Avoidant

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