When you hear some professionals talk about BPD you will often hear them referring to it as a ‘Cluster B’ style personality disorder. But what does that even mean? Well, it is a sort of classification of sorts and there are 3 main clusters. In this post, I will go over the 3 main clusters and what each of them means with a heavier POV based around Cluster B. So if you would like to know more do read on…
What are Cluster A Personality Disorders?
While there are many more disorders that I will name here the three main ones in this cluster are…
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Cluster A personality disorders are conditions in which you might describe someone as being a little odd or unusual, someone who is often called eccentric is also part of this cluster. While they mostly have control of their emotions their brain still develops distrust or suspicion of people and things around them. While they are aware of what they are doing their psychosis can often make them think strange, paranoia filled thoughts.
What are Cluster B Personality Disorders?
While those who suffer from a Cluster B personality often show the same signs as Cluster. The main difference here is everything is ramped up a little and there is very little control over their emotions. The main disorders in this cluster are as follows…
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
The main difference between a Cluster A and a Cluster B is the lack of control. With powerful, dramatic emotions going from one extreme to another often changing within a few short hours. There is a lot less thinking when it comes to Cluster B Personality Disorders and this often results in those who suffer from them losing control on a regular bases and even getting to the point that they feel they can’t go on with it any more (hence the high suicide percentage in this cluster).
Sadly of all of the clusters Cluster B personality disorders are the hardest to treat as talk-based therapies like CBT and DBT are often about controlling your own thoughts and actions with this cluster often doesn’t have control over. This is also why psychical medication is also most common with this cluster.
What are Cluster C Personality Disorders?
And the last cluster is one that is filled with personality disorders that are mostly consumed with anxious, negative and fearful thinking. Just to make some of them…
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Dependent Personality Disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder
While many of them have life-altering consequences most of them are completely curable and indeed manageable with many different therapies like hypnotherapy and exposure and response prevention (ERP) this is because many people with a personality disorder in this cluster do have complete control over their mind, it is just that they relating other thoughts alongside normal thoughts. So when someone with Avoidant personality disorder for an example avoids work or school, it is not because their emotions are out of control like a Cluster B personality disorder, rather they are having 2ndary thoughts mixed in with their normal ones.
After reading that I hope some people understand that each of those clusters are troublesome in their own right, but having a Cluster B personality disorder is the worst of them all. If you have any other questions relating to BPD or would just like some advice on the disorder do get in touch with us via the contact us page. It’s easy to do, we are both responsive and confidential, plus we never save any of your details in any way.
