Short Films About Mental Health - Personality Disorders

What is a Personality Disorder?

Definition and Characteristics

• A personality disorder is characterized by long-standing, pervasive difficulties in relating to oneself and others across multiple situations, such as home, work, and social settings.

• These issues are typically evident from late teens to early twenties and persist over several years. Individuals develop coping mechanisms to survive their environments.

Adaptation vs. Problematic Behavior

• People with personality disorders often adapt their behaviors to thrive in certain environments but may struggle when those traits become maladaptive in different contexts.

• This perspective honors individuals' attempts to navigate challenging circumstances rather than framing them solely as problems or disorders.

Understanding the Stigma of Personality Disorders

Coping Mechanisms

• The term "personality disorder" can be stigmatizing, implying something inherently wrong with an individual's personality; however, it reflects learned survival strategies from difficult life experiences.

• Early life experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can lead individuals to develop patterns of distrust towards others for self-preservation.

Variability Among Disorders

• There are various types of personality disorders (e.g., antisocial, narcissistic, borderline), each presenting unique traits that may have been adaptive at some point but problematic later on.

• Individuals may exhibit traits from multiple disorders simultaneously due to overlapping characteristics and experiences.

Exploring Specific Personality Disorders

Antisocial Traits

• Those with antisocial traits might be hyper-vigilant about potential threats from others; this heightened awareness was once beneficial but can lead to unhelpful reactions later in life.

Narcissistic Traits

• Individuals displaying narcissistic traits often feel superior or right, which can create interpersonal challenges when others perceive them negatively due to these attitudes.

Borderline Personality Disorder Insights

• People with borderline traits experience intense fears of abandonment and emotional instability stemming from a lack of validation for their feelings during formative years. This leads to chaotic emotional responses and impulsive behavior patterns.

Personal Experience with Borderline Personality Disorder

Emotional Turmoil

• An individual describes living with borderline personality disorder as akin to being on an endless roller coaster filled with insecurity about relationships and fear of abandonment that triggers intense emotional responses.

Chaotic Feelings

• They express how emotions fluctuate dramatically—from happiness to despair—often triggered by minor events that seem disproportionate at the moment yet feel overwhelming afterward.

Struggles with Identity

• The person feels disconnected from themselves during stressful times, experiencing dissociation where they feel like an observer rather than a participant in their own life—a sensation compounded by feelings of emptiness and loneliness even in social settings.

Impulsive Behaviors

• Impulsivity manifests through self-harm as a misguided attempt at controlling internal pain; despite recognizing its irrationality afterward, the urge remains strong amidst emotional chaos leading them into cycles of shame and regret over actions taken during distressing moments.

Understanding Personality Disorders and DBT

The Struggle with Identity

• A person expresses feelings of losing themselves and struggling with their identity, indicating a deep connection between self-perception and mental health.

• They describe feeling "broken" and equate their identity with their mental illness, highlighting the stigma and personal impact of such conditions.

Introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• DBT is introduced as a treatment for borderline personality disorder, emphasizing its structured approach to therapy.

• The term "dialectical" refers to the coexistence of opposing truths, specifically acceptance versus change in the context of therapy.

Core Principles of DBT

• Acceptance is crucial at the beginning of therapy; clients must acknowledge their current reality before pursuing change.

• Change involves motivation to adopt new strategies for managing emotions, aiming not necessarily for happiness but for better emotional regulation.

Development and Structure of DBT

• Developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1980s, DBT was created in response to ineffective traditional therapies for suicidal patients.

• The program includes various modules: distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills that are foundational across all sessions.

Components of DBT Treatment

• Weekly individual sessions focus on personalizing skills learned in group settings through techniques like chain analysis.

• Diary cards are utilized to track behaviors and emotions throughout the week, aiding therapists in identifying areas for improvement during sessions.

Additional Support Mechanisms

• Phone coaching allows clients to receive real-time support from therapists when facing challenging situations outside regular sessions.

• This service emphasizes proactive management before crises occur rather than reactive measures after they happen.

Therapist Support Systems

• Therapists participate in weekly consultation teams designed to support each other’s practice and maintain motivation while working with clients.