While at work, she preferred to be by herself and became anxious when her supervisor wanted her to perform duties in a group situation. The fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection made being a team player more than she could bear.
In a parallel fashion, new interpersonal situations led to discomfort and considerable feelings of inadequacy. Viewed by those around her as attractive and capable, her own inner feelings of inferiority and social ineptness produced withdrawal and the desire to be alone most of the time. Fear of embarrassment led her to avoid entering into new situations or trying new things that might contain any element of risk. Closeness and intimacy in relationships were rare and temporary due to fear of being shamed or ridiculed. Finally, she felt that she needed some kind of guarantee that she would be
liked by those around her in new situations, and without this assurance, she preferred being alone and out of the scrutiny of others.
Suffering from Avoidant Personality Disorder, this unhappy woman felt as
though she was always on the outside looking in. Her desire to be involved with other people was overridden by her perception of being unacceptable and incapable of being loved. This pattern of social inhibition produced feelings of inadequacy and hypersensitivity to criticism that controlled almost every element of her life. Her self-conscious and overly introspective thought patterns required great energy and focus and frequently led to physical and emotional exhaustion by the end of the day. Perceiving herself as different from others she was very unsure of her own identity and self worth.
She was truly a lonely loner, strongly desiring to be part of the group and one of the gang, but unable to find the actions and words that made her comfortable and confident in attempting affiliation.
Fortunately, many types of therapy and treatment can help with this emotional disorder.
Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy can assist the individual in examining his or her faulty thinking patterns.
Behavioral therapy can help reduce anxiety and the fear of social situations.
Psychotherapy can boost the individual’s self-esteem and lead to confidence in relating to other people in a healthy manner.
Medication can also be helpful in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with Avoidant Personality Disorder.
Deciding to seek help is the first and sometimes the hardest part of the treatment, but nevertheless is a necessary step toward healthy living and recovery.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2003
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I’m an experienced Clinical Practitioner, Administrator, Professional Writer, and Lecturer.
