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Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is a pattern of feelings, thoughts, and behaviours that affect the way you understand yourself and react to the world around you. A person with a personality disorder has trouble relating to situations and people, which causes problems in relationships, social activities, work, and school. Personality disorders usually begin in the teenage years or early adulthood, and you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you. 

 

What is normal?

Each of us has a unique personality that is formed by both our genetics and life experiences. And all of us may experience some of the characteristics of personality disorders from time to time in our lives. But in an actual personality disorder, certain personality traits are unusually extreme and inflexible, and they negatively affect your day-to-day life.

 

What are common signs and symptoms?

Symptoms depend on the type of disorder you’re experiencing.

 

Three personality disorders describe people with social avoidance or low sociability:

  • Paranoid Personality Disorder—a tendency to mistrust others and suspect that their motives are hurtful
  • Schizoid Personality Disorder—a tendency to not be able to relate to other people and have a restricted range of emotional expression
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder—a tendency to feel very uncomfortable in close relationships, and to have odd or distorted thoughts or perceptions

 

Four types of personality disorders describe people who are highly emotional and dramatic in social situations, and react to feelings with impulsive or spur-of-the-moment behaviour:

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder—when one persistently ignores and violates the rights of others
  • Borderline Personality Disorder—a tendency to have unstable relationships, intense mood changes, rapidly shifting self-image, high levels of anxiety, including chronic worrying and intense panic, and noticeably impulsive behaviour
  • Histrionic Personality Disorder—a tendency to be highly emotional in social situations
  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder—a pattern of feeling overly important, needing admiration from others and having a lack of empathy

 

Three personality disorders describe people who seem very cautious and fearful:

  • Avoidant Personality Disorder—includes extreme shyness, feeling inadequate, and being very sensitive to criticism
  • Dependent Personality Disorder—involves a tendency of needing to be led in making decisions, clinging to others, and having an extreme need to be taken care of
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder—a pattern of constantly needing things to be orderly and of wanting to be in control

 

Should I seek help?

If you have any signs or symptoms of a personality disorder, see your doctor or a mental health professional. If untreated, personality disorders can cause significant problems in your life that may get worse.

Tools

Mental Health 101

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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Knowledge is power. This series of free online tutorials is a starting point for learning about mental health.​ You can come away with a greater understanding of the mental health concern you are interested in knowing more about. The tutorials can...

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37 Program(s)

Access Wellness Nova Scotia

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Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families. 

Sessions can be held over the phone, online with video, or in-person. People can speak with a qualified professional and learn strategies...

Adults / Seniors / Youth

Mental Health Acute Day Hospital

The Mental Health Acute Day Hospital cares for people with intense mental health issues or concerns. We offer:

  • More closely monitored care than what is offered by community MHA clinics
  • Support after you are discharged from an inpatient psychiatric...
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Adults

IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program

IWK
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The IWK Mental Health and  Addictions Program provides specialized care throughout the province for children and youth up until their 19th birthday within a patient and family...

Children / Youth

Canadian Mental Health Association - Colchester East Hants Branch

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The Canadian Mental Health Association, Colchester East Hants Branch provides public education, advocacy, and a resource center to support the resiliency and recovery of people...

Adults / Seniors

Canadian Mental Health Association - Halifax-Dartmouth Branch

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The Canadian Mental Health Association, Halifax-Dartmouth Branch works at the community level and facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve...

Adults / Seniors

Canadian Mental Health Association - Nova Scotia Division

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Canadian Mental Health Associations in Nova Scotia are the oldest community-based mental health and addictions charitable organizations in the province, founded in 1908. The CMHA...

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Adults / Seniors

Healthy Minds Cooperative

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Healthy Minds Cooperative is an innovative mental health cooperative that provides a variety of peer-based services to people with lived experience of mental health issues and to...

Adults / Seniors

Hope for Wellness HelpLine

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The Hope for Wellness HelpLine offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent...

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First Nations, Indigenous

Eskasoni Mental Health

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Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS) provides a wide range of services to the Mi’kmaq people of Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Tui'kn Residential School Survivor Team...

Adults / Seniors / Youth
First Nations, Indigenous

Caregivers Nova Scotia

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Caregivers Nova Scotia provides free programs, services, information, and advocacy for family and friend caregivers. We are dedicated to providing recognition and practical assistance to friends and family giving care.

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Caregiver, Family

211

211
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211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that can connect you to thousands of programs and services offered by local community groups, nonprofits and government departments across Nova Scotia, 24/7.

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Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services - Mental Health Programs and Services

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Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is responsible for administering Non-Public Property (NPP) on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and for delivering...

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Canadian Forces, RCMP

Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service

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Veterans Affairs provide targeted services and benefits to improve well-being including support and services related to your physical and mental health and wellness.The VAC...

Adults / Seniors
Canadian Forces, RCMP

Families Matter in Mental Health

This service is not administered by Nova Scotia Health Authority. Service Information may be incorrect and/or out of date. Confirm details with the service provider.

Families Matter in Mental Health is an 11-week education and support program for family or friends who are providing practical and/or emotional support to someone who has a...

Adults
Caregiver, Family

Transition Hall

Transition Hall is a recovery-oriented service designed to support individuals diagnosed with a mental illness, and experiencing significant functional challenges, who would benefit from psychosocial and recovery focused care in a 24/7 setting.

Adults

Community Support Service (Child and Adolescent)

The Community Support Program is for school aged children and adolescents registered with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health program.

The program supports the work of the...

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Health Psychology

Health Psychology offers psychological interventions for those with chronic and acute health conditions. The main focus is on the patient's mental and emotional reaction to an illness or their recovery from an illness.

Adults

Wellness Court

Wellness Court Programs are specialty or problem-solving courts, where a team of professionals helps treat the issues contributing to the individual coming into conflict with the...

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Adults

Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit

The Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit is for individuals over the age of 65 with a new onset of mental illness or for individuals of any age with dementia and complicated medical and/or psychological symptoms.

Seniors

Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Program

Seniors mental health services provide assessment, consultation and treatments to:

  • seniors aged 65 and older for a new onset of mental health challenges
  • individuals of any age...
Seniors

DaRT Program

The Dynamic (attachment-focused) Relational Therapy Program (DaRT) is a part-time six week intensive group psychotherapy program. It is a treatment program that is designed to support adults who have experienced complex emotional trauma resulting in...

Adults

Adult Neurodevelopmental Stabilization Unit - Dual Diagnosis Program (Intellectual Disability in combination with Mental Illness)

The Adult Neurodevelopmental Stabilization Unit (ANSU) is an acute care unit that provides services for persons with intellectual disability and acute mental illness that cannot...

Adults

Community Transition Program (CTP)

The Community Transition Program (CTP) helps adults who have complex (mental and physical) health and behavioural challenges, and residential/social support needs. The goal is to...

Adults

Inpatient Mental Health Services

Inpatient mental health services are available for those who cannot be safely assessed, diagnosed and stabilized in the community. 

Adults / Seniors

Crossroads Clubhouse

Crossroads Cape Breton is community organized to support people living with mental illness in reclaiming and enhancing their lives. People are referred to as “members” because...

Adults / Seniors

Community Support Service (Adults)

The Community Support Teams for Adults/Community Supports for Adults supports individuals living with persistent mental illness to develop and maintain a safe, satisfying quality...

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