Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military personnel is a big problem for those who have served in war zones. While the majority of people in the military will not get PTSD – even after serving in a combat zone – some will. Those in the military are at an increased risk of PTSD because of the number and severity of stressors that are common in a war zone and in military duties (PTSD Statistics and Facts).

Stressors that May Cause PTSD in the Military

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been the longest combat operations since Vietnam. Many stressors and possible traumas face those who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Military PTSD is affected by stressors like being attacked or by knowing someone else in the military that was killed and these are stressors that most soldiers face. In Iraq, of those in the Army:

• 95% have seen dead bodies.
• 93% have been shot at.
• 89% have been attacked or ambushed.
• 86% have received rocket or mortar fire.
• 86% know someone who has been killed or seriously injured.

The numbers are lower, but still significant, for those who served in Afghanistan.

It is also worth knowing that many men and women are sexually assaulted and harassed in the military. Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is an additional major factor in developing PTSD in the military (PTSD in Rape and Abuse Victims).

How Many Soldiers Have PTSD?

Even of those soldiers who have faced the above stressors, most do not have PTSD. Between 11-20% of those who served in OIF and OEF have PTSD in a given year; whereas, about 12% of veterans from the Gulf War (Desert Storm) have PTSD in a given year.

About 30% of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime (Viet Nam Veterans Still Living with PTSD 40+ Years Later).

What Increases the Risk of PTSD in War Veterans?

Research indicates that the following are factors that increase the risk of PTSD in war veterans of OIF and OEF:

• Longer deployment times
• More severe combat exposure, such as:
  • Deployment to "forward" areas close to the enemy
  • Seeing others wounded or killed
• More severe physical injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Lower rank
• Lower level of schooling
• Low morale and poor social support within the unit
• Not being married
• Family problems
• Member of the National Guard or Reserves
• Prior trauma exposure
• Female gender
• Hispanic ethnic group

PTSD Symptoms in the Military

PTSD symptoms for those in the military are the same as for those with non-military PTSD. Types of symptoms in military PTSD include:

• Persistent re-experiencing of events (such as through illusions or hallucinations)
• Avoidance of anything that reminds the sufferer of the trauma (such as avoidance of people, places and activities that trigger memories of the event)
• Negative changes in thoughts, feelings or perceptions related to the trauma (such as persistent distorted thoughts about the cause of or consequences of the traumatic event)
• Changes in reactivity (such as an exaggerated response when startled)

Fewer PTSD cases in the military may get treatment because of the large number of concerns a soldier may have including effects on his or her career, the appearance of being weak, privacy and many others.

While there is no doubt that PTSD from serving in a war zone can be devastating, what’s important to emphasize is that PTSD treatment works, it shortens the duration of symptoms and people use it to recover from PTSD every day.

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When someone has difficulty coping with a stressor and meets criteria outlined in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), he/she can be diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder is often difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with other mental health disorders; thus, professionals turn to the DSM-5, for adjustment disorder criteria. Developed and published by the American Psychiatric Association (2013), the DSM-5 is the widely accepted authority on mental illness.

DSM-5 Criteria for Adjustment Disorder

The DSM-5 defines adjustment disorder as “the presence of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor(s) occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressor(s)” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

In addition to exposure to one or more stressors, other DSM-5 criteria for adjustment disorder must be present. One or both of these criteria exist:

• Distress that is out of proportion with expected reactions to the stressor
• Symptoms must be clinically significant—they cause marked distress and impairment in functioning

Further, these criteria must be present:

• Distress and impairment are related to the stressor and are not an escalation of existing mental health disorders
• The reaction isn’t part of normal bereavement
• Once the stressor is removed or the person has begun to adjust and cope, the symptoms must subside within six months.

Types of Adjustment Disorder in the DSM-5

There are six subtypes of adjustment disorder delineated in the DSM-5. All share the above criteria; specifically, they are precipitated by an obvious stressor, cause distressful symptoms, and are time-limited.

