Avoidant personality disorder
“Therefore, while social phobic and patients with AvPD both avoid out of fear, the social phobic’s fears mainly arise in the clinical context of feeling, or actually being called upon to perform in ways ranging from giving a speech to urinating in a public washroom. In contrast the avoidant’s fears generally arise in the context of interpersonal relationships, the main marker I look for in making the diagnosis of AvPD.” ― Martin Kantor, Distancing: Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personality disorder is a type of psychological problem in which a person is characterized by the feeling of nervousness and fear and it is also an anxiety disorder. A person has low self-esteem. They have a fear of being rejected and negatively judged by others. The people who are suffering from this type of disorder are shy, simple and socially awkward. They are sensitive people. As we know that it is a psychological problem so it can be treated by psychotherapy.
Common Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Following are the most common symptoms of avoidant personality disorder which we discussed here:
- Self-isolation
- Avoid school work
- Avoid social activities
- Avoid job activities
- Fear of being rejected
- Lack of confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Avoid speaking in fear to speak something wrong
- Shyness and nervousness-at crowded places
- Easily hurt and disappointed
- Having no close friends
- Feeling of inferior from other people
- Unwilling to do a new thing because of embracement if it goes wrong
Common Causes of Avoidant Personality Disorder
The causes behind different personality disorders are usually the same because they are the things that affect us while our personality is being developed. There are some common things which specialists consider are the causes of avoidant disorders. They are the following:
- Environmental factors
- Family history
- Changes in brain functions
- Learned behaviors from others which we called modelling
Risk Factors of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Following are some of the most observed risk factors of avoidant personality disorder:
- If you have a family history of personality disorder
- Due to some changes in brain functions leads to avoidant personality disorder
- Some environmental factors also involve
What are some common complications you may face if you have an avoidant personality disorder?
Following are the common complications you may face if you are having an avoidant personality disorder:
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Relationship problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Excessive stress
- Physical and mental health problems
- Self-isolation
- Mood disorders
- Social phobia
Diagnoses of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Following are the methodologies and techniques used by the doctors or psychiatrist:
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Asking about the symptoms you have experience
- Diagnostic criteria from DSM-5
How doctors treat avoidant personality disorders?
Doctors can treat this type of psychological problems by the following methods and techniques which we discussed here:
- Medications
- Psychotherapy
Personality disorders are basically managed and cannot be treated 100% because they are deeply rooted in a person. Therapies and counselling provide support to the client so that their lifestyle and behavior becomes better.