpful for BPD, as it teaches mindfulness, emotion regulation, and other skills to help individuals develop healthier relationships with themselves and others.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): This evidence-based treatment uses practical approaches to alter the way people think to change their behavior and mindset.
Medications When Helpful
There’s no single medication for any personality disorder. Medications may help ease symptoms that occur alongside, like depression, anxiety, or impulsivity. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications are all common parts of a treatment plan when appropriate.
Levels of Care Designed to Meet You Where You Are
- Partial Hospitalization (PHP): A highly structured day of treatment, with return home in the evenings.
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP): Flexible programming that can often accommodate work or school schedules.
- Outpatient Therapy: Ongoing support to maintain progress after stability has been established.
Holistic Care to Supplement Therapy
Mindfulness, meditation, and lifestyle practices that attend to the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
When Choosing a South Jersey Detox Center: The Big Questions to Ask
We know this is the point where many people looking for mental health treatment also begin asking, “What to look for in a South Jersey detox center?” In fact, many people who have personality disorders also struggle with substance use. Drugs and alcohol are common coping mechanisms, even as they create further harm.
When looking at South Jersey detox programs, you want more than a place to detox—to “dry out” or “sweat it out.” You need medical safety, dual-diagnosis support, and compassionate care that will help you feel like a person, not a case study.
The questions to ask in your search include:
- Medical safety: Detoxing from alcohol and certain drugs can be medically dangerous or even life-threatening. 24/7 medical supervision is key.
- Dual-diagnosis and history-sensitive: Detox is only the first step. Your plan should consider your mental health and substance use history.
- Personalized care: Will you feel safe and respected? Do the staff treat you as a person or as a client number?
At Excel Behavioral Health, we understand that addiction and mental health are closely linked, which is why we integrate both into the recovery process, often starting from detox onward. You need support that bridges the gap, and that starts with an honest conversation.
Excel Behavioral Health: A Path Forward
Life with a personality disorder is not easy, and when it’s combined with substance abuse, the challenges can be staggering. But treatment works. Real treatment, individualized to you and focused on long-term healing, can help. With therapy, medication, holistic practices, and the right kind of care, you can move from surviving to thriving.
At Excel Behavioral Health, we believe in you and your capacity to heal—even when you can’t see it for yourself yet. Whether you need help for a personality disorder, assistance with South Jersey detox centers, or ongoing support for dual-diagnosis recovery, we are ready and willing to walk beside you.
The First Step Toward Healing
Don’t wait. Reach out to Excel Behavioral Health today to learn more about our programs, guidance for South Jersey detox centers, or how we can help you or your loved one take that first brave step. Recovery starts here, and you can do it with the right help at your side.