The DSM-5 criteria for each type of adjustment disorder relate to its specific symptoms. The manual specifies adjustment disorder with

•  
• Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
• Adjustment disorder with Anxiety
• Adjustment disorder with mixed depressed mood and anxiety
• Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct
• Unspecified (symptoms don’t quite meet the criteria for any of the defined categories)

When diagnosing an adjustment disorder, clinicians examine the specific DSM-5 criteria for adjustment disorder and match the person’s symptoms to the subtypes. Specifying the type of adjustment disorder someone is experiencing helps the person receive the correct treatment.

Anxiety and fear are common human responses to stressors. Sometimes people experience anhedonia; they lose their sense of pleasure and enjoyment. Low mood is another response to a stressor. Sometimes, people exhibit irritability, anger, or aggression. These all are normal human reactions to stressors; however, when they meet the DSM criteria for adjustment disorder, a diagnosis is made and a proper treatment plan can begin.

DSM-5 Adjustment Disorder Criteria and Differential Diagnosis

A large part of helping someone receive the correct treatment is knowing exactly what is going on. Adjustment disorder can mimic other disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, and more. When professionals use the adjustment disorder criteria in the DSM-5, they can make a differential diagnosis; that is, they can distinguish adjustment disorders from other disorders with similar symptoms.

One of the main DSM criteria for adjustment disorder is that its symptoms must occur in response to a stressor and must happen first, before a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, depression, or other mental health disorder.

The adjustment disorder criteria in the DSM-5 also help differentiate adjustment disorder from other trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Adjustment disorder can result from stressors of any severity, even ones that might seem relatively mild. Also, the symptoms of adjustment disorder don’t quite reach the level of those that occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or acute stress disorder (ASD).

The DSM-5 criteria for adjustment disorders help shed light on this stressor-induced disorder so people can understand and overcome it.

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About seven or eight out of every 100 people (7-8%) will have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives making the understanding of PTSD statistics and facts very important. Considering this significant figure, it is likely that you, or someone you know, will suffer from PTSD at some point. These facts and statistics on PTSD can help give you some insight on PTSD in North America and PTSD in the military (Effects of PTSD on Military Veterans).

Interesting Facts About PTSD

Many people go through trauma. In fact, it is estimated that 60% of men and 50% of women will experience at least one trauma in their lives. Only a small percentage of these people, however, will develop PTSD.

The facts about PTSD state that you are most likely to develop PTSD if you:

• Were directly exposed to the trauma as a victim or a witness
• Were seriously hurt during the event
• Went through a trauma that was long-lasting or very severe
• Believed that you or a family member were in danger
• Had a severe reaction during the event, such as crying, shaking, vomiting or feeling apart from your surroundings
• Felt helpless during the trauma and were not able to help yourself or a loved one
• Had an earlier life-threatening event or trauma, such as being abused as a child
• Have another mental health problem or have a family member with a mental health problem
• Have little support from family and friends
• Have recently lost a loved one or undergone a stressful life change, especially if it was not expected
• Drink a lot of alcohol
• Are a woman
• Are poorly educated
• Are younger

Statistics on PTSD

In addition to the above facts about PTSD, through study, we also know some PTSD statistics like:

• In any given year, about eight million adults will have PTSD.
• About 10% of women develop PTSD at some point in their lives (What Causes Some Women To Develop PTSD Symptoms?).
• About 4% of men develop PTSD at some point in their lives.

PTSD Military Statistics

It is not necessary to be in the military or to experience combat to have PTSD. However, veterans do have a higher rate of PTSD than that of the general population.

An interesting PTSD fact is that the statistics on PTSD in the military vary by service era.

• In Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, between 11-20% of veterans have PTSD in a given year.
• In the Gulf War (Desert Storm), about 12% of veterans have PTSD in a given year.
• About 30% of Viet Nam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetimes (Viet Nam Veterans Still Living with PTSD 40+ Years Later).

And while combat is a major cause of PTSD in the military, it is not the only one. Sexual assault or severe sexual harassment are also seen in the military (PTSD in Rape and Abuse Victims).

• 23% of female veterans who use Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare report sexual assault in the military.
• 55% of women and 38% of men who use VA healthcare report experiencing sexual harassment while in the military.

The Facts on Healing from PTSD

While sometimes the statistics on PTSD seem grim, most people do recover from PTSD.

