Extreme emotional sensitivity disorder

Highly Sensitive Person | Psychology Today

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron. According to Aron’s theory, HSPs are a subset of the population who are high in a personality trait known as sensory-processing sensitivity, or SPS. Those with high levels of SPS display increased emotional sensitivity, stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli—pain, hunger, light, and noise—and a complex inner life.

Understanding High Sensitivity
Living as an HSP
Overlapping Traits and Disorders

Understanding High Sensitivity

The concept of high-sensitivity has gained traction in the years since Aron conceived of it, particularly as more and more people began to self-identify as highly sensitive. Overall, about 15 to 20 percent of the population are thought to be highly sensitive.

HSPs are thought to be more disturbed than others by violence, tension, or feelings of being overwhelmed. They may, as a result, make concerted efforts to avoid situations in which such things are likely to occur. On the more positive end of the trait, high sensitivity is thought to be linked to higher levels of creativity, richer personal relationships, and a greater appreciation for beauty.

Am I a highly sensitive person?

If you react strongly to criticism, become physically and emotionally overstimulated more easily than others do, and have a rich inner life, you may score highly in sensory processing sensitivity. You may also feel as if you have a higher capacity for empathy and are quite sensitive to others’ moods.

Why is my child so sensitive?

Children who cry easily, become overstimulated quickly, or who are highly distressed when others are in pain may have high sensory processing sensitivity, likely due to a mix of genetic and environmental factors. While such children can present challenges for caregivers, they are able to flourish in supportive environments.

How is high sensitivity measured?

The test to measure sensory sensitivity in the adult population is known as the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS). It was first developed and validated by Aron and her husband, Art Aron, in the 1990s, and is available on their website.

Is high sensitivity a disorder?

According to Aron’s conception of high sensitivity, it isn’t a mental health disorder; rather, it is defined, like other aspects of personality, as a trait that exists in each person to varying degrees. Despite some drawbacks associated with high sensitivity, evidence suggests it may also offer adaptive advantages.

What causes a person to be highly sensitive?

High sensitivity is thought to have genetic roots, and some specific gene variants have been associated with the trait. But early childhood environments may play a role as well; evidence suggests that early experiences may have an epigenetic effect on the genes associated with sensitivity.

Living with High Sensitivity

Being a highly sensitive person can come with many challenges. HSPs may struggle to adapt to new circumstances, may demonstrate seemingly inappropriate emotional responses in social situations, and may easily become uncomfortable in response to light, sound, or certain physical sensations. On the other hand, HSPs often report that they form deep bonds with others, have exciting dreams and internal monologues, and find great enjoyment in art, music, and human connection.

Like all personality traits, there are pros and cons to being highly sensitive. With proper support and a recognition of one’s own strengths and weaknesses, HSPs can set up environments in which they can thrive.

Is there a treatment for high sensitivity?

There is no specific treatment recommended for high sensitivity, as it is conceptualized as a personality trait rather than a disorder. However, since the trait often comes with emotional or interpersonal challenges—and may co-occur with anxiety and depression—HSPs may find talk therapy useful for their overall well-being.

How can I cope with stress as a highly sensitive person?

Self-care is critical for HSPs, particularly when faced with stressful situations. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and planning for decompression time can all be useful strategies. Talking to a friend or therapist can also help an HSP cope with heightened emotional responses to stress.

What’s the best way to deal with someone else who is highly sensitive?

If someone you know is highly sensitive, it’s first critical to accept that it is part of their temperament and likely can’t be changed. Giving the person space to decompress, encouraging self-care, and looking for the strengths inherent in their sensitivity can help the relationship—and the individual—thrive.

What is it like to live with high sensitivity?

HSPs feel as if they register more details of their environment than less sensitive people do—including sounds, sights, or emotional cues. Though such stimuli can feel overwhelming, modifying the environment to suit their needs can be empowering. Most HSPs argue that, despite their sensitivity, they are still capable of overcoming challenges.

High Sensitivity, Introversion, and Sensory Processing Disorder

Though highly sensitive people have been likened to introverts or those high in neuroticism, Aron’s theory maintains that the traits are distinct from one another. Much like introversion and neuroticism, however, in the eyes of those who identify with the trait, high sensitivity can bring many challenges.

