Therapists Say This Common Fear Is One Of The Biggest Signs Of Avoidant Personality Disorder |
Therapists Say This Common Fear Is One Of The Biggest Signs Of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Here’s how to tell if what you’re feeling is a sign of a deeper mental health issue.
If you’ve ever had to walk into a room full of strangers or speak in front of a crowd, you’re familiar with social anxiety. It’s a fear of being judged or negatively evaluated. In the future, you might avoid situations like these or manage to get through them, sweating and trying to swallow the lump in your throat.
For people with avoidant personality disorder (AVPD), the fear of being judged is so intense that they retreat from people and activities they might otherwise enjoy.
“Avoidant personality disorder is a mental health condition where someone avoids social situations because they feel extremely insecure and afraid of rejection,” said Nona Kocher, a board-certified psychiatrist in Florida. “Even though they may want close relationships, their fear holds them back.”
Relying on avoidance as a coping strategy can provide temporary relief, but it can also reinforce negative views of yourself as being inadequate or unworthy of satisfying relationships.
Below, we asked experts about the signs of avoidant personality disorder and what to do if it’s affecting your work and relationships.
What is avoidant personality disorder?
“Personality disorders cause people to think, feel and behave significantly differently from what is considered normal in their culture,” said Lienna Wilson, a licensed psychologist in New Jersey.
She explained that these differences are long-standing and persistent. Typically, this pattern of thinking and behaving begins in early adulthood and tends to affect work, friendships and romantic relationships. In the case of AVPD, they might feel unattractive, inferior or socially awkward.
“They often believe they’re not good enough or that others will judge them harshly,” Kocher said.
Since they’re extremely sensitive to criticism or disapproval, people with AVPD shy away from social engagements and are hesitant to try new activities to avoid feeling embarrassed, said Patrice Le Goy, an international psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. For example, they rarely take social risks like texting first or inviting someone for coffee. The possibility of rejection is too much to handle.
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