Overview
Avoidant personality disorder is a disorder in which an individual experiences feelings of excessive social inhibition and sensitivity to criticism or rejection from others. The personality disorder can be severe enough to make it extremely difficult to have healthy social interactions and maintain relationships. Behaviors of self-isolation and feelings of low self-esteem make it virtually impossible to engage in a productive day-to-day life.
Symptoms
Personality disorders like avoidant personality disorder aren’t diagnosed until an individual is at least 18 years of age, because most people exhibit similar symptoms as a normal part of adolescent development. For those who continue to have problems with symptoms like:
- a fear of criticism and rejection,
- low self-esteem,
- and isolation,
it might be time to get a diagnosis from an avoidant personality disorder therapist.
Causes
It’s actually not known where personality disorders come from, and avoidant personality disorder is no exception. What most professionals generally agree on is that both genetics and the environment play a role in causing the development of a personality disorder. In the case of someone with avoidant personality disorder, early warning signs of poor social skills and a fear of criticism could indicate a problem warranting a counselor for personality disorders.
Treatment
The most typical treatment advised for avoidant personality disorder is long-term talk therapy, which involves counseling with patients to work through the reasons they’re so scared of rejection and criticism. Over time and with a quality avoidant personality disorder counselor, patients can develop the ability to relate to others and feel less sensitive to rejection. Medication is only used for specific issues.
Prevention
There are no known methods for preventing this disorder, but it should become obvious if someone is finding it difficult to connect with others or handle daily life without self-esteem problems and a fear of rejection. It’s important to get avoidant personality disorder therapy as soon as it becomes apparent there’s a problem.
Why Choose New Horizons to Treat Avoidant Personality Disorder?
Don’t avoid the problem any longer. We have licensed psychologists who specialize in avoidant personality disorder counseling services. With sensitivity and experience, we will guide you or your loved one on the road to a productive life. If any symptoms of avoidant personality disorder have appeared, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
