of extreme social inhibition, inadequacy, and sensitivity
to negative criticism and rejection.
Yet the symptoms involve more than simply being shy or socially awkward.
Avoidant personality disorder causes significant
problems that affect the ability to interact with others
and maintain relationships in day-to-day life.
About 1% of the general population has avoidant personality disorder.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Symptoms
Avoidant personality disorder symptoms include a variety
of behaviors, such as:
Avoiding work, social, or school activities for fear of
criticism or rejection. It may feel as if you are
frequently unwelcome in social situations, even when
that is not the case. This is because people with
avoidant personality disorder have a low threshold for
criticism and often imagine themselves to be inferior
to others.
Low self-esteem
Self-isolation
When in social situations, a person with avoidant
personality disorder may be afraid to speak up for fear
of saying the wrong thing, blushing, stammering, or
otherwise getting embarrassed. You may also spend a
great deal of time anxiously studying those around you
for signs of approval or rejection.
A person who has an avoidant personality disorder is
aware of being uncomfortable in social situations and
often feels socially inept. Despite this self-awareness,
comments by others about your shyness or nervousness
in social settings may feel like criticism or rejection. This
is especially true if you are teased, even in a good-
natured way, about your avoidance of social situations.
Social Impact of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personality disorder causes a fear of rejection
that often makes it difficult to connect with other people.
You may be hesitant to seek out friendships, unless you
are certain that the other person will like you. When you
are involved in a relationship, you may be afraid to share
personal information or talk about your feelings. This can
make it difficult to maintain intimate relationships or
close friendships.
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5), a person diagnosed with avoidant personality
disorder needs to show at least four of the following
criteria:
>Avoids occupational activities that involve significant
interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism,
disapproval, or rejection.
>Is unwilling to get involved with people unless they
are certain of being liked.
>Shows restraint within intimate relationships
because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed.
>Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in
social situations.
>Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of
feelings of inadequacy.
>Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing,
or inferior to others.
>Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to
engage in any new activities because they may prove
embarrassing.
>Avoidant behavior may commonly be seen in children or
adolescents, but a diagnosis of a personality disorder
cannot be made in childhood because shyness, fear of
strangers, social awkwardness, or being sensitive to
criticism are often a normal part of child and adolescent
development.
A mental health professional can assess your symptoms,
make an accurate diagnosis, and suggest the
appropriate treatment options.
Avoidant Personality Disorder Treatments
As with other personality disorders, a mental health
professional will design a treatment plan that is
appropriate for you. Avoidant personality disorder
treatments vary, but they will likely include talk therapy.
If a co-existing condition, such as depression or anxiety
disorder , is also diagnosed, appropriate medications may
also be used.
Avoidant Personality Disorder and Other
Conditions
Other mental health disorders can occur along with
avoidant personality disorder. Treatments in these cases
will be designed to help with the symptoms of each
disorder. A few of the conditions that most frequently
occur with avoidant personality disorder include:
Social phobia, in which a person experiences
overwhelming anxiety and self-consciousness in
common social situations.
Dependent personality disorder , in which people rely
excessively on others for advice or to make decisions
for them.
Borderline personality disorder , in which people have
difficulties in many areas including social
relationships, behavior, mood, and self-image.
Many avoidant personality disorder symptoms are
commonly shared among these other conditions,
particularly in the case of generalized social phobia .
Because of this, the disorders can be easily confused. It
may take some time for a mental health professional to
make a clear diagnosis and choose the appropriate
treatments for you.
WebMD Medical Reference
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