The famous actress Angelina Jolie was going through a difficult time in the late 1990s. She experienced both suicidal and homicidal thoughts which led her to seek out for professional help. She was diagnosed with presumptive borderline personality disorder. Cases of personality disorders have been reported in Abu Dhabi along with other mental health disorders. However, there’s lack of awareness about this mental health disorder compared to others like depression and anxiety. Before diving into presumptive borderline personality disorder, let us get to know about personality disorders.
Personality disorders are mental health conditions characterized by persistent, pervasive patterns of thought, behavior, and emotion that significantly disrupt a person's life, affecting their relationships, work, and overall well-being. These disorders involve ingrained, problematic ways of thinking and acting that lead to considerable distress and difficulty in everyday life, particularly in social interactions. This can make them feel isolated resulting in other mental health issues like depression, anxiety or substance abuse. Approximately 9% of adults in US have at least one personality disorder.
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categorizes 10 personality disorders into three clusters- A, B and C. They are classified into clusters depending on the symptoms.
Cluster A: Odd or Eccentric Disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder: The people diagnosed with this condition are characterized by irrational suspicion and mistrust of others. In the comedy Malayalam movie Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989) starring Sreenivasan and Parvathy in lead roles, Sreenivasan exhibits the characteristics of this disorder. The protagonist is insecure about his appearance and becomes increasingly paranoid and possessive in his marriage which ultimately worsens his marital relationship.
Schizoid Personality Disorder: This disorder is marked by a preference for solitude and lack of interest in social relationships. Often has difficulty interpreting social cues.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: This disorder involves unusual thoughts and behaviors, with discomfort in social interactions. Individuals with STPD often have few close relationships outside their immediate family and may exhibit suspiciousness, paranoia, and unusual beliefs or mannerisms.
Cluster B: Dramatic or Erratic Disorders
Antisocial Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized by disregard for others' rights and feelings. They manipulate others and often have no remorse over their actions. They are often seen breaking law, heavily drinking or using drugs as well as causing physical/emotional harm to others. The 2000 Hollywood movie American Psycho, starring Christian Bale depicts him with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder: In the Bollywood movie Tamasha starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, the character of Ranbir named Ved suffers from this disorder. This disorder is marked by unstable emotions and impulsive behaviors. This results in low self-esteem, emotional problems as well as difficulties in relationships. BPD is recognized as one of the more common disorders within Cluster B.
Histrionic Personality Disorder: These people have low self-esteem. They have a constant need to be approved by others. This disorder involves excessive emotionality and a need for attention. They may use dramatic or inappropriate actions to gain the attention of others.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy. They feel superior and hence are in constant need of praise and appreciation. This need for superiority also stems from lack of self-esteem.
Cluster C: Anxious or Fearful Disorders
Avoidant Personality Disorder: This disorder is marked by social avoidance due to fear of rejection. They want to interact with other but the excessive fear of negative judgement prevents them from interacting with others.
Dependent Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized by a need to be taken care of and fear of abandonment. They are excessively dependent on those around them for physical or emotional needs.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: This involves a preoccupation with orderliness, control and perfectionism. They show no flexibility of thought or action and this interferes with their tasks and relationships. North 24 Kaatham, a 2013 Malayalam movie starring Fahadh Faasil depicts him as Hari, a software engineer with OCPD, who is strict about his hygiene and routine and how it impacts his life.
Most personality disorders begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. The causes of personality disorders are not fully understood, but they are believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Personality disorders are challenging to treat, but various therapies and interventions can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.
We have expert malayali psychologists in who are offering quality services to clients in Abu Dhabi. Our team includes:
Aswathy Sampath is a registered Malayali clinical psychologist with an M.Phil. in clinical psychology from Manipal University, Manipal. She has over five years of experience offering quality services in Malayalam, English, Kannada and Tamil.
Prijitha is a licensed Malayali Clinical Psychologist holding an M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology and over five years of experience in psychotherapy, diagnostic interviews, and psychometric assessments. She has worked in reputable institutions and specializes in various therapeutic approaches, including Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Behavior Therapy, tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Irene Mariam Cherian is a qualified Malayali Consultant psychologist holding a Master's in Clinical Psychology and is certified in psychotherapy, counselling and child psychology. She has specialized training from esteemed institutions—like the Mental Health Centre, Trivandrum, and Nair’s Hospital, Kochi.
You are not your disorder; you are a person learning to navigate your mind.
While your mind feels like a maze, Koott is your partner to figure out the path to the beautiful destination of healing.
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