Mental Health | Cluster B Personality Disorders

An individual with borderline personality disorder (BPD) tends to have fragile or low self-esteem, which causes them to overreact to various stressors they may experience in relationships. They are overly sensitive to perceived slights, have unstable moods, are prone to angry outbursts, are deeply fearful of being abandoned, tend towards paranoid thinking, and generally experience emptiness inside. These individuals see the world in stark black or white terms and tend to be judgmental. People with BPD may use unhealthy measures to soothe their emotional distress, such as binge eating, self-harming behaviors, substance abuse, engaging in risky sex, and overspending.

Someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is preoccupied with their sense of superiority over others. These individuals tend to believe they deserve special treatment due to their distorted perception that they are uniquely intelligent, attractive, or talented. Individuals with NPD tend to be emotionally unavailable, lack empathy, are arrogant, exhibit angry outbursts or rage, and disregard the value of others. These individuals may seek out a victim or host that will supply them with a steady supply of adulation and subservience, but they are unable to bond emotionally with the person.

When someone has histrionic personality disorder they constantly seek the spotlight, desiring to be the center of attention. To do this they will exhibit excessive and exaggerated mannerisms, such as speaking in a loud voice, using dramatic flourishes when they speak, being overtly flirtatious, or displaying excessive emotions. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder will feel uncomfortable in situations when they are not the center of attention. Their relationships are superficial, as they lack the ability to form authentic intimacy with another, and they are at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts.

The individual with antisocial personality disorder is characterized by the lack of regard for others. This is expressed through hostile, aggressive, and deceitful behaviors. Someone with antisocial personality disorder will disregard rules or social norms, believing they do not apply to them. They may harm or torment people or animals, yet show no remorse for hurting them. A child with conduct disorder may develop antisocial personality disorder later. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder tend to be highly impulsive, leading to adverse consequences like loss of employment, accidents, or legal problems.