Avoidant personality disorder

From ArticleWorld

A person who has an avoidant personality disorder is one who feels so inadequate and unappealing that they go to any lengths to avoid social situations or employment that would bring them into contact with others. The condition, also referred to as anxious personality disorder, applies to those who are extremely sensitive to negative judgement and have a deeply ingrained fear of ridicule or humiliation.

It is thought that rejection either by parents or peers during childhood leads to the manifestation of the disorder in early adulthood. The problem arises when the individuals involved excessively monitor their own internal reactions in situations as well as those of the people with whom they are interacting. They are so busy monitoring that they become hesitant, perhaps even stutter, and seem taciturn, thus giving other people the impression they don’t like them. This of course leads to the rejection they fear so much and a vicious cycle is formed.

Symptoms

According to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, there exists a pervasive pattern of social inhibition and the individual suffering from APD avoid work situations which would mean they needed to work closely with others and develop a relationship with them. This occurs because of the fear of criticism or rejection. Unless they are certain they are going to be liked, they are unwilling to get involved with others and they even fear ridicule so much, they are also inhibited in their intimate relationships.

Risk taking in their personal life and the undertaking of anything new invites the possibility of embarrassment and so is avoided.

Treatment

Treatment of the disorder involves different therapies which focus on changing thought and behaviour patterns as well as – to a lesser extent – medication. The first major hurdle in treatment is gaining the person’s trust as they are so fearful of rejection, they are hesitant to trust the therapist.