While some comparisons can be drawn between Aron’s HSP theory and a condition known as sensory processing disorder, she and her collaborators do not believe that highly sensitive people have SPD. Similarly, high sensitivity may show up more frequently in those with autism or ADHD, but is distinct from those conditions.

Is high sensitivity the same as introversion?

High sensitivity is not synonymous with introversion, but many HSPs (approximately 70 percent, according to Aron) identify as introverts. Introversion refers to a personality trait in which someone “recharges” by being alone; high sensitivity encompasses emotional, physical, and sensory sensitivity.

Can you be an extroverted HSP?

Yes. In fact, though high sensitivity more often overlaps with introversion, Aron argues that as many as 30 percent of HSPs are actually extroverted—though they may still be perceived by others as shy.

Are HSPs the same as empaths?

Some who study empathy argue that though the traits are not mutually exclusive, highly sensitive people are distinct from so-called “empaths,” who easily read and absorb the moods of others. Aron, however, has distanced the HSP label from those who believe “empaths” have psychic or otherworldly abilities.

What’s the difference between sensory processing sensitivity and sensory processing disorder?

Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which the body and brain do not respond appropriately to sensory input. It is distinct from sensory processing sensitivity because while an HSP may have a stronger reaction to sensory input, their brain and body will still process and respond to the stimuli correctly.

Essential Reads

Why Highly Sensitive People Have ADHD

What Is Hypersensitivity?

Hypersensitivity — also known as being a “highly sensitive person” (HSP) — is not a disorder. It is an attribute common in people with ADHD. Symptoms of hypersensitivity include being highly sensitive to physical (via sound, sigh, touch, or smell) and or emotional stimuli and the tendency to be easily overwhelmed by too much information.

What’s more, highly sensitive people are more likely to suffer from asthma, eczema, and allergies. “It’s good in some situations and not in others,” says psychologist and psychotherapist Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person. She believes knowing that you have hypersensitivity is important. As with ADHD, being aware of it makes you realize that you’re not alone.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hypersensitivity?

After I told my younger sister, Melissa, about my ADHD diagnosis, we reminisced about our childhood. “If there were family arguments, we would think it was something little, but, for you, it was huge,” said Melissa. “Something that I considered a minor spat, you felt was monumental and earth-shattering.” It wasn’t until I was 48 that I recognized what caused me to be a drama queen: I was born with ADHD and hypersensitivity.

I first learned about the genetic nature of hypersensitivity by reading Scattered (#CommissionsEarned), by Gabor Maté, M. D., a physician and psychotherapist. “People with ADHD are hypersensitive,” says Maté. “That is not a fault, it is how they were born. It is their inborn temperament.” When I read Aron’s The Highly Sensitive Person (#CommissionsEarned), I finally recognized this sensitivity in myself. According to Aron, 15 to 20 percent of the population is born with a high level of sensitivity.

“When you know that you are highly sensitive, it reframes your life,” says Aron. Knowing that you have this trait will enable you to make better decisions. “Sensitive people have to live differently in order to be comfortable.”

[Self-Test: Could You Have Sensory Processing Disorder?]
[Additional Resource: Sensory Processing Disorder Symptom Test for Children]

Clinicians working with people with ADHD view hypersensitivity, both physical and/or emotional, as a common comorbid condition. “[People with ADHD] often are hypersensitive in one of the sensory domains: sound, touch, or smell,” says Ned Hallowell, M. D., author of Driven to Distraction (#CommissionsEarned). “My daughter with ADHD will only wear cotton, she won’t wear wool.”

I discovered that my longtime habit of fidgeting with my hair was due to hypersensitivity. I dislike the feel of hair strands tickling my face and neck, so I bunch it up in a knot. Before long, it feels like someone is driving her knuckles into my skull, just where I’ve knotted my hair. So down it comes. Then back up. And so on, throughout the day.

Other sensitivities include sounds and visual stimuli — flashing lights and moving objects. Studies suggest that those with ADHD also suffer more from asthma, eczema, and allergies — conditions of hypersensitivity — than those without ADHD.

What Is an Example of Hypersensitivity?

Prior to discovering my hypersensitivity, I perceived my overly emotional responses as a character flaw. My mom would say, “Why can’t you get on an even keel?” As a child, I didn’t have an answer. This added to my already-low self-esteem.

“Recognizing their high sensitivity can help people stop feeling bad about themselves,” says Aron.

[Free Download: Could It Be Sensory Processing Disorder?]

