Personality Disorders

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Teen Personality Disorders

Millions of teenagers struggle with personality disorders—directly affecting their personal lives, relationships, and mental health. Early identification and treatment are the best ways to help teens navigate their disorder in a healthy, constructive way. Hillcrest offers comprehensive treatment that focuses on the specific difficulties associated with personality disorders in teens. Our overall goal is to teach them ways to overcome challenges, maintain relationships, and achieve personal success on a long-term scale.

What is a Personality Disorder?

A personality disorder is a mental illness characterized by persistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that notably deviate from societal norms. These patterns can have a significant impact on how an individual perceives and interacts with the outside world. It often affects their relationships as well as their ability to regulate emotions and make rational decisions.

As a result, those with a personality disorder may have difficulty coping with daily stresses, maintaining healthy relationships, or responding appropriately to various situations. In most cases, these patterns emerge in adolescence or early adulthood and are long-lasting. This condition can seriously affect a teenager’s day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life.

Types of Personality Disorders in Teens

There are several types of personality disorders in teens that require proper diagnosis and treatment. These types are often placed into one of three clusters: Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Cluster A disorders are marked by odd and eccentric thoughts and behaviors. They include the following types:

Schizoid Personality Disorder: This disorder is marked by a lack of interest in social relationships, an inclination towards solo activities, and emotional detachment from others. Teens with schizoid personality disorder often prefer to isolate themselves from family, friends, and society at large.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: This condition involves severe social anxiety, odd behaviors, paranoid thoughts, and unusual perceptions—such as hearing voices. Teens diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder may convey unconventional beliefs and experience brief intervals of psychosis.

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Paranoid personality disorder occurs when teens have a distrust of others, believing they are being deceived or threatened—though they do not have evidence of such. They may avoid confiding in other people, hold grudges, and interpret innocent comments negatively.

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Cluster B Personality Disorders

Cluster B disorders are the most prevalent among teens. They are associated with being overly emotional, unpredictable, and dramatic. The specifics of each type of Cluster B personality disorder are outlined below.

Borderline Personality Disorder: Teens with this condition experience unstable relationships, self-image, and emotions. This often occurs along with intense bouts of anger, anxiety, and depression. These episodes range from lasting hours to days. In severe cases, they may include suicidal threats or engage in self-harm.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Narcissistic personality disorder is often associated with an enlarged sense of self-importance. As a result, they may crave excessive admiration and struggle with empathy and relationships.
Histrionic Personality Disorder: This disorder involves intensified emotions and a deep desire for validation. Teens may feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention. In many cases, they use their looks to attract it and display quick, superficial changes in their mood.
Antisocial Personality Disorder: This disorder involves a pattern of violating others’ rights, starting by age 15, with behaviors like deceit, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and little to no remorse. Key characteristics include recklessness, irresponsibility, and a disregard for safety.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Cluster C disorders involve anxious and fearful thoughts and behaviors. Though Cluster C disorders are not common amongst teens, they are possible. The following disorders fall under the Cluster C category.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): OCPD is driven by a need for order, perfection, and control—often at the cost of flexibility and productivity. Those diagnosed with OCPD may become so absorbed in their work that they neglect hobbies and relationships.
Dependent Personality Disorder: Teens with this disorder are overly dependent. This results in possessive and clingy behaviors as well as a fear of abandonment. They may have trouble making everyday decisions without seeking constant advice and reassurance from others.
Avoidant Personality Disorder: This type of personality disorder is marked by intense social anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, poor self-esteem, and a disproportionate sensitivity to criticism or rejection. As a result, teens may avoid social or work activities and hesitate to engage with others.

Warning Signs of a Personality Disorder in Teenagers

It is crucial to be aware of the warning signs associated with personality disorders in teens, so that you can recognize them in your loved one and get them the help they need. Common indicators that your teenager may be struggling with this condition include:

Social isolation and withdrawal
Inability to establish or maintain relationships
Increased defensiveness (this can manifest in verbal attacks, abrasive language, or a general sense of contempt)
Continuous depression
Being unable to trust others
Showing an increased sense of paranoia or level of suspicion

Diagnosing Personality Disorders in Teens

Diagnosing personality disorders in teens can be complex given that adolescence is a time of psychological and emotional growth. Teenagers are continuing to develop their sense of self and commonly experience mood swings or behaviors that seem extreme—though they are usual for their age. However, when these patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving are persistent and clearly causing distress or dysfunction in relationships or daily life, they may indicate the presence of a personality disorder.

Properly diagnosing a personality disorder involves a comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional. This may consist of interviews, observations, and input from loved ones. It’s critical to distinguish between normal developmental challenges and the more ingrained and dysfunctional traits associated with personality disorders to ensure proper treatment and support.

Our Personality Disorder Treatment Programs

At Hillcrest, we offer comprehensive treatment programs designed to meet the needs of teenagers dealing with personality disorders. Within our programs, we provide an integrated approach that combines evidence-based modalities, experiential therapies, and holistic healing strategies. This ensures that the individuals in our care receive the mental, emotional, and physical healing they deserve. Specific programs offered at our California-based center are highlighted below.

Residential Treatment

Also referred to as inpatient rehab, residential treatment allows individuals to overcome challenges away from the stresses and triggers of the outside world. While in this type of programming, clients live at our secure and comfortable care facility. There, they receive around-the-clock supervision and support. This immersive approach allows teens to step away from the pressures of society and focus on what really matters: recovery.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is designed as the ideal step down from residential treatment. It allows clients to continue their recovery progress while integrating a limited amount of freedom into their schedules. Teens are able to reside at home while attending treatment sessions five days a week for the majority of the day. This is also an option for those who do not feel comfortable living away from their home environment.

How To Help Your Teen With A Personality Disorder

Teens who exhibit any symptoms of personality disorders require early and proper diagnosis and effective treatment. The best way to help your teen with a personality disorder is to do everything in your power to support them and advocate for their needs. This includes helping them find professional treatment—which will most likely consist of a combination of medication and therapy.

Specifically, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are commonly used in treating teens with personality disorders. These behavioral therapies focus on developing skills such as social interaction, emotional regulation, tolerance, and distress management. Family involvement is also a prevalent part of treating personality disorders in teens.

Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) is another therapeutic approach that has had positive results in helping those with personality disorders. MBT involves helping teenagers to understand and reflect on their thoughts and behaviors—including their senses, desires, beliefs, and intentions.

Why Hillcrest?

Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is a residential rehabilitation facility designed to effectively address personality disorders in teens. With its exceptional professional team and tranquil setting, your loved one’s sensitivities will be considered and individually treated. Our personalized approach meets your teen’s specific needs while helping them acquire tools to deal with the stress and anxiety triggered in their daily lives.

Furthermore, we believe that healing is accelerated when all states of being are nurtured. Hillcrest provides a healing environment that is multi-faceted, including the ultimate balance of elegant accommodation, expansive green space, nutritious meals, and wholesome healing programs. Overall, we strive to ensure that recovery is deep-rooted and long-lasting for every individual who walks through our doors.

Services we provide include:

Find Effective Personality Disorder Treatment in California

We understand how badly you want your teenager to succeed in every aspect of their lives. That’s why we offer effective personality disorder treatment to help them establish a healthy, constructive way of thinking and behaving. Our compassionate team is highly educated and experienced in treating mental health disorders. We promise to do everything in our power to help your teen achieve their greatest potential. To learn more about the services we offer or to get started today, give us a call or visit our admissions page.