Personality disorders: Gulf Health warning, symptoms, and treatment

The Gulf Health Council issued an important warning regarding mental health, highlighting the risks and complications of personality disorders , stressing that their effects are not limited to the individual, but extend to negatively affect the quality of life in general, which may lead to the exacerbation of social problems and the emergence of accompanying mental illnesses.

This warning comes at a time of growing global and regional interest in mental health as an integral part of public health. Raising awareness about personality disorders is a crucial step towards building more informed and balanced societies, with the council noting that understanding the nature of these disorders is the first step towards treatment. Personality disorders are defined as a persistent pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that makes a person significantly different from others in their cultural environment.

The nature of the disorder and its impact on the individual

The council explained that an individual's personality is shaped by a complex interplay between inherited traits (genes) and their environmental and educational experiences. While a typical personality is characterized by flexibility and adaptability, individuals with personality disorders exhibit rigid thinking and overreacting behaviors, making it difficult for them to cope with changing situations or daily stressors. This behavioral rigidity often disrupts their professional lives, damages their social relationships, and creates family instability.

Common symptoms and types of personality disorders

Symptoms vary considerably depending on the type of disorder, and the council reviewed examples of the most common types:

• Borderline personality disorder: It is the most common, and those affected by it are characterized by severe mood swings, impulsive behavior, and extreme difficulty in controlling emotions, which often leads to unstable relationships.
• Antisocial personality disorder: The affected person has difficulty controlling anger, tends to blame others, and may exhibit aggressive or violent behavior without remorse, causing annoyance and harm to those around him.
• Associated problems: These disorders are often accompanied by other mental health problems such as depression and chronic anxiety.

Diagnosis and Treatment: A Journey Towards Recovery

Experts emphasize that accurate diagnosis requires ruling out any organic causes or side effects of medications and drugs. The specialist relies on the patient's medical history and physical examination to confirm that the disorder is indeed affecting the person's normal life.

Regarding treatment, the council indicated that there are effective options that help improve quality of life, most notably:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): which helps the patient identify negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with positive and realistic ones.
• Drug therapy: such as antidepressants that a doctor may prescribe to control some of the accompanying symptoms.

Seeking specialized medical help early on greatly contributes to improving treatment outcomes and restores the individual's ability to live peacefully with himself and his community.