• In patients receiving treatment for PTSD, the symptom duration is 36 months.
• In people with PTSD who are not receiving treatment, the symptoms last, on average, 64 months.

This is not to say that everyone is cured from PTSD, but most do recover fully.

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"Somebody will come backstage and go, 'You saved me.' And I will have to say, 'Stop right there. You saved yourself.' "
-Tori Amos

I don't really know where to begin or what to say. It's rather scary to talk about, even now, because I feel like it's my fault. I think I will always feel like it is my fault. It began when my boyfriend broke up with me. I was beside myself and angry and very deeply hurt. A few weeks later, he called me not to reconcile but to continue the relationship as "a purely sexual relationship" and I consented to this as a way of keeping him around.

A few months went by like this and then, one night when he came to the house, his friend Greg* was in the car. I didn't question why until after we were on the highway speeding to an unknown destination. I asked where we were going, and that's when they told me I was to have sex with one while performing oral sex on the other. I told them I didn't want to, and when we got to a spot, an abandoned campground in the middle of woods, I was told I didn't have to. Greg went into the car while I had sex with my ex.

Then, while I stood outside in the rain dressing, my ex went into the car to talk to Greg. He came back out and told me that if I didn't want to get left there, I'd let Greg have sex with me. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where I was or how to get home from there, and the drive had been at least an hour anyway, and we were a good fifteen minute drive from the nearest telephone, so I had sex with Greg. The next day I told my ex I could never see him again. Greg continued to email me and tell me these lies, and I just let him talk to me while I'd ignore him.

A few weeks later, Greg and his friend Joe invited me to Greg's house for a pool party. I didn't believe them, but I called their good friend, Kristin, who told me it was true. I went over and when I got there, only Kristin, Greg, and Joe were there. As soon as I got into the pool, Kristin left. I went to get out of the pool, but the next thing I knew, Greg and Joe had pulled me far from the ladder, to the other side of the pool, and while Joe held my feet, Greg undid the top of my bathing suit and threw it out of the pool. I screamed and cried, and Joe tried to take off the bottom of my bathing suit, but I had worked my feet free enough to kick him in the jaw.

At this point, Greg carried me around the pool, then out of the pool, inside, up to his room, where I was told I could not leave until I performed oral sex on him. I cried for a half-an-hour while he told me that in the time I'd been crying, I could have performed oral sex on him and walked home. I cried some more until I realized I wasn't leaving until I'd done so, so I performed oral sex on him. Then he kicked me out of his room, so I went back to the pool, put on the top of my bathing suit, and walked home. I got a shower immediately and brushed my teeth.

I knew I couldn't report it to the police because Greg's two years younger than I am --he's 16 and I'm 18, though both he and Joe are a lot bigger and stronger than I am. Also, where I live still abides by the old rule of "if it's not genital-to-genital, it's not really rape" and more than likely, if it got out, they'd both twist it around so that it was consensual and I could end up on statutory rape charges. So, until now, I've told no one what happened to me.

-Anonymous

"Unafraid, we speak the truth and heal the world."
-Suzanne Shutman

God, I hope this helps somebody. I don't even really know where to begin. I was raped by my uncle when I was about 4 or 5 while I was spending the summer at my grandmother's house. It was hot and I had been playing in her lawn sprinkler, and he was watching me while I played.

Later that day when my grandmother and I were both having afternoon naps, he came into my room. I didn't realize he was in with me until I felt him pressing down on me. I can still remember the smell -- alcohol, stale cigarette smoke and rancid sweat. He jerked off my panties before I was really awake and began fondling me. I remember being afraid and whimpering, but he told me that if I made any noise or told anyone, he would kill me and my baby brother. Something cut my upper thigh, his zipper maybe, or his pocketknife. I still have the scar. I was terrified. He told me that he could tell that I wanted it by the way I had been acting earlier in the day. He pressed my face down into the bed pillow and raped me.

