Personality Patterns & Other Difficulties
Understanding personality and personality patterns
Personality refers to the unique set of emotional, cognitive and behavioural tendencies that shape how a person relates to themselves, to others and to the world. Each of us has characteristic ways of thinking, feeling and behaving that remain relatively stable across situations and over time. These patterns are shaped by temperament, life experiences, relationships and the environments in which we grow and live.
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It is common to see parts of yourself in several personality descriptions. For example, you might recognise some perfectionism from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, some sensitivity to rejection from avoidant personality disorder and some emotional intensity seen in borderline patterns.
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That alone does not mean you have a personality disorder. These experiences belong to the normal range of human personality.
The difference is mainly in:
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how strong and inflexible the patterns are
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how early they appeared and how long they have lasted
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how much they affect daily life, relationships and functioning
What are personality disorders and how do they differ from personality traits?
A personality disorder describes long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling and relating that are very inflexible, persistent and cause significant difficulties in everyday life. These patterns usually begin in adolescence or early adulthood and affect several areas of functioning, such as relationships, emotional regulation, sense of self and decision-making.
The difference between personality traits and personality disorders is mainly about intensity and impact.
Many people recognise traits across different personality descriptions. This is normal and does not mean they have a disorder. A diagnosis is made only when the patterns are strong, long-lasting and cause significant distress or impairment. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose a personality disorder.
These are the specific personality traits or patterns and other related difficulties that we can work on together:
I do not provide treatment for Cluster A or Cluster B personality disorders or traits (chronic mistrust, emotional instability, narcissistic traits or antisocial behaviours, suicidality etc.) , as these typically require a more specialised care than the one I could offer.
Taking the First Step
Recognizing that certain long-standing personality patterns may be affecting your life is an important first step. If traits such as perfectionism, avoidance, dependency, self-criticism or persistent feelings of not being “good enough” are shaping your relationships, work or overall wellbeing, reaching out for support can make a meaningful difference. You do not have to navigate these patterns on your own, and you deserve help in understanding them and changing what no longer serves you.
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Therapy offers a safe and supportive space to explore these underlying patterns, understand where they come from and learn more flexible, compassionate ways of relating to yourself and others. With the right guidance, many people find they can reduce the distress these patterns create, build healthier habits and reconnect with parts of their life that once felt restricted.