Avoidant Personality Disorder

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.

**Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD)** is characterized by the avoidance of social situations or interactions that involve risk of rejection, criticism, or humiliation. Someone with avoidant personality disorder will appear shy and timid. They may avoid others because they feel inadequate, even though they secretly wish to have company. They are very sensitive to negative judgement from others.

## Signs & Symptoms

For individuals with this disorder, fear of rejection is so strong that they choose to isolate rather than risk being rejected.

* Very low self-esteem and low feelings of self-worth.
* A tendency to hide, either in baggy, nondescript clothing or by staying in the background in social situations.
* An inability to form stable relationships with individuals outside of their family circle.
* Being easily and extremely hurt by any type of criticism in any situation.
* Fear of speaking in public places.
* Extreme reluctance to undertake new activities or try new things for fear or rejection.
* Excessive feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness.
* Overwhelming discomfort with work, school or social activities in groups.
* Being preoccupied with being rejected, laughed at, or shamed in social or work situations.
* A fear of rejection that prohibits meeting new individuals or making new friends, even if they'd like to.
* An obsession with dwelling on any criticism, slight, ridicule, or rejection.

One may also have trouble believing that others like them. When one is sensitive to rejection and criticism, one may misinterpret neutral comments or actions as negative ones.

### Diagnosis

For a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder, symptoms must have begun in early adulthood and must have:

* A persistent pattern of avoiding social contact, feeling inadequate, and being hypersensitive to criticism and rejection.

This pattern is shown by the presence of four or more of the following:

* Avoidance of job-related activities that involve interpersonal contact because they fear that they will be criticized or rejected or that others will disapprove of them.
* Unwillingness to get involved with others unless they are sure of being liked.
* Preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations.
* Inhibition in new social situations because they feel inadequate.
* Self-assessment as socially incompetent, unappealing, or inferior to others.
* Reluctance to take personal risks or participate in any new activity because they may be embarrassed.

## Causes

The exact cause of avoidant personality disorder is not known. However, it is believed that both genetics and environment play a role. It is believed that avoidant personality disorder may be passed down in families through genes, but that has not yet been proven. Environmental factors, particularly in childhood, do play an important role. Shyness, often normal in young children, lasts into adolescents and adulthood in those with avoidant personality disorder. Those with the disorder often report past experiences of parental or peer rejection, which can impact an individual's self-esteem and sense of worth.

## References

https://www.healthline.com/health/avoidant-personality-disorder

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9761-avoidant-personality-disorder

https://www.sheppardpratt.org/knowledge-center/condition/avoidant-personality-disorder/

https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/psychiatric-disorders/personality-disorders/avoidant-personality-disorder-avpd

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/avoidant-personality-disorder