Can personality disorder be cured?

Personality disorder is a clinical diagnosis often made by mental health professionals to refer to emotional, physical, and behavioral conditions. Patients with these kinds of difficulties are not completely cured because complete remission of symptoms is impossible, but they can develop improvements in quality of life over time. 

In general terms, this depends on several factors that come into play when understanding the person who decides to consult a specialist. Despite the theoretical investigations carried out on this subject over the years, there are still many doubts about this concept, a consequence of the stereotypes that circulate in social spheres and that can lead to confusion.

Can a personality disorder be cured?

Personality disorders do not have a definitive cure that allows a person to live without the difficulties caused by this clinical condition. In other words, someone who suffers from symptoms, inhibitions, impulses and other types of alterations can experience significant improvements if they can treat the problem, but this does not mean that complications can be avoided in the future.

In serious cases, if there is no approach to it, a personality disease can last a lifetime. However, the duration may be less in other cases, since some people have unfavourable behaviours, emotions and thoughts for a few months or years.

In general, a personality condition comprises any clinical pathology that has been included within the parameters established by the most important diagnostic manuals. The DSM-V ^[1] encompasses several categories that respond to the mental functioning of a human being in the development of his daily life.

How to cure a personality disorder

A personality disorder can be addressed through various specific methods that are highly effective in remitting symptoms. Here are some of the most important ones:

Psychotherapy

Psychological treatments work on the symptoms that cause conflicts to the person in the development of their daily life. Beyond the fact that there are many approaches, cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the main alternatives for patients who are diagnosed with a personality disorder.

In general terms, tools are developed there to cope with stress and anxiety situations more pleasantly. This is done from practical instructions that guide the patient to conflict resolution. After a certain period of sessions, the intensity of the main symptoms usually decreases.

On the other hand, psychoanalysis is another type of psychotherapy that seeks to locate the origins of each problem to face moments of daily life. To do this, the patient speaks freely and the unconscious aspects that appear in her words are taken.

Psychiatric medication

In certain cases, the intake of drugs is necessary to modify the neural connections of a human being with this diagnosis. The type of psychiatric medication that each patient consumes will be determined by the particular clinical picture that he presents.

Supportive Services

Supportive services encompass a wide range of resources and programs designed to offer assistance, guidance, and aid to individuals or communities facing diverse challenges. These services aim to provide practical support, emotional assistance, and access to resources that help improve well-being, cope with difficulties, or navigate specific circumstances.

Family and Social Support

Family and social support refer to the networks, relationships, and resources available within families, communities, or social circles that offer assistance, encouragement, and stability to individuals facing challenges or in need of help.

Family Support: This involves the support and care provided by immediate and extended family members. It encompasses emotional support, guidance, understanding, and practical assistance that family members offer to each other during difficult times. Family support can include financial help, providing a nurturing environment, offering advice, and being a source of love and companionship.

Social Support: Social support extends beyond the family unit and involves assistance, empathy, and connections offered by friends, neighbours, colleagues, or community members. It encompasses emotional, informational, instrumental (practical), and sometimes even financial aid that individuals receive from their social networks. Social support can come in various forms, such as listening and offering advice, lending a helping hand, providing resources, or simply being there to share experiences.

Consistent Treatment

Consistent treatment refers to a continuous, uninterrupted, and regular approach to healthcare or therapy aimed at managing a condition, illness, or mental health issue over an extended period. It involves following a planned course of action, attending appointments or sessions as scheduled, and adhering to recommended therapies or medications as directed by healthcare professionals.

Consistency in treatment is essential for achieving optimal results and managing various health conditions effectively. It involves:

1. Regular Appointments: Attending healthcare appointments or therapy sessions at scheduled intervals without missing or skipping them. This ensures ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment of the treatment plan as needed.
2. Adherence to Treatment Plan: Following the prescribed course of action outlined by healthcare providers, which may include medication regimens, therapy exercises, lifestyle modifications, or other recommendations. Consistent adherence is crucial for the effectiveness of the treatment.
3. Open Communication: Maintaining open and honest communication with healthcare professionals, discussing any concerns, changes in symptoms, or challenges experienced during treatment. This helps in adjusting the treatment plan to better suit the individual’s needs.

What happens if the personality disorder is not treated

The lack of treatment for personality disorders can aggravate the duration and intensity of symptoms that a patient presents and give rise to the manifestation of other derived problems. Here we show you the main drawbacks:

• Deterioration of interpersonal relationships: behaviour patterns can seriously affect the quality of a person’s social, work, and family ties. In turn, social isolation and the persistence of conflicts in various spheres of life could increase.
• Low self-esteem: the unpleasant thoughts that someone with a precise diagnosis of a personality condition has can increase the development of negative ideas about one’s image. In this manner, low self-esteem is constructed that stays indefinitely.
• Other Mental Health Disorders: Lack of emotional support can directly cause complex physical, emotional, and behavioural manifestations. In short, this could lead to long-lasting personality crises.
• Substance abuse and legal difficulties – Medication use could be a stimulus for health issues. In turn, the lack of emotional regulation is the cause of problems with authorities due to the presence of impulsive behaviours.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Personality disorders can’t be fully cured, but treatments like therapy and medication can help a lot. They teach people how to manage their symptoms and have better lives. It’s a process, and while the disorder might not completely go away, people can still improve and live well with support and treatment.

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