People with avoidant personality disorder suffer from severe shyness, feelings of inadequacy, and sensitivity to rejection. These symptoms can lead to avoidance of any activity that would involve socializing or interacting with others, including work and school.
While about 15% of adults in the United States meet the standard diagnostic criteria for at least one personality disorder, only 1% of the population has avoidant personality disorder, according to Psychology Today.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Signs and Symptoms
There are many common signs of avoidant personality disorder. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Having no close friends
- Being shy in social situations because of an intense fear that you will do something wrong
- Exaggerating potential difficulties in any given situation
- Believing that you are inferior and unappealing to other people
- Being easily hurt by disapproval or criticism
- Being reluctant to become involved with other people
- Being especially withdrawn in potential intimate or romantic relationships
- Avoiding occupations or activities that involve regularly interacting with other people
Experiencing just one or two of these symptoms doesn’t mean that you have avoidant personality disorder; however, if you are experiencing multiple symptoms, don’t be afraid to discuss this with your doctor. Being shy or timid is not reason enough for a diagnosis, but if you feel that your shyness or fear of rejection is overwhelming to the point where it is negatively affecting your ability to function in life and relationships, talk to your health care provider or psychiatrist. Diagnosis is the first step towards finding an effective treatment and managing your condition.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Causes
Even though it is not yet known what specifically causes avoidant personality disorder, there are many theories of possible causes held by researchers today. In fact, it is believed that avoidant personality disorder could be the result of a combination of biological and genetic factors, social factors, and psychological factors. Biological and genetics play a part in the way your brain is hard-wired from birth, meaning this personality disorder is something that could be passed down from parent to child.
Social and psychological factors include many things, such as your environment, the way you interacted with friends and family during early development, and your natural personality and temperament. These factors can all play a part in how you psychologically develop into adulthood as well.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Treatments
As with any personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder is usually treated through a combination of long-term psychotherapy along with prescription medications. Individual sessions with a therapist are usually the most effective approach for people with avoidant personality disorder. This kind of therapy is usually most successful when geared towards specific, short-term life problems.
Since the self-esteem issues are so deeply rooted in someone suffering from avoidant personality disorder, this is not something that is likely to be solved. The main focus of treatment is learning the skills to be able to deal with your condition in order to best improve your quality of life for the future.
Sometimes, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can improve certain symptoms caused by avoidant personality disorder. However, it is usually recommended that psychotherapy be the first course of action, as sometimes certain medications can begin to impede on the success of your treatment.
