Personality Disorder

Understanding Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are complex mental health conditions that shape the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. These deeply ingrained patterns often cause difficulties in relationships, work, and daily life. While personality traits vary from person to person, when these traits become rigid, distressing, and disruptive, they may indicate a disorder.

How do Personality Disorders manifest?

People with personality disorders may struggle with:

• Intense and unstable relationships
• Extreme emotional responses or emotional numbness
• Impulsive or risky behaviours
• A deep fear of abandonment or rejection
• Persistent feelings of emptiness or low self-worth
• Difficulty understanding or interpreting others’ emotions
• Rigid thought patterns and resistance to change

Different types of personality disorders can manifest in unique ways. For example, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often involves intense mood swings and a fear of being left alone, whereas Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is characterised by a deep need for admiration and difficulty empathising with others.

What Does Living with a Personality Disorder Look Like?

For those affected, everyday life can feel overwhelming. Relationships may be marked by frequent conflict or emotional highs and lows. A person might struggle to hold onto jobs, friendships, or long-term goals due to unpredictable emotions and behaviours. These patterns often lead to frustration, isolation, and distress.

Family and friends may feel confused or exhausted by their loved one’s reactions, sometimes feeling as though they are walking on eggshells. Misunderstanding and stigma can make it harder for individuals to seek help.

How Inner Citadel Can Help

At Inner Citadel, we provide Integrative Psychotherapy to help individuals develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier relationship patterns. By combining elements of different therapeutic approaches, we tailor our support to each person’s unique experiences.

Our therapy can help by:

• Identifying and reshaping negative thought patterns
• Strengthening emotional regulation skills
• Improving communication and relationship dynamics
• Addressing deep-seated fears and insecurities
• Helping to build a more stable and fulfilling life