Mood and personality disorders are both categories of mental health conditions, but they differ from one another. Mood disorders are about patterns in people’s emotions, while personality disorders are more centered on the ways people relate to others.
Of course, mood disorders can affect relationships, and personality disorders can affect mood. However, each is about a pattern that most consistently affects emotions or relationships, respectively.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), mood disorders include all forms of depression and bipolar disorders and tend to be unrelated to the circumstances in a person’s life.[1] Some people think of anxiety as being a mood disorder, but in fact anxiety disorders are a separate category from mood and personality disorders.
NAMI describes personality disorders as “a category of mental health conditions where people have deeply held thoughts and behaviors that are hard to change, cause them distress and can get in the way of having healthy relationships.”[2] Examples include Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Paranoid Personality Disorder. These three disorders are very different from one another, but each affect the way people relate to others.
Treatment for both types of disorders varies and can be a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy is helpful for treating both disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often particularly helpful for those with personality disorders, because it helps them reframe long-standing beliefs and thought patterns.
If you are struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, there is help and hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for addiction and mental health disorders in facilities across the country. Our staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—will help you build long-term recovery. Call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.
[1] https://www.namichicago.org/mental-health-conditions
[2] https://www.namichicago.org/mental-health-conditions