Controlling Personality Disorder Signs, Causes, and Relationship Impact

When it comes to mental health conditions that affect relationships both at home and at work, few disorders are as challenging as a controlling personality disorder. A person who constantly seeks to be in charge of every situation and continuously imposes their decisions on others will soon alienate friends, family members, and coworkers.

Whether you are personally struggling with a controlling personality disorder or believe that someone in your close circle may have this condition, understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this disorder will be highly beneficial to you. In our guide, we take a closer look at the controlling personality disorder and offer actionable tips to deal with this challenge.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Controlling Personality Disorder
• Common Symptoms of the Controlling Personality Disorder
• Main Causes of the Controlling Personality Disorder
• Effective Treatments for Controlling Personality Disorder
• Tips to Manage the Controlling Personality Disorder
• FAQ
• Embrace Better Mental Health

Understanding the Controlling Personality Disorder

A controlling personality disorder, also known as an obsessive personality disorder, is a mental health condition that manifests in a person’s desire to be in charge of people and circumstances around them. While on the surface being in control may seem like a positive trait, when this behavior is taken to the extreme, it becomes detrimental to the person who suffers from the disorder and the people around them.

This disorder is commonly associated with narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder—indeed, people who struggle with those conditions often display controlling tendencies. Controlling behavior may negatively affect a person’s life, from their ability to form and maintain close relationships to their performance at work.

Common Symptoms of the Controlling Personality Disorder

Wondering whether you or someone you know has a controlling personality disorder? Here are a few signs to look out for:

A person is unable to share their thoughts and feelings with others, choosing to keep their emotions to themselves.

A person feels the need to make decisions for other people in their family or friends, rationalizing their behavior by claiming they know better.

A person struggles to delegate and work in a team, constantly criticizing the contributions of their coworkers and redoing the work of others.

A person resorts to various manipulative tactics—guilt tripping, silent treatment, and gaslighting—to make others do what they want.

Main Causes of the Controlling Personality Disorder

There is no single reason behind the controlling personality disorder—several factors may play a role:

If a person was raised in a dysfunctional family environment—for instance, their parents were abusive or neglectful—they may develop controlling habits to cope with the lack of stability at home.

A person may be genetically predisposed to controlling behavior—if their parent had this disorder, there is a chance the child will inherit it.

Certain traumatic events—death of a loved one, car accident, physical assault—may lead to controlling behavior in the future. A person may start thinking that if they are able to control their surroundings, they will avoid a similar tragedy in the future.

Effective Treatments for Controlling Personality Disorder

The good news is that the controlling personality disorder is treatable—here are a few therapies you may find helpful:

Book a session with a therapist who specializes in talk therapy. A professional will be able to get to the root cause of the disorder and teach the patient how to change their harmful behavior.

Reach out to a psychiatrist and inquire about medication for your disorder. In certain cases, drugs such as mood stabilizers and antidepressants will reduce the symptoms of the disorder.

Practice mindfulness on your own or with a certified instructor. Techniques such as deep breathing and meditation will help you manage your stress and anxiety.

Tips to Manage the Controlling Personality Disorder

Here is what you can do to cope with the controlling personality disorder:

Instead of bottling up your feelings, talk to a friend or family member you trust—open up to them, let them know what bothers you, and listen to their advice.

When you feel angry or sad, take a few minutes to analyze your emotions. Breathe deeply, focus on positive thoughts, and visualize a solution to your problem.

Apologize to the people you have hurt, especially if you resorted to manipulations to make them do what you want. Let your friends and colleagues know you are working on your behavior.

FAQs

What Is a Controlling Personality Disorder?

A controlling personality disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by a person’s need to be in charge of people and circumstances around them.

What Are the Symptoms of a Controlling Personality Disorder?

The symptoms of this disorder include the inability to express your emotions, the desire to make decisions for other people, and the reliance on manipulative tactics to get your way.

What Causes the Controlling Personality Disorder?

This disorder may be caused by an unhealthy family environment, genetic predisposition, and certain traumatic events in a person’s life.

How Do You Treat the Controlling Personality Disorder?

It is advised to bring the issue to a certified therapist who will be able to talk to the patient and help them resolve their controlling behavior. Additionally, a person may be prescribed medication to deal with the disorder.

Can You Manage the Controlling Personality Disorder on Your Own?

There are several things you can do to cope with this disorder—talk to your friends instead of keeping your feelings to yourself, practice meditation to calm yourself down, and step back when you feel the need to control someone.

Embrace Better Mental Health

We hope that our guide was useful and you have learned more about the controlling personality disorder and ways to manage it. Remember that this disorder can be treated as long as you recognize the symptoms and work either on your own or with a mental health professional to overcome the challenge.

If you or your loved one is struggling with a controlling personality disorder, you can reach out to Lonestar Mental Health. Our certified specialists will be able to diagnose the disorder and come up with a personalized treatment plan to suit the needs of the patient. Contact Lonestar Mental Health today to book your first appointment.