Sometimes we are way in over our heads that people are out to get us. It could be true but most of the time, they are nothing but scenarios that we make up in our heads due to some neutral comments or behaviors which we decode as negative. As an over thinker, you maybe tempted to draw conclusions to avoid any last minute surprises but often at times, the conclusions are again, always negative. To top it all off is the tendency to be extremely shy in social settings because of fear of rejection, disapproval, criticism and embarrassment. Living life with barriers is no way to live life and that’s why I decided to share on Avoidant Personality Disorder.

Avoidant personality disorder is a life long pattern of extreme shyness that sis accompanied by feeling inadequate and hypersensitive to rejection. The disorder causes psychiatric symptoms and creates serious problems in relationships and work. An individual ends up having a difficult time interacting in social and work settings. The disorder is characterized by the fear of rejection, fear of disapproval, fear of embarrassment, fear of criticism, fear of getting to know people, fear of intimate relationships and fear of being ridiculed. You misinterpret neutral comments as negative ones and the assumption that people are always out to get you. The causes are unknown like most personality disorders but according to research, it is highly likely to be genetically passed down on greatly influenced by environmental factors.

It’s hard to tell if you have the disorder but there are some risk factors that are closely associated. For most people with the disorder, they tend to be shy as children and it gradually advances with age but not every shy adult or child has the disorder. You tend to get to a point of avoiding people and situations. In order to effectively diagnose someone, the psychiatrist looks out for behaviors like avoiding work activities that involve contact, unwillingness to get involved with others, hold back in relationships due to fear of ridicule and humiliation, avoiding social situations because of feeling inadequate, thinking you are inferior and unlikely to take part in new activities due to fear of embarrassment.

Avoidant Personality Disorder can be treated through psycho-dynamic psychotherapy which is a form of talk therapy that will aid in mindset change and eventually influence positive change in the behavior of the individual. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also another effective way to treat those ailing from the disorder. Medication may be prescribed if you have co-occurring depression or anxiety. The overall outlook on the disorder is that you tend to isolate yourself and may likely develop a psychiatric disorder like depression, agoraphobia or substance use problem. This disorder can be managed and treated so it’s no cause for alarm. With the right mindset, you’ll get to change the narrative. Remember, its your story and feel free to hit them with a plot twist.
Ps Just Saying.

