Through it all, and for a while after he left, I stayed quiet. I went into the bathroom and saw blood -- on my nightgown, on my legs. I wiped it off and put on some underwear, then crawled back into bed. I felt so very small and sad. My grandmother sent me home a few days later because I was crying all the time and running a fever. I wish that was the only time I had been raped. I was so young then, and my memories of it are hazy around the edges. Unfortunately, my other memories are crystal clear.

My self-esteem has never been very good. I fell into an abusive relationship when I was 16. That man abused and intimidated me in every way possible. I was very afraid of him, and especially afraid of what he might do to me if I upset him. He raped and assaulted me, and had other men rape and assault me several times during our relationship. He humiliated and belittled me. The rapes were just an especially degrading item in his array of torture methods.

I left him by breaking up with him and immediately fleeing the state. I stayed with a family friend for a couple of years while I was in therapy. I never pressed charges. I thought about it, but decided that nothing could ever make up for what he had done to me, and that my life couldn't stand any more intrusion, no matter how well-intentioned. Now, later, I wish I had gone to the police. What I want more than anything is to know that he can never do this to anyone ever again. What he did to me is beyond comprehension. He scarred my body, he wounded my soul.

It seems massively unfair that I am the one who suffers after these rapes. I have flashbacks and nightmares in which I relive the events. If I were meting out justice, I would see to it that the rapist feels the emotional destruction that comes with rape, that he relives the horror and the pain from the victim's point of view every time he sleeps or gets startled. I would certainly make it so that the victim doesn't have to relive her assault ever, ever again. Once is too much!

Jennifer

First of all, do sociopathic children exist? You may have heard a parent describe a child as a sociopath because of certain behaviors, but that's different than a formal diagnosis.

Childhood bullies torment other kids. They're obnoxious at best and downright mean at worst. Physical aggression and emotional harassment gives the bully power over people. The ordinary playground-variety bully is not a sociopathic child.

Many people have heard chilling stories on the news or around the water cooler at work, stories of kids setting fires, torturing animals, and engaging in extreme bullying as well as showing little care for the consequences. These are not sociopathic children.

Sociopathic Children or Conduct Disorder?

Ethical reasons as well as the changing nature of children as they grow and develop dictate that a person cannot be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (the clinical term for sociopath) until age 18. Thus, a child or an adolescent cannot be labeled as a sociopath. Regardless of their behavior, there is no such thing as sociopathic children.

There is such a thing as a child who behaves very badly and is a danger to people and property alike. Some might say that such a child shows sociopathic tendencies. Still, though, the diagnosis can't be antisocial personality disorder. Before the age of 18, the diagnosis would be conduct disorder (or its milder cousin, oppositional defiant disorder).

While a child or adolescent can't be labeled as a sociopath, a requirement of the adult diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder is that disregard for and violation of the rights of others be present from age 15 or earlier. In the majority of cases, this equates to a diagnosis of conduct disorder in childhood or adolescence.

In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), conduct disorder is defined as "a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated" (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

How Do Children Develop Conduct Disorder?

A diagnosis of conduct disorder in a child can be devastating for his parents and family members. The news often induces guilt, helplessness, self-blame, and shame. They've likely known that their child is different, removed from other kids and adults, selfish, uncaring, and mean. Many parents wonder how their baby became this way.

As with its adult counterpart, antisocial personality disorder, researchers are seeking understanding of the cause of conduct disorder. While there isn't yet a definitive answer to this complex puzzle, experts have uncovered significant evidence that the origins of conduct disorder are both biological and environmental. That is, both nature and nurture contribute to the development of conduct disorder, just as they do with sociopathy (Sociopath Causes: The Making of a Sociopath).

What Leads To Child Sociopathic-like Behavior?

While experts don't fully know the answer to why a child develops sociopathic traits or characteristics, they have identified factors that may predispose a child to conduct disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Any one of the factors, whether its nature or nurture, by itself isn't a red flag. It's when several are at play in a child's life that conduct disorder and signs of sociopathic behavior increase in likelihood.

Biological factors, or "nature," include

• difficult temperament from infanthood (suggesting a brain-based problem);
• maternal smoking during pregnancy (the toxins negatively affect brain growth);
• antisocial personality disorder in the family (creating a genetic predisposition).

