Understanding Cluster A: Odd and Eccentric

Having a cluster A personality disorder means that you find it difficult to relate to or feel suspicious about other people. You might be viewed by others as odd or eccentric. Cluster A personality disorder can be broken down into the following:

Paranoid Personality Disorder

You might feel suspicious of others for no reason. You may feel people are lying or being unkind to you when this isn’t true. You may feel easily rejected. This can make it difficult to trust others, even friends. You may find it difficult to forgive insults and will bear grudges.

Shizoid Personality Disorder

With schizoid personality disorder, you may have few social relationships and/or little interest in forming social relationships, prefering to be alone. You might actually be very shy, but other people may think you are quite cold and distant.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder is where you have problems relationships with other people. You may have strange thoughts, feel paranoid and see or hear things that aren’t there. You may find making close relationships extremely difficult. You might feel very anxious around others. Others may see your behaviour and reactions to emotions as inappropriate. You may be described as being ‘eccentric’.

Understanding Cluster B: Dramatic and Erratic

Cluster B personality disorders are grouped based on those who find it difficult to control their emotions. You might be viewed as unpredictable by others. Cluster B personality disorder can be broken down into the following:

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Being diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) may mean you are impulsive, reckless and do not think about how your actions affect other people. You may get easily frustrated, aggressive and be prone to violence. You may do things to get what you want. Others may see this as acting selfishly and without guilt.

Borderline Personality Disorder

If you diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), sometimes called ‘Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder’(EUPD) You may have strong emotions, mood swings, and feelings you can’t cope with. You may feel anxious and distressed a lot of the time. You may have problems with how you see yourself and your identity. You might be very sensitive to rejection. You may self-harm or use drugs and alcohol to cope with these feelings. This can affect the relationships you have with other people. Others might find you unpredictable.

Histrionic personality disorder

If you are diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, you may like being the centre of attention. You may feel anxious about being ignored. This can cause you to be animated and over-dramatic. You may become bored with normal routines, worry a lot about your appearance and want to be noticed.

Narcissistic personality disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder can mean you have a high sense of self-importance. You may fantasise about unlimited success and want attention and admiration. You may feel you are more entitled to things than other people are. You might act selfishly to gain success. You may do this because inside, you don’t feel significant or important.

Understanding Cluster C: Anxious and Fearful

People with cluster C personality disorders have strong feelings of fear or anxiety. You might appear withdrawn to other people. Cluster B personality disorder can be broken down into the following:

Dependent personality disorder

If you have dependent personality disorder, you may allow other people to take responsibility for parts of your life. You may not have much self-confidence or be unable to do things or make choices alone. You may find that you put your own needs after the needs of others. You may feel hopeless or fear being alone.

Avoidant personality disorder

If you have avoidant personality disorder, you may have a fear of being judged negatively. This can cause you to feel uncomfortable in social situations. You might not like criticism, worry a lot and have low self-esteem. You may want affection but worry that you will be rejected.

Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder

If you have this condition, you may feel anxious about things that seem unorganised or ‘messy’. Everything you do must be just right, and nothing can be left to chance. You may be very cautious about things and think a lot about small details. Others may see you as being controlling.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is different to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, you may believe your actions are justified. People with OCD tend to realise that their behaviour is not rational.

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