What Is Avoidant Personality Disorder?

An avoidant personality disorder is a mental disorder that is characterized by feelings of extreme social inhibition, inadequacy, and sensitivity to negative criticism and rejection.

Symptoms of avoidant personality disorder are not just being shy or socially awkward but more than this. It can interfere with their daily lives and make it difficult to interact or maintain relationships in day-to-day life.

Symptoms of avoidant personality disorder include:

• Self-isolation

• Low self-esteem

• Fear of taking risks.

• Known as being a people pleaser to avoid conflict.

• Feeling a need to be liked, well-liked.

• Feeling anxious in social situations.

• Holding back intimate relationships or sharing intimate feelings.

• Lacking social networks.

• Extreme fear of rejection, avoiding work, decision making, doing social, or school activities.

• Rarely sharing their opinions or views.

• Judging themselves. They consider themselves to be socially inept and less skilled than other people.

• Very reluctant to take any risk or try something new, especially in front of people because they are afraid that they will embarrass themselves.

People with avoidant personality disorder feel like they are unwelcomed in social situations even when this is not the case. It is because they can’t take criticism and they see themselves to be inferior to others.

People with avoidant personality disorder are scared to speak when they are in a social situation basically due to the fear of speaking something wrong or may stammer, or otherwise get embarrassed. They may even spend a lot of time anxiously studying the people around them for signs of approval or even rejection. They are aware of being uncomfortable in social situations and feel socially inept. And when someone may comment about their nervousness or shyness in social settings, despite being self-aware they may feel like rejection or criticism, especially when teased about their avoidance of social situations even in good nature.

They take no risks and it can lead to missing many opportunities. They miss so much in life like doing many activities, meeting new people, growth, advancement at work.

Avoidant personality disorder can hindrance growth and make it difficult for building or maintaining relationships so it is better to take a professional help. Avoidant personality disorders can be diagnosed only by mental health professionals.

Recommending Psychologists and Therapists are

1. Life Coach Steffi Prasad - Psychologist & Therapists - Uptopia Life Coach in Siliguri, West Bengal, India.

www.steffiprasad.com

2. Khusboo Tomar - Psychologist: Centre for Forensic & Clinical Psychology