This project is dedicated to people with personality disorders. The people who are “on the cusp”—on the line between “socially acceptable” and “socially unacceptable”, between stability and instability. They shared stories of their battle with themselves and other people’s misunderstanding.
But before we move on to our heroes’ stories, let us explain thoroughly what personality disorders are.
Personality disorders are mental disorders that influence a person’s thinking, their emotional state and behavior.
They cause severe problems in building relationships, in communication, as well as difficulties with controlling emotions.
Personality disorders are divided into three clusters: A, B and C. We’ll take a quick look at each of them.
Cluster A includes “strange or eccentric” disorders. Common traits of the disorders from this spectrum are social awkwardness, isolation, distorted thinking.
Cluster B (theatrical, emotional or unstable disorders) covers antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders. A common trait of these disorders is issues with impulsivity and controlling one’s emotions.
Cluster C (anxiety and panic disorders) includes personality disorders such as avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive disorders. They are characterized by a high anxiety level.
Despite so many differences between personality disorders, they have one thing in common: being incurable. People with such disorders need therapy and sometimes have to take medication. It can ease the symptoms, but the disorder will never disappear entirely.
However, you shouldn’t underestimate the element that’s necessary for treating any kind of illness, whether it's physical or mental: support and understanding. No therapy will help those who are rejected, feared or despised by society, get back on their feet.
We suggest you take the first step forward: listen and understand. Your attention and compassion matter. Perhaps this small step will become the beginning of big changes.
