ardramina asked this question on 4/4/2000:

What would characterize a personality disorder? Is there a different treatment that you would focus on for a personality disorder as opposed to depression? I feel like I tend to fixate on things alot and focus on negative thoughts rather than positive ones. I wonder if this is partly a personality disorder or just mild depression?

karunap gave this response on 4/4/2000:

Everyone has personality traits that are bothersome to oneself and/or others. Personality disorders however are when these traits become stable patterns. They are rigid and maladaptive. They cause significant personal distress and impair ability to live in the world.

I would not worry about having a personality disorder.... just work on your depression and your tendency to focus on the negative. You can brainwash yourself with negative thinking and it will pull you down fast.

Work on releasing rather than stuffing your feelings. Spend 15-60 minutes a day doing things like writing lists of mads, sads, scares; journaling your feelings; writing letters to people you are angry with and then destroying them; screaming into a pool or pillow; twisting a towel.

Depression is usually blocked anger so that needs to be a major focus. Increase your support system.

I have clients with processes such as you brainwash themselves with positive thoughts. For example to use the affirmation "It is okay for me to make mistakes" and to say it to themselves (using a talley counter) 1,000-20,000 times a day. You would be shocked to see what benefits come!!

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