mental health disorders
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder
People with avoidant personality disorder avoid social interaction, even at work, because they fear that they will be criticized or rejected or that people will disapprove of them. For example, they may do the following: They may refuse a promotion because they fear coworkers will criticize them. They may avoid meetings. They may avoid making new friends unless they are sure they will be liked. People with this disorder assume others will be critical and disapproving until there is clear-cut, indisputable proof to the contrary. Thus, before joining a group and forming a close relationship, people with this disorder require repeated assurances of support and uncritical acceptance. People with avoidant personality disorder are reluctant to talk about themselves lest they be mocked or humiliated. People with this disorder are very reluctant to take risks or participate in new activities for similar reasons. In such cases, they often exaggerate the dangers and use minimal symptoms or other problems to explain why they are not participating. They may prefer a limited lifestyle because of their need for security and certainty. People with avoidant personality disorder are very sensitive to anything critical, disapproving, or mocking because they constantly think about being criticized or rejected by others. They are vigilant for any sign of a negative response to them. Their tense, anxious appearance may elicit mockery or teasing, thus seeming to confirm their self-doubts. Low self-esteem and a sense of inadequacy inhibit these people in social situations, especially new ones. They hold back in interactions with new people because they think of themselves as socially inept, unappealing, and inferior to others. They are typically quiet and timid because they think that if they say anything, others will say it is wrong. People with avoidant personality disorder long for social interaction but fear placing their well-being in the hands of others. Because these people with avoidant personality disorder limit their interactions with others, they are relatively isolated and lack a social network that could help them when they need it. 