Environmental factors, or "nurture," include

• growing up in a violent neighborhood
• associating with delinquent peers
• rejection from peers, parents, or others
• lack of supervision
• early institutional living
• frequent changes of caregivers, as in foster care
• large family size
• varying types of child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect—singly or multiple)
• parental rejection
• inconsistent parenting practices, from leniency to harsh discipline

It's important to note that trauma, such as those listed here, impacts the brain on the neurobiological level, thus creating emotional and biological changes and difficulties.

There is no such thing as sociopathic children; there are, however, children with conduct disorder. Kiehl states in the 2014 study that nearly 80 percent of children "outgrow" the disorder by early adulthood (Sociopath Treatment: Can A Sociopath Change?). Others segue into antisocial personality disorder at age 18. At that point, they are sociopaths, perhaps to become sociopathic parents.

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Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being bitter and locked up. Past the mission, I smell the roses"
-Tori Amos

After reading the collection of stories, I decided after a while (a couple of months, actually) I would write mine and share it with you. This is not the first time I've shared my story, but this is the first time I've written it, so please bear with me. I'm guessing this is not an unusual story, however, I feel I am helping myself as well as others by telling it.

It happened when I was 17. I was on spring vacation in my Junior year and I was spending my time at the beach with friends. One night, I was at a park with a friend. She and I were chatting away about the good old days when we didn't have any homework. It was around 8:00 p.m. when she had to go. We were staying at different hotels (there had been a mixup in reservations -- long story). We said goodbye and went our separate ways. On the way to my hotel, I passed a bar. I walked quickly by but after a block or two I felt a hand grab me by my arm and another cover my mouth. I was told if I screamed I'd die.

I was carried roughly by two men, around 25-30 years of age into a nearby alley. And it happened. Their threats were real, at least I thought they were since they were both wielding knives. I was raped twice, vaginally and orally. After they left me alone, I stayed in the alley for an hour. I was confused, scared out of my mind, and the first thing I thought of was what did I do to deserve this. I knew a real crime had been committed, but still, I was confused about whose fault it was. I cleaned myself off and ran, crying, to my hotel.

I got to my room, which I was sharing with my best friend (girl) and another very close friend (boy) and went straight to bed. The next day I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't think. I was in shock. I told my 2 roommates I wasn't feeling well and they left after getting me tea and a light breakfast. The whole day I cried. Fortunately, I decided not to take a shower (I had heard other stories). I guess I'm lucky. Almost midday that day I realized that it wasn't my fault (or at least I forced myself to think that way. I had to force myself to think straight for about a month after). My friends came back from the beach and town and asked how I was. I told them I needed to speak to my best friend, Lisa, alone. Alone with her, I told her the story and she let me cry in her arms for 3 hours.

The next thing I knew I was in the hospital with my friends. I was beyond embarrassed, but too shocked to realize it. However, with support from my friends (I love you all) and family (same to you), I recovered. It's been about 2 years now, but I still have nightmares and push away from anyone touching me. I've been told that's normal. My advice to anyone in need of some support is to be strong, think straight, take immediate actions, and always remember there is always someone there beside you. So I guess that's it. I feel better now. I hope my words helped someone. It helped me.

Jennifer Briggs

Thankfully, acute stress disorder treatment is available and quite helpful. After all, acute stress disorder can turn someone’s entire world upside down. Experiencing a traumatic event and developing acute stress disorder can cause disruptive symptoms that make the person feel trapped in the trauma (Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms). That’s why seeking professional treatment for acute stress disorder early on can prove very helpful.

No matter the type of acute stress disorder treatment, the goal is the same. Through therapy, the person experiencing acute stress disorder will realize that the trauma hasn’t become his/her entire life story (Giarratano, 2004).

Initial Acute Stress Disorder Treatment

An important first step in acute stress disorder treatment is helping someone regain a sense of control. Traumatic events cause a loss of security and create chaos, so first and foremost, the person must begin to feel order.

