More people than we probably think struggle with one, two, or even several personality disorders. Unfortunately, this seems to be one of the realities of the modern world. Of course, mental health is very important, and we would all like to think that we are perfectly healthy (or at least hope we are). But reality is not always like that. Having a disorder does not necessarily mean that your life is over. Maybe this is also why many people can live a relatively normal life without ever knowing that they have a disorder. It becomes a different story when the environment, circumstances, or whatever else causes the disorder to become more visible. Then other people start noticing it too, and that’s usually when the social labels start appearing. Some people have two disorders at the same time. And this is where I find things particularly interesting, because having two conditions can make things worse, but sometimes it can also, in a strange way, make things more manageable. There are combinations that can actually work quite well together, especially when one of them involves obsessive-compulsive traits (you know, the whole obsession with order and doing things properly? That one!). For example, someone with schizoid traits and obsessive-compulsive traits may not look like the typical description of a schizoid person. The obsessive-compulsive side can bring more discipline, concentration, persistence, attention to detail, respect for procedures and a certain level of autonomy. Basically, someone who can function quite well in society. A person with borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive traits may also look quite different from what you usually read in books. Sometimes the rigid need for control can actually help keep some impulses under control, making the person more functional than they might otherwise be. Then there is the combination of histrionic traits and obsessive-compulsive traits. In theory, this could create someone who is very socially competent, well-presented and good at dealing with people. And for someone with schizotypal traits, obsessive-compulsive traits might provide some structure for all those unusual or original ideas, helping them organize and express them in a way that other people can actually understand and accept. Of course, there are also combinations that probably don’t work very well together. Unfortunately, those exist too. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. In theory, I find all of this quite interesting to think about. In real life, though, the important thing is to get professional help when you feel you need it — and, of course, not forget to take your meds on time. ;)   submitted by   /u/anachistol   to   r/story [link]   [comments]