A friend, Denise, diagnosed with ADHD at age eight, had a similar childhood to mine. “My parents would say, ‘You need to toughen up. Don’t be so sensitive. Don’t be so influenced by what others think about you,'” says Denise. “I still find, as an adult, that if I’m fighting with peers, I immediately take their words and gestures to heart. I’m too quick to accept the nasty things they may be saying about me.”

Denise is sensitive to environmental noise. “I need to get into a forest or a quiet place every once in awhile to calm myself down. I am also overwhelmed by the constant flow of information we are bombarded with these days.”

Psychologist and ADHD coach Michele Novotni, Ph.D., says she sees higher levels of physical sensitivities and emotional reactivity in her ADHD clients than in the general population. She told me about a client whose manager made an unkind, unfair remark at work. A person without ADHD may have let the words bounce off of him, but her client, who has a high level of sensitivity, ended up in tears.

Novotni suggests that it is the tendency of people with ADHD to feel overwhelmed that leads to their hypersensitive reactions. This, in turn, contributes to their difficulty in coping emotionally. Take the routine of going to work in the morning, for example. Most people get out the door without forgetting anything, ready with a game plan for the day. Someone with ADHD, who can’t sort tasks and prioritize, feels tired and overwhelmed by the time they get to work.

“Some of my clients tell me that socializing is work,” says Novotni. “So if you think about the things that most people do for recreation as being work, you probably won’t have the resiliency to cope with other things that come down the pike.”

Why People With ADHD Often Have Hypersensitivity

“Just as we have trouble filtering what goes out,” says Hallowell, who has ADHD himself, “we have trouble filtering what comes in. I can’t back this up with research, but in my clinical experience, and in my own life, it seems that we tend to let things get to us. We take on the experiences of others very quickly, like the insect on the leaf that takes on the color of the leaf.”

Maté explains that, if individuals with ADHD are born with a high level of sensitivity, it takes less stimulation for them to feel more overwhelmed, especially in distracting environments and dynamic conversations. Plus, the more sensitive we are, the more likely we’ll feel pain. “Emotional pain and physical pain are experienced in the same part of the brain,” he says.

Many of us have discovered positive things about living with ADHD, and a high level of sensitivity may also be used to our advantage. But like ADHD, hypersensitivity must be managed and controlled to let the positive aspects — creativity, empathy, and depth of perception — shine through. I’ve learned to do this, and so can you.

How to Treat Hypersensitivity

How do I cope successfully with my hypersensitivity? By following these simple strategies:

Honor your sensitivity. Don’t make yourself do things that are difficult. As much as possible, choose situations that suit your temperament. Highly sensitive people need more time than others to process the events of the day. Before you overload yourself by going out in the evening, take a few minutes to consider if you can handle more stimulation or you’ve met your limit for the day.
Step back. Allow yourself your emotional reaction to a situation, but consider that there may be other interpretations. Pause for reflection and take some deep breaths to calm down. Analyze the situation and re-evaluate it.
Block it out. To avoid sensory overload and anxiety, always have earplugs and a headset with you to block out noise.
Tone it down. If crowds and noise are problems, find venues that are quieter and less populated — a smaller grocery store instead of a major chain, for example, or a small doctor’s office located in a home instead of a large group practice at a hospital.
Reduce extraneous stimulation. Say ‘no’ nicely to things that have overwhelmed you in the past, that you don’t have to do or just don’t want to do. Identify your limits and implement them when you’re overwhelmed.
Make sure you’ve had enough sleep: Rest or take a nap before facing a situation that will be highly stimulating or after an intense one to regroup.
Use relaxation methods: Meditate, pray, or do some yoga to strengthen your ability to cope with day-to-day challenges by practicing feeling calm and learning how to recreate this sensation.

[ADHD Directory: Find an ADHD Specialist or Clinic Near You]

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Depressive emotional disorders: diagnosis and treatment in a psychiatric center

Emotional depression manifests itself in a decrease in interest in one's former hobbies, social contacts, and work. Attention and concentration of memory are disturbed, the patient experiences a deterioration in well-being. Diagnosis should be carried out by professional psychiatrists, while it is important to conduct a differential diagnosis - to determine whether the symptoms are a sign of depression or are they symptoms of experienced stress or nervous shock.

