Avoidant personality disorder (APD) is a long standing maladaptive behavior that is characterized by certain key behavioral characters. Individuals with APD have severe inferiority complex, feel extremely shy and have a constant feeling of inadequacy in a social situation. They have a constant fear of facing rejection and are hypersensitive to embarrassment. The two core feature of this disorder is negative emotions and detachment. Like the pathology of most personality disorders, certain inner experiences direct the outward behavior of patients with APD. Certain personality traits, helps people to adapt to changes in the environment. However, certain aspect of a person’s personality is consistent and this is often inherited from family or learned in early childhood. The inability of individuals to be flexible and adapt their personality to a changing environment is identified as a personality disorder. (Maruta, Kato, Matsumoto, & Iimori, 2012)
People with personality disorders have a rigid pattern of behavior. Their behavior differs from the expected social behavior in a population. The rigid behavior of the person causes occupational and social difficulties. It affects their day to day life. Personality disorders are difficult to treat and the best age to treat personality disorders have been during childhood. Unfortunately, for most people, the disorder goes unrecognized in childhood and become recognizable only in later adulthood. People with APD may have a peculiar way of perceiving and thinking. They are socially withdrawn and are often isolated. They are extremely sensitive to criticism and very often fails to recognize their mistakes. (Kantor, 2010)
Symptoms: Person with APD tend to avoid occupational activities and are unwilling to get involved with people. They show inhibition towards intimate relationships and often preoccupied with negative emotions and worries. They are socially awkward and show reluctant to take risks.
Diagnosed: The disorder is diagnosed only if it occurs before early adulthood. APD is ruled out if the behavioral abnormalities are linked to another mental disorder, medical condition or substance abuse. APD can be distressing condition and impair once effective functioning at home, work and in society. APD is sometimes written off as social phobia. While evaluating the person for APD, it is advisable to look out for the presence of other disorders like depression, substance abuse, anxiety disorder, depression, etc. The presence of a history of child abuse and neglect, could also create the fear of getting involved with people. Like many other social anxiety disorder, APD can be linked to behavior abnormalities in the family. (Maruta, Kato, Matsumoto, & Iimori, 2012)
Cause: The cause of APD is not clearly defined. A combination of factors like society, genetics and psychology, can contribute to APD. For most reason, trauma caused in early childhood could be a reason for this. Like most other personality disorders, APD is a learned behavior. Social rejection felt at an early age can leave a big trauma in the child’s mind. Likewise, parents who humiliate their child and exhibit rejection, increase the child’s chances of becoming extremely shy. History of unhappy childhood, neglect and violence in the family, could be traced to a number of cases of avoidant personality disorder. Though APD and social phobia are two distinct disorders, very often APD is categorized as social phobia. APD is much more deviant syndrome when compared to social phobia. (Kantor, 2010)
Treatment: of APD is important. Untreated APD tend to end in depression. Childhood is the best period to treat the disorder. Parents should be a good friend to their children and someone whom their children can rely on. Having someone to trust and help is the best treatment for the child. Treatment for adults involves group activities and practicing social skills in a controlled environment. A warm, welcoming behavior can help people with APD to come out of their negative emotions and feel reassured in the society. (Maruta, Kato, Matsumoto, & Iimori, 2012)
References
Kantor, M. (2010). The essential guide to overcoming avoidant personality disorder. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger.
Maruta, T., Kato, M., Matsumoto, C., & Iimori, M. (2012). Avoidant personality disorder. Personality And Mental Health, 6(3), 266-270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1210
