What it’s Like to Live with Someone Who Has a Personality Disorder

Every individual has their own way of doing things, which is why settling in with a partner can be a little tricky in the beginning. However, eventually, both of you can find your groove. While this seems simple enough, the reality is very different if one of you has a personality disorder.

People with mental illnesses have a hard time coping with change, and have trouble making an effort for the relationship. They have a hard time with commitment, communication, and expressing their feelings.

All they require is a bit of care and extra attention, and you just might be able to power through the adversities your relationship throws at you. Let’s explore every aspect of living with someone who has a personality disorder.

Let’s begin!

Intense Bouts of Emotion

When you’re in love with someone who has a mental illness, you can’t expect a normal and mundane life – remember that things will happen that you don’t expect. Your partner may experience intense periods of emotion, and other times be very distant and withdrawn.

Instead of taking it all personally, you need to give them the space to process their feelings and talk to them about them.

Communication can be Tricky

Most relationship gurus will tell you to talk out your problems, and that communication is key. However, none of this holds for people with mental health problems. People who have little to no control over how they feel can have a very difficult time having a conversation. They might not always be able to tell you how they feel, or fully understand what you need from them.

Experience Rapidly-Shifting Mood

With a person who has a personality disorders, you never know how they will react to something. There’s always a chance they may get riled up and react aggressively, while they may not say a word at other times. When you’ve decided to love someone with this issue, you need to be prepared for whatever they throw at you.

If you want to learn more about mental trauma, and mental health issues, you can always get a copy of A Notebook of Love by Luis Trivino. The book is a love note to Trivino’s wife, as a way to try and reconcile their marriage – it talks about mental illnesses, personal struggles, childhood trauma, and a lot more.