How to Prevent Personality Disorders

While the majority of personality disorders cannot be properly diagnosed until adulthood, the root causes of such disorders are often related to behavioral patterns that can be traced back to one's childhood or adolescence. By being aware of these behavioral patterns, and by taking an active role in changing them, you may be able to prevent a personality disorder from being created. Read on to learn how to prevent personality disorders.

Things You'll Need

• DSM-IV diagnostic manual
• Psychiatrist or psychologist

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Instructions

• 1

  Obtain a copy of the DSM-IV diagnostic manual, which defines all of the medical standards set by the American Psychiatric Association for evaluating patients. This will help you become familiar with all 10 types of personality disorders recognized by the DSM-IV. You will be able to identify the symptoms and behavior patterns that may indicate a personality disorder. The DSM-IV is available in the reference sections of most major bookstores and from various online resources. See the Resources section below for a link.

• 2

  Pay attention to specific behavioral patterns that might emerge during childhood or adolescence that may indicate the onset of a personality disorder. These include a preference for solitude, a constant need for approval, excessive belief in magic or superstition, an extremely poor sense of self-esteem, attention-seeking behavior, inappropriate or sexually suggestive remarks, feelings of distrust or suspicion, unrealistic feelings of either superiority or inferiority and many more.

• 3

  Consult with a qualified mental health care professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, if you recognize symptoms of a personality disorder in others or even yourself. While it is difficult to self-diagnose when it comes to many types of personality disorders, due to the delusional nature of many of these conditions, many individuals seek help when they notice extreme difficulty in dealing with their everyday lives.

• 4

  Prevent personality disorders by maintaining your interpersonal relationships, and by being open to feedback from your family and friends about any changes in your behavior. Many personality disorders tend to accelerate in intensity once an individual breaks off contact with others.

• 5

  Find a support group in your community that is related to the personality disorder in question. This is an excellent way to learn new skill sets when it comes to interpersonal relationships, and to prevent symptoms from getting worse. It is also an affordable way to address a personality disorder if you cannot afford psychotherapy.