Does this describe a personality disorder?

Question

This person is healthy, intelligent, and highly functional. She is not self-destructive (doesn't smoke, overeat, cut, etc.). She has many friends. She has a good relationship with her children. However, she gets deeply upset if anyone sees her as less than perfect. She gets enraged when criticized, as if nobody has a right to do so. She feels free to harshly criticize other people, especially when they don't see eye to eye with her. She is deeply prejudiced against people she doesn't like, and is very lenient with people she does like. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. She is very impatient (unlike the rest of us), easy to anger, and harsh, but never apologizes for her behavior. She always has a "good excuse" for her behavior; when other people lose their temper, she is unforgiving and judgmental of them. She bursts into tears easily, winning other people's sympathy.

This isn't me - I have another type of personality disorder!! Any ideas?

lauraltree · Accepted Answer

These are some very frustrating traits and I am sure it bothers you a lot. I am not a mental health professional. In my opinion it doesn't sound like a personality disorder. It does sound like your friend has some issues she needs to deal with though. Unfortunately you can't force her to see that. My guess is her behavior is based on some misguided core beliefs. I've been reading a lot on core beliefs lately and found a wonderful site (see link below). It is called stress course, but it has a great section on core beliefs. Some people have a core belief that they must always be treated in specific ways. Why, I am not sure. It could be your friend grew up in a home where perfection gained love, or where anything less than perfection was considered failure.
The big question here though is how are you going to cope with this friendship? If these behaviors are ones that you feel you can't accomodate any longer, perhaps you can have a conversation with her about how these behaviors make you feel. Laying guilt, bursting into tears, making excuses are all reactions I think you can expect, as well as anger and indignation. But if you kindly tell her you care about her but won't condone her behavior, suggest some help for her behavior, and offer support but not allow the behavior anymore, you may feel better about the situation. It won't be easy, and sometimes people never do recognize their faults. 
I wish you the best of luck and hope this is helpful.

? · Answer

somewhat, yet i think of all and sundry can locate those "indicators" in themselves. If people have been professionally analysed and then clinically determined with notwithstanding indicators the Psychiatrist or what have you ever discovered, I assure that all and sundry could have like 5 distinctive circumstances. that is getting ridiculous presently.

Anonymous · Answer

Does she eat pizzas a lot?
Pizzas contain an ingredient called Benzoyl Peroxide, which causes many of those symptoms.

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like a sociopath.

Anonymous · Answer

I figured that's the way everyone was.

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Does this describe a personality disorder?

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