Being a teen is all about shaping one’s personality. Your teen is trying to figure out what’s important to them, how they want to be perceived by others and how their attitude will affect their goals. However, it’s possible for teens to develop mental health conditions that cause them to think, act and feel in a way that strays from what is expected. 

Personality disorders can cause behavioral, emotional and thought patterns that interfere with a teen’s ability to effectively manage their emotions, maintain healthy relationships with others and navigate stressful situations. When it comes to adolescents, the DSM-5-TR recommends caution when diagnosing personality disorders in adolescents unless the patterns have been present for at least one year and are not better explained by normal developmental changes.

However, by learning about the different types of personality disorder traits and how they might impact your teen, you can ensure that they get the treatment they need if the patterns develop.

4 types of personality disorder traits that can impact a teen’s life

Mental health conditions are anything but straightforward. Every person with mental health distress has different symptoms, triggers and coping strategies. There are more than 200 diagnosable mental health conditions determined by the DSM-5-TR. When it comes to personality disorders in particular, there are 10 types of identifiable personality disorders that can develop in teens. They’re categorized into three clusters.

• Cluster A — Eccentric personalities
• Cluster B — Dramatic personalities
• Cluster C — Anxious personalities

We’re going to focus on four types of potential personality disorder traits that may appear in adolescence and how they can manifest in their everyday life:

1. Narcissistic personality disorder (Cluster B) is characterized by a person having a heightened sense of self-importance. Symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder include:

• Bragging about achievements with exaggeration
• Being sensitive to criticism
• Having a lack of empathy toward others
• Believing that people are envious of them

Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms in a teen can manifest as entitled behavior that makes them crave time and attention from others. This can affect the quality of their relationships as well as their ability to emotionally handle difficult situations in life that don’t benefit them.

2. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (Cluster C) is characterized by a need for control to meet high or unrealistic expectations that a person sets for themselves. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder include:

• Rigid routines that cause anxiety if they are disrupted
• Striving for “perfection,” which doesn’t exist
• Excessive work ethic 
• Micromanagement of others

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder in a teen can result in them working on school or side projects to the point of mental exhaustion or burnout. Their difficulty with being flexible can lead to them being emotionally or mentally unable to cope with unpredictable life situations.

3. Antisocial personality disorder (Cluster B) is characterized by negative emotions, thoughts and behaviors that disregard the feelings of others. Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder include:

• Lack of remorse
• Manipulation of others for self-gain
• Impulsive or dangerous behavior
• Aggression and anger

Antisocial personality disorder can cause a teen to have a very careless attitude toward the feelings and safety of others. It’s possible that they’ll engage in criminal activity without feeling guilty, such as stealing and property destruction.

4. With avoidant personality disorder (Cluster C), a fear of rejection can lead to anxiety in social situations and difficulty establishing a sense of self. Symptoms of avoidant personality disorder include:

• Avoidance of situations or activities that require talking to others
• Low self-esteem
• Sensitivity to criticism
• Difficulty trying new things

Avoidant personality disorder can have a significant impact on a teen’s ability to form social connections, which is important for their personal development. They may also struggle with their self-image, affecting their ability to go after their dreams and passions.

Lightfully Teen can help your teen manage a personality disorder

Any personality disorder can affect teens differently, but they all require proper support and treatment. Personality disorders are often treated with a combination of medication and therapy. While medication isn’t a primary treatment for personality disorders, they can help with co-occurring symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or mood instability. Without treatment, personality disorders can interfere with a teen’s productivity, their relationships with others and their future goals.

At Lightfully Teen, we can provide teens with personality disorders support beyond medication and regular therapy sessions. Our intensive treatment can provide them with a deeper understanding of their disorder’s symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, and help them develop the skills they need to manage their symptoms on a day-to-day basis.

We have three levels of care can help teens navigate their mental health:

• Residential Treatment 
• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Intensive Outpatient Program

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step for your teen, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.