People with a personality disorder, just like anyone who has mental health difficulties, can be stigmatised because of their diagnosis. They can attract fear, anger and disapproval rather than compassion, support and understanding. Personality disorders are hard to diagnose, hard to treat and can be hard to live with. This said, personality disorder is a real problem that demands real help.
This is hard to acknowledge when you are on the receiving end of the abuse that occurs when living with someone who has a personality disorder. From the outside looking in, you can never understand it, from the inside looking out, you can never describe it. It is incredibly isolating a position for all to be in and a condition that destroys families and whole local communities.
Support, education and therapy are all absolutely necessary. Personality disorders are one of the rare conditions where often the patient is left alone and everyone else around them is treated.
In the wrong care, this treatment can be incredibly damaging. This is worth remembering when you consider the level of support required for treating this mental health fallout.