PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Have you ever felt reluctant to partake in novel activities and meeting strangers?

That you are inadequate and inferior to others?

Or that people are secretly criticising and making fun of you?

People with Avoidant Personality Disorder experience all of these regularly and intensely.
(Recall: maladaptive traits found in personality disorders are stable and pervasive)

This often causes them to avoid social interaction, goal-directed activities, and intimate relationships. Unless, of course, they are certain that they would be liked by the other party. It is thus not hard to imagine how these can easily translate into impairments in the interpersonal and occupational domains.

Avoidant Personality Disorder is NOT Social Anxiety Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder is often confused with Social Anxiety Disorder as both conditions involve social behaviour (or lack thereof). However, important distinctions exist between them. People with Avoidant Personality Disorder often experience anxiety in all areas of life, leading to higher levels of dysfunction, lower levels of sociability, and more consistent feelings of low self-esteem. In contrast, people with Social Anxiety Disorder may only experience anxiety in specific situations, such as public speaking. Nevertheless, it is also common for the two conditions to occur simultaneously.

Avoidant Personality Disorder is NOT Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder is another condition that may appear similar to Avoidant Personality Disorder. Both involve limited social skills and impaired social relationships. However, while people with Schizoid Personality Disorder are totally cool with keeping to themselves, people with Avoidant Personality Disorder do not at all enjoy being socially isolated. Instead, they crave interpersonal connection and experience significant distress as a result.

Born a Loner?

As with almost every other condition, Avoidant Personality Disorder can be attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Sensitivity towards loneliness could partially be genetically based, with children having shy and anxious dispositions more likely to develop avoidant personality traits. This is especially true if they are raised by punitive or neglectful parents.

Therapy

Evidence for effective therapy remain lacking with inconclusive research in the addressing of Avoidant Personality Disorder to date (no thanks to the high co‐occurrence rate between Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder). Surprisingly, methods of addressing Cluster C Personality Disorders (which includes Avoidant Personality Disorder) appears more promising in spite of limited research. This might be attributed to the individual’s desire to develop stronger relationships, resulting in higher motivation to commit to management plans.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been shown to be effective in managing Avoidant Personality Disorder. In addition, anti-depressants may sometimes help, just as they do for Social Anxiety Disorder.