Overview:
Anxious/Avoidant Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by extreme shyness, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to rejection. These individuals feel themselves to be inferior to others. This disorder is only diagnosed when these behaviours become persistent and very disabling and/or distressing. This diagnosis should be used with great caution in children and adolescents for whom shy and avoidant behaviour may be appropriate. An example of this would be a new immigrant.
The symptoms:
– They tend to live alone
– Contact with family and friends can be enjoyable, but only for a short period of time
(minute or hours) and anxiety can be aroused at any moment.
– They avoid contact with strangers. They are extremely kind when such contact
occurs and they do everything possible to make sure that such contact is brief.
– They develop at least one phobia (for animals or objects) whose origin is connected
with the earlier appearance of anxiety attacks in social situations. The animal or
object connected with such situations unleashes the anxiety and this assumes phobic
characteristics.
– They are aware that they have abdicated certain experiences in life in order to avoid
suffering.
– They often fantasize about the situations they avoid and yet would like to experience – in their fantasies they exclude the anxiety-provoking stimuli.
– They can be professionally successful, but they could be even more successful if
they did not turn their backs on opportunities.
What causes Avoidant Personality Disorder?
The cause of avoidant personality disorder are not clearly defined. They may be influenced by a combination of social, genetic, and biological factors. Avoidant personality traits typically appear in childhood, with signs of excessive shyness and fear when the child confronts new people, situations and environments. These characteristics are also developmentally appropriate emotions for children, however, and do not necessarily mean that a pattern of avoidant personality disorder will continue into adulthood.
Many of those diagnosed with Avoidant Personality Disorder have had painful early experiences of chronic parental criticism and rejection. The need to bond with the rejecting parents makes the avoidant person hungry for relationships but their longing gradually develops into a defensive shell of self-protection against repeated criticisms or rejections. Ridicule or rejection by peers further reinforces the person’s pattern of social withdrawal and contributes to their fear of social contact.
Is there a cure?
The indicated treatment is psychotherapy. However, difficulties often arise, such as the sufferer being unmotivated and unwilling to change.
How Stepping Out can help:
Stepping Out have the facilities and staff to care for anybody suffering with Avoidant Personality Disorder. Our staff are both experienced and qualified to handle such cases. Stepping Out are able to provide home care, helping with daily tasks which a sufferer may find difficult. Avoidant Personality Disorder can sometimes be accompanied by other conditions and Stepping Out are aware of, and prepared to deal with such instances.
In extreme cases where the sufferer needs full-time support, Stepping Out provide their own 24-hour staffed housing accommodation, which are primarily based in north London and Hertfordshire.