| suffering from the Avoidant Personality Disorder feel | | | | Even when confronted with incontrovertible evidence |
| inadequate, unworthy, inferior, and lacking in | | | | to the contrary, Avoidants doubt that they are socially |
| self-confidence. As a result, they are shy and socially | | | | competent or personally appealing. Rather than let go |
| inhibited. Aware of their real (and, often, imagined) | | | | of their much cherished self-image, they sometimes |
| shortcomings, they are constantly on the lookout, are | | | | develop persecutory delusions. For instance, they may |
| hypervigilant and hypersensitive. Even the slightest, | | | | regard honest praise as flattery and a form of |
| most constructive and well-meant or helpful criticism | | | | attempted manipulation. Avoidants ceaselessly |
| and disagreement are perceived as complete | | | | fantasize about ideal relationships and how they would |
| rejection, ridicule, and shaming. Consequently, they go | | | | outshine everyone else in social interactions but are |
| to great lengths to avoid situations that require | | | | unable to do anything to realize their Walter Mitty |
| interpersonal contact - such as attending school, | | | | fantasies. |
| making new friends, accepting a promotion, or | | | | In public settings, Avoidants tend to keep to |
| teamwork activities. Hence the Avoidant Personality | | | | themselves and are very reticent. When pressed, they |
| Disorder. | | | | self-deprecate, act overly modest, and minimize the |
| Inevitably, Avoidants find it difficult to establish intimate | | | | value of their skills and contributions. By doing so, they |
| relationships. They "test' the potential friend, mate, or | | | | are trying to preempt what they believe to be |
| spouse to see whether they accept them uncritically | | | | inevitable forthcoming criticism by colleagues, spouses, |
| and unconditionally. They demand continue verbal | | | | family members, and friends. |
| reassurances that they really wanted, desired, loved, or | | | | From the entry I wrote for the Open Site |
| cared about. | | | | Encyclopedia: |
| When asked to describe Avoidants, people often use | | | | The disorder affects 0.5-1% of the general population |
| terms such as shy, timid, lonely, isolated, "invisible", quiet, | | | | (or up to 10% of outpatients seen in mental clinics). It is |
| reticent, unfriendly, tense, risk-averse, resistant to | | | | often comorbid with certain Mood and Anxiety |
| change (reluctant), restricted, "hysterical", and inhibited. | | | | Disorders, with the Dependent and Borderline |
| Avoidance is a self-perpetuating vicious cycle: the | | | | Personality Disorders, and with the Cluster A |
| Avoidant's stilted mannerisms, fears for her personal | | | | personality disorder (Paranoid, Schizoid, and |
| safety and security, and stifled conduct elicit the very | | | | Schizotypal). |
| ridicule and derision that he or she so fears! | | | | |