Introducing Personality Disorders to add to one of your characters III

In case you plan to add a personality disorder to one of your characters, I thought it might be an idea to list the ten major PD’s, separated in three cluster types and a list of symptoms.

 

In my last blog post, I have provided you with the Cluster types B of Personality disorders. To repeat the differences real quick, you will find here below the different Cluster types again:

 

Cluster A (Odd, bizarre, eccentric)

Paranoid PD, Schizoid PD, Schizotypal PD

 

Cluster B (Dramatic, erratic)

Antisocial PD, Borderline PD, Histrionic PD, Narcissistic PD

 

Cluster C (Anxious, fearful)

Avoidant PD, Dependent PD, Obsessive-compulsive PD

 

 

Cluster C types

Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior. They include avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It’s not necessary to exhibit all the signs and symptoms listed for a disorder to be diagnosed.

According to the Mayo Clinic here is a short list of symptoms to each personality disorder of Cluster B:

 

Avoidant personality disorder

• Too sensitive to criticism or rejection
• Feeling inadequate, inferior or unattractive
• Avoidance of work activities that require interpersonal contact
• Social inhibition, timidity, and isolation, especially avoiding new activities or meeting strangers
• Extreme shyness in social situations and personal relationships
• Fear of disapproval, embarrassment or ridicule

 

Dependent personality disorder

• Excessive dependence on others and feels the need to be taken care of
• Submissive or clingy behavior toward others
• Fear of having to provide self-care or fend for yourself if left alone
• Lack of self-confidence, requiring excessive advice and reassurance from others to make even small decisions
• Difficulty starting or doing projects on own due to lack of self-confidence
• Difficulty disagreeing with others, fearing disapproval
• Tolerance of poor or abusive treatment, even when other options are available
• Urgent need to start a new relationship when a close one has ended

 

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

• Preoccupation with details, orderliness, and rules
• Extreme perfectionism, resulting in dysfunction and distress when perfection is not achieved, such as feeling unable to finish a project because you don’t meet your own strict standards
• Desire to be in control of people, tasks and situations and inability to delegate tasks
• Neglect of friends and enjoyable activities because of excessive commitment to work or a project
• Inability to discard broken or worthless objects
• Rigid and stubborn
• Inflexible about morality, ethics or values
• Tight, miserly control over budgeting and spending money

 

To get an overview of the Cluster C types, you will find here below the infographic:

These were my lists of the ten known personality disorders. I hope I have created some overview for you which might make it easy to add one of these personality disorders to one of your fictional characters.

If you like to read more about these particular mental health disabilities, please use the “sources links.”

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Sources :

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/the-10-personality-disorders

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/basics/symptoms/con-20030111