I, Me, Mine: Understanding Cluster B Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is defined by thoughts and behavior that have a negative impact on the lives of the affected individuals and possibly harming those around them. Following the eccentricity and delusion-driven Cluster A disorders, Cluster B disorders are governed by dramatic, impulsive, and erratic behaviors, along with emotion regulation difficulties. Book an appointment with top psychiatrists in Pakistan.

The 4 disorders categorized under this cluster are:

1- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):

One of the most well-known and well-researched personality disorders, BPD is a ‘black-or-white’ disorder, in which affected individuals perceive things as either completely positive or negative, resulting in a gross misinterpretation of others’ actions and motivations.

Moreover, self-esteem issues trap BPD individuals them in a repetitive cycle of anger outbursts, guilt, and reactively indulging in impulsive behaviors like self-harm, binge-eating, and overspending. Although employed as coping mechanisms, such self-destructive habits make for highly unstable relationships. Other characteristics include:

• Difficulty in acting consistently, like frequently switching jobs, relationships, life goals, and residences.
• Instantaneous mood swings
• Intense reactions to trivial matters
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Paranoia, numbness, psychosis, and/or inability to remember things after they’ve happened during extremely stressful episodes.

2- Antisocial Personality Disorder:

Lack of empathy and sympathy are the cornerstones of antisocial personality disorder. Such individuals are often described as deceitful, manipulative, aggressive, and impulsive; to the extent of frequently placing themselves (and sometimes others) in dangerous or risky situations without considering the legal and social repercussions.

In most cases, the disorder’s first signs appear during childhood. Psychopathy was once a common diagnosis of the disorder, although health professionals still employ a ‘psychopathy checklist’ to facilitate diagnosis. Other characteristics include:

• Conning others using fake names, theft, and deceit. When observed in underage children it is known as ‘Conduct Disorder’; a precursor to full-fledged antisocial disorder.
• Tormenting animals or people, bullying, intimidation and damaging others’ property in children and young adults.
• No genuine remorse for damage and harm inflicted upon others, although they may expertly feign remorse to escape the implications of their actions.
• Counter-blaming the victims for their wrongdoings
• Going to extreme ends to achieve their goals due to a strong belief in ‘survival of the fittest’.

3- Histrionic Personality Disorder:

Those diagnosed with the disorder use highly sociable behavior and exaggerated, almost theatrical emotional reactions, such as laughing louder than necessary or sobbing uncontrollably over trivial issues, as a shield to ward off their social insecurities and self-worth issues.

Such individuals crave attention, often utilizing their physical appearance by dressing and acting seductively and flirtatiously; getting depressed, even suicidal, when kept out of the limelight. Other characteristics include:

• Inability to establish strong, long-lasting relationships due to their flighty and fickle nature; a consequence of their exaggerated actions
• The belief that a relationship is deeper than it actually is
• Easily influenced by other’s opinions and suggestions
• Dependency on other’s approval
• Speaking dramatically with strong, yet unbacked opinions.

4- Narcissistic Personality Disorder:

Narcissists suppress their self-worth issues by sporting grandiose delusions of being exceptionally talented, brilliant or attractive. As a result, they disregard others’ abilities, expect special treatment and admiration but do not reciprocate the favor, manipulate others for their own gains, and come across as arrogant and haughty.

Intense anger and shame, often projected onto others, accompany the eventual realization of their actual skills and abilities. Other characteristics include:

• Exaggeration of talents and abilities
• Lack of empathy
• Workplace issues and procrastination from actually accomplishing one’s goals due to preoccupation with grand schemes and fantasies of immense success and power
• Being in superficial, non-intimate relationships
• The desire to associate with famous and successful individuals to fuel one’s sense of importance.
• Overreaction to criticism
• Resenting others’ success or believing that others envy them

People with cluster B personality disorders are highly vulnerable to self-harm and suicide. If you suffer from a personality disorder and experiences suicidal thoughts, do not be afraid of reaching out.

You can book appointment with a top Psychiatrist in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi through oladoc, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your mental health concerns.