ECCENTRIC PERSONALITY DISORDERS
🌀 Eccentric Personality Disorders – Cluster A
Sometimes, people experience the world in ways that others find "unusual" or "odd" — but for them, it's just how things are. Cluster A personality disorders often include ways of thinking or behaving that feel out of step with what society expects. These patterns usually begin in early adulthood and affect many parts of life — relationships, work, or social situations.
These conditions can feel isolating, but they're more common than people realise — and you're not alone. Let's break them down 👇
🔎 Paranoid Personality Disorder
People with this disorder tend to be hyper-aware, suspicious, and always on alert — often feeling that others are out to hurt or deceive them 😟. This can make trusting people really hard.
Common signs include:
❗ Often suspects others are lying, cheating, or trying to harm them
🤔 Struggles to trust friends or co-workers
🤫 Hesitant to open up in case it's used against them
🔍 Reads between the lines and finds threats where others wouldn't
😠 Holds grudges and doesn't forgive easily
🗣️ Feels criticised or attacked, even if others don't see it
💔 Worries without reason that their partner is unfaithful
It's not just being cautious — this level of mistrust can affect every part of life, and it can be exhausting.
🧊 Schizoid Personality Disorder
This one's all about emotional distance and disconnection. People with Schizoid PD often don't feel the need for close relationships and may come across as cold, detached, or indifferent — even when they're not feeling that way inside.
Common signs include:
🚶 Prefer being alone most of the time
🧘 Don't feel interested in close friendships or family bonds
😐 Don't get much joy out of most things
💤 Feel "flat" emotionally, or struggle to express feelings
👥 Don't feel motivated to date or have sex
🤷 Don't care much about praise or criticism
💔 Don't have close friends outside of family
This isn't the same as autism, though it might look similar from the outside — it's a different experience with its own challenges.
🌀 Schizotypal Personality Disorder
This one's a mix of social anxiety, unusual thinking, and strange experiences. People with Schizotypal PD often feel like outsiders, have strong beliefs in things like fate or telepathy, and may seem "odd" to others.
Common signs include:
🔮 Believing that unrelated events have hidden messages for you (ideas of reference)
🧠 Beliefs in magic, psychic abilities, or the supernatural
👂 Sensing things that others don't (like hearing murmurs or feeling body sensations)
🗣️ Talking in a way that's hard to follow or seems overly complicated
😨 Being very suspicious or paranoid
😶 Showing flat or "off" emotions
👕 Dressing or acting in ways that others find unusual
🚷 Avoiding social contact, even though they feel anxious or uncomfortable in groups
💬 Not having close friends beyond family
Despite being around people, it can feel like you're always on the outside looking in. That can be painful — but with understanding and support, connection is possible 💛
🧠💬 If you recognise yourself in any of these descriptions, you're not alone — and you're not "too weird" or "too much." Everyone deserves understanding, support, and a place where they can just be themselves. That's what we're here for 🫶
Contact Us if you would like more information about any of the above, or are interested in dropping in to one of our weekly peer support sessions.
If you are struggling, please check out our Help & Support page for signposting to appropriate services.
📌 Other or Unspecified Personality Disorders
Sometimes, a person may experience ongoing personality struggles that don't quite fit into the usual categories. That's where "Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" (PD-NOS) comes in.
🧩 You might not meet the full criteria for one specific disorder, but still feel distressed or held back by certain patterns
🧠 Your experience may fit a type that's not officially recognised in diagnostic manuals (like Depressive or Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder)
No matter the label — your experience is valid. If your patterns are making life harder, support is available. You don't have to meet every checkbox to deserve help 💛