Avoidant Personality Disorder

What is Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Quick Summary:

Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme social anxiety. People with this disorder often feel inadequate, avoid social situations, and seek out jobs with little contact with others. Avoidants are fearful of being rejected and worry about embarassing themselves in front of others. They exaggerate the potential difficulties of new situations to rationalize avoiding them. Often, they will create fantasy worlds to substitute for the real one. Unlike schizoid personality disorder, avoidants yearn for social relations yet feel they are unable to obtain them. They are frequently depressed and have low self-confidence.

Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder:

• Social inhibition; retreating from others in anticipation of rejection
• Preoccupation with being rejected or criticized in social situations
• Fear of embarrassment results in avoidance of new activities
• Poor self-image; feelings of social ineptitude
• Desire for improved social relations
• Appear to others as self-involved and unfriendly
• Creation of elaborate fantasy lives

Additional Information:

Talk with others about avoidant disorder on our social anxiety forum.

Books on Avoidant Personality Disorder

Shyness : A Bold New Approach
"This book on shyness opened up a new world for me, after years of painful first encounters and the turmoil of being afraid."

The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven Techniques for Overcoming Your Fears
"This step-by-step guide to overcoming fear of social interaction provides a comprehensive overview and includes behavioral skill-building exercises that have been proven effective."

Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life
"Drs. Barbara and Greg Markway, psychologists and experts in the field, coach you every step of the way in this warm, easy-to-read, and inspiring book. You'll learn how social anxiety disorder develops, how it affects all aspects of your life, and most importantly, how to chart your course to recovery."

Where to Get More Help and Information

• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• MedlinePlus - Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Dual Diagnosis and the Avoidant Personality Disorder