Personality disorders
Long-standing relational patterns that cause distress — and respond well to specialized therapy.
What it is
Personality disorders describe long-standing, inflexible patterns in how someone relates to themselves and others that cause real distress or difficulty — not a character flaw, and not the same as having a strong personality.
Good to know
Borderline personality disorder in particular has one of the best-evidenced specific treatments in all of mental health (dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT — see below) — this is a genuinely treatable condition, not a life sentence, despite how it's sometimes talked about.
What helps
Specialized, structured therapy approaches, DBT among them, that focus on emotional regulation and relationship skills tend to outperform general talk therapy for these specific patterns.
When to seek help
If relationship patterns, emotional intensity, or a shaky sense of self have been a long-running theme rather than a phase, ask a counsellor specifically about DBT or similar specialized approaches.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you're in crisis, go to Get Help Now instead of reading further.