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Emotional disorders are disorders characterized by a general decrease in functioning and activity. This is a large class of disorders, which include, for example, overwork, emotional burnout, depression. Depressive emotional disorders as a subspecies of this class of disorders are characterized by pronounced depressive symptoms: the patient experiences apathy, a feeling of hopelessness, unwillingness to do daily activities, loss of interest in life. The causes of depressive emotional disorder can be either endogenous (caused by internal causes) or exogenous (caused by external causes) in nature. Depressive emotional disorder can occur as a single episode (eg, postpartum depression, reaction to the death of a loved one, divorce) or as recurring depressive episodes. Thus, doctors distinguish the following types of depressive emotional disorder:

Single depressive episode
Recurrent depression
Chronic depressive disorder

Features of the disorder

Each type of affective disorder has characteristic manifestations.
The main symptoms of depressive syndrome:
lack of interest in the outside world;
a state of prolonged sadness or melancholy;
passivity, apathy;
attention disorders;
feeling of worthlessness;
sleep disorders;
decreased appetite;
disability;
recurrent suicidal thoughts;
worsening of the general state of health, which is not explained by the examination.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by

alternating phases of depression and mania;
depressed mood during the depressive phase;
during a manic period - recklessness, irritability, aggression, hallucinations and/or delirium.

Manifestation of anxiety disorders

severe, intrusive thoughts;
sleep disorders;
decreased appetite;
constant feeling of anxiety or fear;
shortness of breath;
tachycardia;
deterioration in concentration.

Forms of depressive disorders

Depressive disorder manifests itself in various forms. Depressive states differ in their depth, that is, in their severity. If, against the background of individual symptoms of depressed mood, you find the strength to force yourself to do daily activities, this is a mild degree of depression. If there are several depressive symptoms, and despite trying, you are still not able to do what you need to do, this is moderate depression. And severe depression, when almost all the symptoms of the disorder are present and it is extremely difficult for a person to cope with the usual daily tasks in everyday life.

Unipolar depression

The most common form of depressive disorder. The word monopolar means the presence of one extreme position - the "pole" - in the range of emotions, which is characterized, respectively, by only one - dreary, depressed - mood. As a rule, this is a persistent feeling of sadness or complete joylessness, insomnia, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, loss of appetite, pain in different places, there is a heavy feeling of deep mental pain - longing. In this state, a person considers himself worthless, incapable of anything, and his position is hopeless. Self-esteem drops.

Dysthymia

A long-term form of depressive disorder characterized by persistent feelings of despondency. In a state of dysthymia, a person is gloomy - always or almost always. Thoughts are dominated by anxiety, guilt, a person in himself, inhibited, any events and circumstances of life are perceived only as failures, condemnation of oneself and others. The course of dysthymia is long - for years. The gloomy mood inherent in dysthymia leads to tension in the family, in marital relationships, in the professional sphere.

Seasonal affective disorder

A form of depression that occurs at a specific time of the year. Most of those suffering from this disease feel depressed and lethargic in winter, while in summer their mood is normal and even joyful. As a rule, depression occurs in October-November, and ends in March-April. Some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder during other months of the year. Accompanied by a breakdown, fatigue, the need to sleep more, increased appetite, inability to concentrate on work and do anything around the house after work, the mood is dominated by depression, anxiety, avoidance of communication, increased irritability.

Bipolar depression

A form of depression in which a person's mood makes transitions between extreme positions or poles: between sad mood (depression) and joyful mood (mania). On average, in the intermediate position, the mood is normal. During the depressive phase of the disorder, the same symptoms appear as in major depression, as the mood changes, a state of mild mania (hypomania) may occur, which is characterized by increased activity, increased activity, emotional alertness and self-confidence. In the phase of mania, the mood is abnormally elevated, excessive sociability, irritability and anger are pronounced.

Violation of expressiveness and strength of emotions

Sensitivity. It is characterized by excessive sensitivity to an emotional event and vulnerability. For example, a person may burst into tears if an apple falls out of his hands. Sensitivity may be innate or accompany a personality disorder.
Emotional coldness. It is characterized by blunting of emotions. Events do not cause an adequate response. Phenomena and objects are met with a cold attitude, regardless of their significance. For example, the death of a loved one does not cause sadness or sadness in a person. It usually occurs in schizophrenia and schizoid personality disorder.
Emotional dullness. This is absolute emotional coldness. Any event, regardless of emotional significance, does not cause a reaction. Emotional dullness occurs with a schizophrenic defect, the end state of schizophrenia.
Apathy. It is characterized by indifference and indifference to the events of the outside world. They do not arouse interest or motivation.

