How to Treat Avoidant Personality Disorder

An individual who has an avoidant personality disorder feels inadequate and is constantly obsessed with what others think. This leads to feelings of isolation and excessive social inhibition. Individualized psychotherapy, as opposed to group therapy or support groups, is the best way to treat an avoidant personality disorder.

Things You'll Need

• Psychiatrist or psychologist

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Instructions

Treat an Avoidant Personality Disorder

• 1

  Look for the more common symptoms of an avoidant personality disorder. These include an unwillingness to become involved in activities that require working directly with others, excessive restraint in personal relationships, a reluctance to try anything new or different, a preoccupation with looking inept or inferior and constantly worrying about being embarrassed or ridiculed by others.

• 2

  Consult with a mental health professional to receive an accurate diagnosis of an avoidant personality disorder. Individuals who suffer from an avoidant personality disorder will be very reluctant to seek help, since they feel that all of their beliefs and behaviors will be held up to ridicule. An atmosphere of warmth and acceptance must be maintained during the entire duration of treatment for it to be effective.

• 3

  Use individualized psychotherapy as the primary way to treat an avoidant personality disorder. Evaluation of this personality may require more care on the part of the therapist with special attention devoted to non-verbal clues such as body language. In addition, a warm and accepting rapport must be preserved at all times with the client. Confrontational or critical observations about the specific behaviors exhibited should be avoided.

• 4

  Refrain from treating an avoidant personality disorder with prescription medication. While some health care professionals may be tempted to use anti-depressants or other types of anti-anxiety medication to treat the superficial symptoms of this disorder, this type of treatment may only serve to mask the specific causes and delay results from psychotherapy.

• 5

  Conclude the psychotherapy only when the individual feels that enough progress has been made for them to interact more positively and confidently with others. If the therapy ends too soon, there is a risk of relapse of avoidant personality disorder, undermining all the therapy that has occurred.