| Myth #1 |
Myth: People with a Mental Illness all have a low IQ - this myth perpetuates the prejudice and associated stigma that people with a mental illness are "stupid". This stigma can discourage a person from admitting that they have a problem, getting the help they need or taking medication. |
Fact: Personality Disorders affect the Entire Intelligence Spectrum -Here at Out of the FOG, we speak about low-functioning and high-functioning people in an attempt to differentiate between those who demonstrate high IQ and low IQ. We have seen examples of people with severe cases of personality disorders who are extremely intelligent, hold down jobs with high levels of responsibility or authority in government and in business and social groups. |
| Myth #2 |
Myth: Only Females have HPD and BPD - Only Males have NPD and ASPD. |
Fact: BPD and HPD are more commonly diagnosed in women, and NPD and ASPD are more commonly diagnosed in men - but there are millions of people from both genders in all of the disorder categories. |
| Myth #3 |
Myth: All People with Personality Disorders were abused as children - |
Fact: About 75% of people with Personality Disorders were physically, emotionally or sexually abused as children. That leaves a huge number - about 1 in 4 - that were not. |
| Myth #4 |
Myth: People everywhere are basically the same. |
Fact: Each person is as unique as the DNA inside them. - You can't always interpret the feelings, behaviors and attitudes of other people - especially people with personality disorders - based on your own logic or reasoning. If another person's behavior, reasoning or beliefs makes no sense to you that is a cue to investigate further - not to jump to conclusions. |
| Myth #5 |
Myth: People with personality disorders can get better if they just try harder. |
Fact: Personality Disorders are Real Mental Illnesses - although recovery involves a determined effort, willpower alone can't make the disorder disappear. There is a real mental illness at work which affects the sufferer's sense of reality, of self and of others. It usually takes a combination of intense therapy, medications, hard work and determination to recover from a PD.
Please note that we are not suggesting here that people with personality disorders shouldn't be held accountable for their own behaviors - they absolutely should. But it would also be a mistake to regard people who suffer from personality disorders simply as mentally healthy people who are being selfish. |
| Myth #6 |
Myth: Personality Disorders aren't Real Mental Illnesses |
Fact: Personality Disorders are Real Mental Illnesses - and we ignore them at our own peril. The American Psychiatric Association doesn't think so - neither do millions of people affected by them. |
| Myth #7 |
Myth: People With Personality Disorders Never Get Better |
Fact: Some Do and some Don't. See our section on Recovery |
| Myth #8 |
Myth: People With Personality Disorders get better as they get older. |
Fact: As they get older, some get better, some stay the same and some get worse. See our section on Recovery. |
| Myth #9 |
Myth: You can bring about recovery in a person with a personality disorder through your own actions.
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Fact: Personality Disorders are Real Mental Illnesses - and they don't depend on what we do, or don't do, or say, or don't say. You can't cure a personality disorder with love, anger, submission or ultimatums any more than you can cure a food allergy with a feather duster. |
| Myth #10 |
Myth: All People with Borderline Personality Disorder are Suicidal or commit acts of self injury - |
Fact: Self Injury is only one of 9 possible criteria. 5 of the 9 are required for a diagnosis of BPD. - See BPD DSM Criteria |
