What is Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by social inhibition, low self-evaluation, and excessive sensitivity to negative evaluations. Avoidant personality disorder is mainly characterized by behavioral patterns such as fear of rejection, avoidance of social activities, extreme sensitivity to criticism, and self isolation. It is usually caused by a combination of genetic factors, childhood experiences, social environment, and other factors, and can be intervened through psychological therapy, medication, and other methods.

1. Social inhibition

Avoidant personality disorder patients often exhibit obvious social avoidance behavior, fear establishing intimate relationships with others, and feel uneasy even in familiar environments. This group of people usually experience strong anxiety about social activities, worrying about poor performance or negative evaluations from others, and therefore tend to be alone or only interact with a very small number of trusted people. Cognitive behavioral therapy in psychotherapy can help patients identify and change negative thinking patterns, gradually building social confidence.

2. Low self-evaluation

Patients often have persistent feelings of inferiority, believing that they are inferior to others, lacking social skills or attractiveness. This low sense of self-worth may lead them to avoid situations that may expose their shortcomings, such as job competition or public speaking. Long term low self-evaluation may be related to frequent criticism or neglect during childhood, and psychotherapy can help patients rebuild healthy self-awareness through mindfulness training.

3. Oversensitivity

Oversensitivity to criticism or rejection is one of the core characteristics, and patients often misunderstand neutral evaluations as negative feedback, leading to strong emotional reactions. This sensitivity may lead them to avoid situations that require interpersonal interaction, such as teamwork or emotional relationships. Drug therapy such as sertraline tablets can alleviate accompanying anxiety symptoms, but psychological intervention is needed to improve cognitive biases.

4. Emotional isolation

In order to protect oneself from potential harm, patients may develop defense mechanisms of emotional alienation, manifested as difficulty in expressing true feelings or establishing deep relationships. This isolation state may further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. Group therapy can provide a safe social environment, helping patients practice emotional expression and observe healthy interpersonal interaction patterns.

5. Functional impairment

Symptoms may lead to social functional impairment such as limited career development and lack of interpersonal relationships, and in severe cases, may be accompanied by depression or anxiety. Early intervention is particularly important, and comprehensive treatment plans include supportive psychotherapy to improve social skills, and if necessary, combined with medications such as paroxetine to control comorbidities. Patients need to develop a gradual exposure plan under professional guidance and gradually adapt to social situations. The daily management of avoidant personality disorder should focus on establishing a regular schedule and moderate social activities. Family members should avoid criticism and give more positive feedback. Patients can try to record positive experiences in daily social interactions and gradually correct negative expectations of interpersonal interactions. Regular aerobic exercise can help alleviate anxiety, and cultivating creative hobbies such as painting and writing can also provide alternative channels for expressing emotions. If symptoms continue to affect daily life, it is recommended to seek professional evaluation from a psychiatrist or psychotherapist in a timely manner.