Violation of the adequacy of emotions

Ambivalence. A person has two opposite emotions at the same time: love and hate, joy and sadness, disgust and interest. This is a sign of schizophrenia.
Inadequacy. The patient has an emotion that does not correspond to the event. For example, at the funeral of a loved one, the patient may laugh and have fun. Usually accompanies schizophrenia.

Violation of stability of emotions

Lability. Emotions often change, regardless of the reason. Usually occurs with neurasthenia, autonomic dysfunction syndrome, asthenia, intoxication, hypoxia, organic brain damage. For example, an emotionally labile disorder. It occurs after a difficult birth, with brain tumors and traumatic brain injuries.
Explosiveness. The threshold of sensitivity decreases. The patient has an outburst of rage, aggression and anger, despite the fact that objectively the situation should not cause such emotions. Occurs in epilepsy, epileptoid (excitable, explosive) personality disorder, after organic brain damage.
Weakness. It is characterized by a fluctuation of emotions from one extreme to another for a small reason. For example, a grandmother cries at the sight of her grandson. Weakness is characteristic of elderly patients, manifested in atherosclerosis of the arteries of the brain, with asthenic neurosis.

Diagnosis and treatment

If depressive emotional disorders are suspected, diagnosis is carried out in a specialized clinic by an experienced psychiatrist. To make a diagnosis, a so-called psychiatric inteq is carried out, during which the patient is asked questions about his current condition, a detailed history is collected, and, if necessary, a conversation is held with the patient's relatives. As a rule, with a depressive emotional disorder, the following factors attract attention:

Decreased mood
Apathy
Decreased concentration and attention
Loss of interest in previously beloved activities
Restriction of social contacts
Sometimes - psychosomatic manifestations (pain of various localization)

Stage 1. Relief of acute symptoms. It is achieved through the use of pharmacotherapy.
Stage 2. Stabilization therapy. Taking medications in a maintenance dosage and a course of psychotherapy.
Stage 3. Prevention of depressive emotional disorders. Achieved through supportive psychotherapy and psychoeducational conversations.

It is a very important task for physicians involved in therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease after treatment. This is especially true for patients with recurrent and chronic depressive disorder. Also, the issue of prevention of depressive emotional disorders is also relevant for thousands of ordinary people who are constantly faced with stressful situations at work or at home, for people with an anxious and overly emotional psychotype, for those who have experienced a very strong emotional shock. Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat, so the clinic "IsraClinic" offers its assistance not only to patients with diagnosed disorders and diseases, but also to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation and feel "on the verge".

Personality disorder: treatment, symptoms, diagnosis

Summary:

Causes of personality disorder
Symptoms of disease
Classification
Diagnostics
Principles of treatment
Licenses and certificates
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Personality disorders are a fairly large group of mental illnesses with different symptoms and course. They are distinguished by a tendency to a chronic, recurrent course, the patient's unwillingness to see a doctor, the desire to hide any clinical manifestations of a personality disorder.

Specialists of the medical center "Dependence 24" will conduct a comprehensive examination, make an accurate diagnosis. The treatment prescribed by our doctors will allow you to get rid of the main symptoms of the disease.

Causes of personality disorder

The etiology of the disease has not yet been fully elucidated. In modern psychiatry, there are several different theories that explain the appearance of signs of the disease. These are:

Genetic reasons. The role of hereditary factors is great in schizotypal personality disorder. It is assumed that the pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of this form of the disease are similar to those in schizophrenia.
Comorbid mental illness. It is believed that personality disorder is one of the symptoms of a number of mental illnesses. In some patients, the pathology progresses and more pronounced signs appear over time, while others remain in such a borderline state for years.
Psychological experiences. The relationship of personality development with the characteristics of upbringing, relationships with parents paid great attention to such masters of psychiatry as Z. Freud, K.G. Jung, A. Adler. The essence of their theory boils down to the fact that experienced unrest, fears in childhood lead to serious mental disorders in adolescents and in adulthood. In such cases, the basis of treatment is psychotherapy.
Social environment. It is assumed that certain subspecies of personality disorders are associated with the peculiarities of upbringing and the situation in the family as a whole. If a child considers antisocial behavior to be the norm, such attitudes persist as they grow older.

