People with personality disorders commonly experience conflict and instability in many aspects of their lives, and most believe others are responsible for their problems.

Signs and symptoms of cluster A (odd, eccentric) personality disorders may include:

Paranoid personality disorder

* Belief that others are lying, cheating, exploiting or trying to harm you
* Perception of hidden, malicious meaning in benign comments
* Inability to work collaboratively with others
* Emotional detachment
* Hostility toward others

Schizoid personality disorder

* Fantasizing
* Extreme introversion
* Emotional distance, even from family members
* Fixation on your own thoughts and feelings
* Emotional detachment

Schizotypal personality disorder

* Indifference to and withdrawal from others
* “Magical thinking” — the idea that you can influence people and events with your thoughts
* Odd, elaborate style of dressing, speaking and interacting with others
* Belief that messages are hidden for you in public speeches and displays
* Suspicious or paranoid ideas

Signs and symptoms of cluster B (dramatic, emotional) personality disorders may include:

Histrionic personality disorder

* Excessive sensitivity to others’ approval
* Attention-grabbing, often sexually provocative clothing and behavior
* Excessive concern with your physical appearance
* False sense of intimacy with others
* Constant, sudden emotional shifts

Narcissistic personality disorder

* Inflated sense of — and preoccupation with — your importance, achievements and talents
* Constant attention-grabbing and admiration-seeking behavior
* Inability to empathize with others
* Excessive anger or shame in response to criticism
* Manipulation of others to further your own desires

Antisocial (formerly, sociopathic) personality disorder

* Chronic irresponsibility and unreliability /FONT>
* Lack of regard for the law and for others’ rights
* Persistent lying and stealing
* Aggressive, often violent behavior
* Lack of remorse for hurting others
* Lack of concern for the safety of yourself and others

Borderline personality disorder

* Difficulty controlling emotions or impulses
* Frequent, dramatic changes in mood, opinions and plans
* Stormy relationships involving frequent, intense anger and possibly physical fights
* Fear of being alone despite a tendency to push people away
* Feeling of emptiness inside
* Suicide attempts or self-mutilation

Signs and symptoms of cluster C (anxious, fearful) personality disorders may include:

Avoidant personality disorder

* Hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection
* Self-imposed social isolation
* Extreme shyness in social situations, though you strongly desire close relationships

Dependent personality disorder

* Excessive dependence on others to meet your physical and emotional needs
* Tolerance of poor, even abusive treatment in order to stay in relationships
* Unwillingness to independently voice opinions, make decisions or initiate activities
* Intense fear of being alone
* Urgent need to start a new relationship when one has ended

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

* Excessive concern with order, rules, schedules and lists
* Perfectionism, often so pronounced that you can’t complete tasks because your standards are impossible to meet
* Inability to throw out even broken, worthless objects
* Inability to share responsibility with others
* Inflexibility about the “right” ethics, ideas and methods
* Compulsive devotion to work at the expense of recreation and relationships
* Financial stinginess
* Discomfort with emotions and aspects of personal relationships that you can’t control

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is not the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder that shares some symptoms but is more extreme and disabling.

Sources: Healthy Genius

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