It is estimated that over 9% of adults in the United States have a personality disorder. Despite the high number, many people who are living with this type of disorder don’t realize they have a treatable mental health concern.

Often, an individual with a personality disorder views their way of behaving and thinking as natural. This is, in part, because they have adapted to their own perceptions and because some personality disorders skew the person’s ability to view situations realistically.

What Is a Personality Disorder?

Personality disorders are a group of mental health disorders that can cause people to have unhealthy, unrealistic, or rigid ways of thinking and behaving. The many types of personality disorders are divided into three “clusters.”

Cluster A types include:

• Schizoid personality disorder

• Paranoid personality disorder

• Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B types include:

• Borderline personality disorder

• Antisocial personality disorder

• Narcissistic personality disorder

• Histrionic personality disorder

Cluster C types include:

• Dependent personality disorder

• Avoidant personality disorder

• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Without interventions, the symptoms associated with personality disorders will continue to worsen. Personality disorders can stand in the way of keeping steady work, maintaining healthy relationships, and living a safe, healthy lifestyle. Online therapy is an effective and convenient choice for managing the symptoms that are preventing you from living a fulfilling life.

Symptoms of Personality Disorders

Symptoms typically begin during the late teens or early adulthood. They can be mild to severe and may change over time. While there are several different types of personality disorders, many of them share the same symptoms, which include:

• Self-esteem issues, both low self-esteem and inflated self-esteem

• Inconsistent values and behaviors depending on surroundings (abusive at home but polite at work)

• Unhealthy, explosive, or short-lived romantic relationships

• A lack of empathy

• Unhealthy boundaries and disrespecting the boundaries of others

• Irresponsible or abusive parenting habits

• Inability to regulate emotions, angry outbursts, or mood swings

• Poor coping mechanisms for stress

• Lack of self-awareness

• Consistent problems at work, can’t keep a job, or frequently disciplined

If you recognize yourself or someone you care about in this list of symptoms, reach out for professional help. Because of the stigmas attached to mental health concerns, many people are understandably hesitant to find the care they need.

An online psychiatrist can provide the same high-quality level of care, including prescribing medications, as in-person therapy, without the risk of compromising your privacy.

A combination of factors is responsible for causing personality disorders. Our worldviews and self-perceptions are formed during childhood, and children who are abused, neglected, or live in chaotic households are at higher risk for developing a personality disorder.

Other factors include genetics, brain chemistry, and a family history of personality disorders or other mental health disorders.

Online Therapy for Personality Disorders

Online therapy works similarly to traditional therapy. It begins with an evaluation of your health history and a discussion of the challenges you are currently experiencing.

MindRx professionals are doctoral-level nurse practitioners or providers who are fully trained and licensed to provide mental health care. They can prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests if needed to rule out any medical causes for your symptoms.

Like in-person therapy, it can take more than one try to find a provider you feel fully comfortable with. Once your diagnosis is clear and you begin online therapy, your provider may try a number of different therapeutic approaches, including:

• Behavior modification therapy

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

• Dialectical behavior therapy

• Group therapy

• Transference-focused psychotherapy

• Psychoeducation

• STEPPS (system training for emotional predictability and problem solving)

Medications such as anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics may also be recommended. Combining different psychotherapy techniques with medication is the most common approach to treating personality disorders.

Benefits of Seeing an Online Psychiatrist for Personality Disorders

Seeking an online psychiatrist for personality disorders or other mental health concerns provides many benefits. In addition to maintaining your privacy, other benefits include:

• Accessibility: People in rural areas and those with disabilities or transportation issues that make it difficult to leave home can access mental health care regularly with online therapy

• Cost-Effective: Without the overhead of an expensive office, fees for an online psychiatrist are typically lower than for in-person treatment

• Convenience: There is no need to leave home, and you can make appointments that fit your schedule

Online therapy offers the opportunity to build a support network no matter where you are located. If your therapist feels it might be helpful to include a close friend or family member in your session, that can be accomplished wherever that person is currently located.

Online therapy for personality disorders provides the same effective, evidence-based therapies you would receive in a psychiatrist’s office but with many other benefits.

What Is Online Medication Management for Personality Disorders?

It is not unusual for people with personality disorders or other mental health challenges to have difficulty managing their prescription medications. They may forget to take them or not take them at the right time. This can lead to misuse or abuse of potentially addictive substances.

A lack of communication with their healthcare provider can also leave patients struggling with symptoms when medications don’t work as expected.

Online medication management for personality disorders helps to ensure medications are received on schedule and taken as directed. The ease of online appointments increases opportunities for communication between a patient and their provider. If the patient is experiencing unpleasant side effects or doesn’t feel the medications are helping their symptoms, the treatment plan can be quickly adjusted.

The benefits of online medication management include increased patient satisfaction, better response time, and a more customized approach to personality disorder treatment.

Get the Help You Need with MindRx

If you are experiencing symptoms of a personality disorder, reach out to the caring professionals at MindRx. We understand how difficult it can be to ask for help. Personality disorders can affect your perception and make it difficult to understand your dysfunctional behavior.

Online therapy for personality disorders provides a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can get the support you need to build satisfying relationships and feel positive about the direction your life is going in.