Symptoms of disease

The first manifestations of a personality disorder usually occur in adolescents, less often in childhood, but the symptoms are fully “revealed” closer to 20–25 years. Clinical manifestations of the disease cover all areas of psycho-emotional experiences, thinking, behavior in society. The patient is not capable of a flexible response to ongoing events, cannot fully perceive himself and others, build any relationship with them.

Typical depression, anxiety. But unlike neurosis or, for example, depression, the patient perceives everything that happens to him as something quite normal. A person does not consider himself ill, categorically refuses medical care, which significantly complicates treatment.

Classification

There are several main clinical varieties of the disease:

Paranoid. Accompanied by pathological suspicion, tension, inability to relax, emotional rigidity. Often these symptoms are harbingers of schizophrenia.
Schizoid. Complete self-absorption is characteristic, it is extremely difficult (and in principle it is not necessary) for people with such a diagnosis to establish social contacts, therefore they prefer work that does not involve intensive communication. They do not seek to communicate with relatives, they are indifferent to what is happening around. Schizoids cannot openly express their emotions and desires, they experience them inside. Such people are very lonely, extremely rarely start a family, and various sexual disorders are characteristic.
Dissocial. The main symptom is an uncontrollable desire to enjoy at any cost, but at the same time, a person avoids work, activities that require effort on his part with all his might. Falsehood, resourcefulness, manipulations are typical (often - threats to commit suicide, complaints about deteriorating health). Adolescents suffering from this disease often run away from home. The patient looks quite healthy and satisfied with life, turns into a joke any talk about the need for treatment. But under the guise of external well-being lies tension, anxiety and irritability, which often becomes the cause of the development of alcoholism and drug addiction.
Emotionally unstable. It is manifested by short-term sudden episodes of loss of self-control, which is expressed in unjustified aggression (during an attack, a person can break something, hit another). Subsequently, the patient regrets his behavior, asks for forgiveness, blames himself for what happened.
Border. It is characterized by unstable self-esteem, a tendency to conflict, imbalance, irresponsibility. Demonstrative suicide attempts are possible (but there are clearly no serious intentions to commit suicide).
Hysterical. Patients at any cost seek to attract attention to themselves through inappropriate behavior, simulation of serious illnesses. Indifference on the part of others causes outbursts of anger, accusations, irritability.
Obsessive-compulsive. Accompanied by a pathological preoccupation with order, the desire for control, the desire to achieve perfection in the work performed. But at the same time, the paucity of the emotional sphere is also noted.
Dissociative (multiple personality disorder). It is extremely rare. A person has the impression that several personalities "live" in him at once, which differ from each other in character, habits, demeanor, etc.

Diagnosis

In the diagnostic examination of patients with personality disorders, various questionnaires and questionnaires are used, however, the diagnosis is complicated by the tendency of patients to distort the clinical picture, hide or vice versa, exaggerate individual symptoms.

The main criteria for the diagnosis of pathology are:

Behavior and perception of the surrounding reality differs from those accepted in society. But at the same time, the peculiarities of religion, national culture, etc. are taken into account.
Mental state leads to inadequate actions, incorrect awareness of reality.
Identified mental disorders persist for a long time.
No organic disease. To do this, we give a referral for EEG, tomography, dopplerography of the brain, prescribe additional clinical tests, in some cases it is necessary to exclude the use of narcotic substances.

Principles of treatment

The doctors of our clinic warn that you should not expect a quick result. In some forms of pathology (for example, in multiple personality disorder), drug treatment plays a minor role. But if anxiety and anxiety are too pronounced, the patient may be prescribed anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and lithium-based drugs. With emotionally unstable, hysterical and borderline disorder, antidepressants, “mild” sedatives, have a good result. But because of the risk of side effects, they are prescribed only for a short time to stop signs of exacerbation.

In those situations where drugs can be dispensed with (as well as to enhance their effect), the specialists of the Addiction 24 medical center prefer individual or group psychotherapy. Psychotherapeutic treatment is aimed at:

analysis of the patient's behavior;
correction of relationships with other people;
training in self-control, methods of correct way out of conflict situations;
patients' awareness of their own emotional problems, etc.

If you have any questions about the methods of treatment, examination of patients with personality disorders, call us around the clock at 8 (495) 182-66-66. All our services are provided on a confidential basis. If necessary, a visit by a doctor to the house is possible.