Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a personality disorder. People with AVPD often have a long history of feeling inadequate (not enough) and are very sensitive to what others think about them.
Someone with an avoidant personality disorder will appear shy and timid. But this is much more than just being ‘shy’. You may avoid people because you feel inferior, even though you really want to have company. You are very sensitive to judgements by others and fear rejection. These feelings are chronic and intense. They negatively affect your ability to engage and function through life.
What are the symptoms of avoidant personality disorder?
A personality disorder is a long-term pattern of behaviour, thinking and emotions. It causes distress and makes it difficult to function in everyday life.
People with personality disorders find it hard to change their behaviour or adapt to different situations. You may have trouble forming positive relationships with others or keeping a job.
For an AVPD diagnosis you need 4 or more of the symptoms listed below:
Avoids working with others because of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
Doesn’t want to get involved with people unless they are sure of being liked.
Holds back from close relationships because they fear being shamed or mocked.
Is preoccupied with being criticised or rejected in social situations.
Is inhibited when meeting new people, due to feeling inadequate.
Views self as socially inadequate, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.
Is reluctant to try new activities because they may become embarrassed.
Many people have some of these traits but are still able to function normally. These people do not have a personality disorder.
What causes avoidant personality disorder?
The cause of AVPD is not known.
Some people with avoidant personality disorder:
come from families where personality disorders are common
had childhoods that involved abuse, trauma or neglect
come from normal and happy families
When should I see my doctor?
If you are finding it difficult to look after your mental health issues, try the healthdirect Symptom Checker. Get advice on when to get professional help.
healthdirect Symptom Checker guides you through the appropriate healthcare steps. Whether it’s self-care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).
Interpersonal therapy is another type of treatment for AVPD.
No medicines have been tested or approved for the use in avoidant personality disorder.
Can avoidant personality disorder be prevented?
AVPD can't be prevented as the cause is unknown. However, it's best to get treatment as soon as possible.
Complications of avoidant personality disorder
Without treatment people with avoidant personality disorder may end up living a life in near or total isolation. This can result in them getting a second psychiatric disorder such as substance abuse or depression. This can stop them living life to its full potential.
Resources and Support
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The classic symptoms associated with avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) include social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to negative feedback and evaluation, fear of rejection, avoidance of any activities that require substantial personal interaction, and reluctance to take risks or get involved in ...
The primary characteristics of avoidant personality disorder are being very sensitive to critique, feeling inadequate or 'less than,' and avoiding social situations. If you have this condition, others may describe you as shy, timid, sensitive, or isolated.
Researchers have found that those with BPD tend to experience more emotional instability than those with APD. Consequently, those with BPD may need greater support and treatment especially when symptoms are severe.
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a mental health condition that involves chronic feelings of inadequacy and extreme sensitivity to criticism. People with AVPD would like to interact with others, but they tend to avoid social interactions due to their intense fear of rejection.
Another point of divergence between APD and an autistic disorder relates to social cues. Children with an autistic spectrum disorder tend to ignore these cues, while those with APD are hypersensitive to them.
This may seem like a paradox: avoidant personality disorder is characterized by a fear of not being good enough whereas narcissistic personality prompts an image of a grandiose person believing he or she can do no wrong.
Finally, avoidants can have healthy and fulfilling relationships just like everyone else. It is especially the case when they are aware of the problems they will face and have ready ways of dealing with them.
Avoidant personality disorder is a mental illness that usually affects a person long-term. Because people with this disorder often experience intense social anxiety, they tend to avoid social situations and instead isolate themselves. As a result, they often feel lonely.
People with avoidant personality disorder have intense feelings of inadequacy and cope maladaptively by avoiding any situations in which they may be evaluated negatively. Reported prevalence of avoidant personality disorder in the United States varies, but estimated prevalence is about 2.1% (1).
Because of the shyness that AvPD brings it's not common for sufferers to seek the limelight, but actress Kim Basinger has spoken out about her struggle from childhood with Avoidant personality disorder. She eventually learned to manage her AvPD through therapy.
Childhood indicators that the disorder might develop include a lack of positive and healthy relationships with adults as well as an inability to develop friendships with peers. Extreme shyness and reluctance to participate in normal casual social interaction might also be signs of later AVPD development.
The development of avoidant personality disorder can result from a complex mix of environmental factors, personality traits , and genetics. The following can all play a key role : fearful or anxious childhood attachment styles.
They involve you in their interests. Someone with an avoidant attachment style is fiercely independent, so if they choose to include you in an activity that they typically enjoy by themselves, then it's a sure indicator that they are developing meaningful feelings for you.
Research suggests that experiences of rejection and marginalization during childhood and innate traits of social anxiety and avoidance may contribute to avoidant personality disorder (1, 2). Avoidance in social situations has been detected as early as about age 2 years.
Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder are both characterized by an overwhelming fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations. Since the two disorders look alike and can co-occur, it's common for one to be mistaken for the other. Both conditions have distinct features and different roots.
Avoidant attachment is characterized by having discomfort with emotional intimacy, a strong desire for independence, and difficulty wholly trusting others. In other words, the person avoids getting too close to someone else.
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