Important elements of initial acute stress disorder treatment are establishing a sense of support, safety and security, personal empowerment, and hope. Accordingly, a therapist helps someone:

• Break the problem into manageable bits
• Create treatment goals
• Manage thoughts and emotions
• Reduce arousal through breathing and relaxation techniques
• Develop and use coping skills
• Create a routine for sleep

Specific Acute Stress Disorder Treatment Approaches

Different approaches have been proven to be effective in treating acute stress disorder. Two of the most common therapeutic treatments for acute stress disorder are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and in vivo exposure therapy. Others are

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), a combination of sensory stimulation and traumatic memories
• Stress inoculation training
• Development of coping skills and anxiety management
• Group therapy

Typically, medication isn’t prescribed for treatment of acute stress disorder. However, sometimes medications for depression, anxiety, or sleep are used temporarily.

Acute Stress Disorder Treatment: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An important concept in CBT is the notion that it isn’t events themselves that cause people difficulty but instead it’s someone’s subjective thoughts about the event that lead to distress:

• Activating event (here, the trauma) leads to
• Beliefs and thoughts about the event, which in turn lead to
• Consequences (here, the symptoms of acute stress disorder)

A risk factor for developing acute stress disorder is the meaning someone assigns to the trauma. Therefore, CBT is an effective acute stress disorder treatment because it helps people reframe the trauma and what it means to them.

Of course, the traumatic event is real, and CBT doesn’t seek to minimize or ignore it. With CBT treatment for acute stress disorder, the person learns to think of the traumatic event without exaggerating it or increasing negative thoughts and feelings about it.

Because it helps people change their thoughts about the trauma and its personal meaning, CBT is an effective acute stress disorder treatment.

In Vivo Exposure Therapy for Acute Stress Disorder

While it’s not for everyone, including people who have extreme reactions to a trauma resulting in severe acute stress disorder, in vivo exposure therapy can be a very effective treatment for acute stress disorder.

In vivo exposure therapy involves progressive, real-life (in vivo) exposure to anything the person associates with the trauma. During in vivo exposure therapy for acute stress disorder, the person is reconditioned, relearning previous associations and beliefs. Gradual exposure gently helps the person take in rational new information that overrides emotionally based, fearful memory.

Treatment for acute stress disorder works. Acute stress disorder treatment helps someone make meaning of his/her experience and create order out of chaos. These concepts represent the point of acute stress disorder treatment: not to merely reduce symptoms but to move forward into life.

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Effective borderline personality disorder treatment is challenging because people with the disorder have trouble seeing past their own misinterpretation of the world and their distorted thought patterns. Frequently, a patient will walk away from BPD treatment the minute some difficulty arises during therapy or in his or her life. Since they see everything in black and white, the patient may begin to think of the therapist as bad or evil. (See: Living and Dealing with Borderline Personality Disorder)

It’s important that therapists remain aware of the extreme all-or-nothing attitude held by those in treatment for borderline personality disorder and take care not to validate it. Clinicians must allow their strong and stable thinking to stand in contrast of the patient’s lack of stability and chaotic life.

One of the reasons successful treatment is difficult is because many clinicians do not want to work with people who have borderline personality disorder. Why? The patients’ erratic negative behaviors, threats, and inability to see themselves as needing help to contribute to the reluctance of many therapists to treat them. (Read: Borderline Personality Disorder Relationships)

What Does Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Consist Of?

Borderline personality disorder treatment typically consists of a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Clinicians may prescribe medications to stabilize mood and any co-occurring conditions. Individuals seeking help should make sure their therapist or doctor has experience treating borderline personality disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy

The types of psychotherapy used to in borderline personality disorder treatment include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT helps individuals with BPD identify distorted beliefs and thought patterns. Once identified, the patients can change these core beliefs that contribute to their inaccurate self-perception and interpersonal relationship issues. CBT may also reduce the extreme range of mood swings and the frequency of suicidal or risky behaviors.
• Dialectical behavior therapy – This therapy approach focuses on increasing an individual's self-awareness and cultivating the concept of mindfulness. This helps the patient remain in the moment, so to speak, and become aware of the current situation. During DBT, the therapist teaches the client new skills for controlling the intense emotions and self-destructive behaviors associated with the disorder. The client can also use these skills to improve interpersonal relationships.
• Schema therapy – schema-focused therapy combines CBT with other psychotherapy approaches that work to reframe the way people view themselves. This type of therapy is based on the belief that borderline personality disorder arises from an unclear, dysfunctional self-identity. This poor sense of self is brought on by negative experiences during childhood. These negative childhood experiences affect how people react to their environment and cope with stress as adults.

Depending on the individual, the therapist may conduct sessions one-on-one with the client, in a group setting, or both. Therapists will typically conduct individual sessions at first to build trust with the client, and then add group sessions once they've established a good working relationship. Therapist-led borderline personality therapy in a group setting can teach clients how to better interact with others and express themselves appropriately.

Borderline Personality Disorder Medications

The FDA hasn't approved any specific borderline personality disorder medications. But, doctors frequently prescribe medications in combination with psychotherapy to their patients with BPD. These medications don't cure borderline personality disorder, but they do help manage certain BPD symptoms associated with the condition. For some individuals, medications may reduce symptoms of aggression, depression, or anxiety. Since medications cause different side effects in people, those with BPD should discuss what to expect in the way of side effects with their physicians.

Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Help

The first step in effective borderline personality self-help is realizing that you have a serious condition that needs attention. You can take a few steps to help yourself while undergoing formal treatment:

• Stick with the treatment plan developed by your therapist
• Maintain a stable schedule of meals and sleep time
• Get regular exercise
• Spend time with others so you can practice interpersonal skills
• Have realistic expectations about time it will take to reduce symptoms
• Continue to educate yourself about BPD

Borderline Personality Disorder Prognosis

Borderline personality disorder prognosis depends on the severity of the symptoms and each individual's commitment to getting better and improving his or her life. Some people do well in treatment, but others find themselves in an ongoing cycle of seeking help, then allowing negative thought patterns to cause them to reject the help.

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Famous people with schizotypal personality disorder would probably look like eccentrics and "odd creative types" to the outside world. Somehow, when we think about famous people or celebrities having disorders like this, it often reduces the stigma associated with it. Once the shame and stigma are removed, people are more likely to get help (Treatment for Schizotypal Personality Disorder).

Famous People with Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Do famous people with schizotypal personality disorder exist? Given the schizotypal personality's distaste for social settings and attention from others, they probably don't actively seek fame, but might have become famous after death or "accidentally and suddenly" famous during life.

Of course, unless some public admission or health record exists with a definitive diagnosis, we can't know for sure whether anyone, including famous people and celebrities, has the disorder. All we can really do is observe their outward behavior and compare them to the symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder in the DSM 5 and speculate.

Let's get on with it. What famous people or celebrities might have (or have had, if deceased) schizotypal personality disorder?

Vincent Van Gogh. Some speculate that the renowned 19th-century Dutch artist, Vincent Van Gogh had the disorder. Van Gogh is famous for creating a number of (now priceless) paintings, including "Sunflowers", "The Starry Night", "Irises", and many others.

Emily Dickinson. The 19th-century American poet, Emily Dickinson, is best known for her collections of poetry that she wrote over the course of her lifetime. She preferred solitude most of the time, especially while working on her poetry, which was the way she used to express her feelings. She didn't have close friends, as did other women her age; nor, did she seem to want them. Some of her countless notable poems: "Because I Could Not Stop for Death", "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?", "I Dreaded That First Robin", and "A Bird Came Down the Walk".

Kim Jong-il. A former leader of North Korea, his son, Kim Jong-un succeeded him after his death in 2011. Jong-il had a marked lack of interest in socializing with others, always viewing other people as a threat to his power and leadership.

Willy Wonka. Okay, so he's a fictional person, but he definitely meets almost all of the criteria for schizotypal personality disorder, including unusual perceptions and bodily illusions; suspiciousness and paranoid ideation; odd and eccentric behavior and appearance; magical thinking; lack of close friends, and more. Willy Wonka is the main character in the popular kids' movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Just by watching a couple of these short clips from the movie, you'll begin to see Wonka shows symptoms of the condition.

Please remember that these represent speculation based on observable behavior as it relates to schizotypal personality disorder symptoms and that we have no true way of knowing the psychological profiles of these people.

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