Dependent Personality Disorder: What Is It And Who Does It Affect?

Inability to be alone, almost suppressive dependence on others, insecurity, personal responsibility, and obsessive fear of giving up… All of these symptoms are related to one of the most common but least recognized and treated disorders. We are talking about addictive personality disorder.

To understand these types of disturbances, we start with a simple example. George is 42 years old and is facing a job interview today. After dressing in the morning, George’s wife suggests changing the tie to another: a tie already worn is too dark, looking too serious. George takes the matter badly, though he does not comment on the matter in any way. She soon begins to wonder if the shirt and pants she chooses are the right kind, whether the shoes fit the whole…

Confusion and frustration

Confused by doubts and fears, George tells himself that he will not get a job. Almost unknowingly, his negativity begins to increase and the state begins to form an obsession. He begins to think that if he doesn’t get a job, his wife will probably leave him. However, the wife tells her that this will not happen and that she will support her husband, trust him. The wife tries to prove that there is no reason for irrational fears.

George seems to be picking up, but his wife Eva takes a deep breath and begins to sink into despair. She knows she needs to be encouraging and give her husband energy throughout the day… maybe even a whole week. He knows that George may no longer be strong enough to attend a job interview. She also understands that her husband’s behavior is not normal. Sometimes Evan finds it hard to live with her and feels burning more and more to the end. She thinks the thing is part of her husband’s personality and it will never change.

But that is where the crux of the problem lies: a way of thinking that supports the normalcy of behavior and the fact that nothing can be done. We just connect the thing with the personality and give them permission to do whatever they want. We accept them without realizing that their suffering is a disease, a real disease. It is a behavior that negates a person and his or her environment.

Dependent personality disorder or fragile ego

According to the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the most common personality disorder is a highly dependent personality disorder. The disruption is characterized by a significant lack of self-confidence and a constant need for security, safety and support. Signs can be noticed as early as adolescence, but symptoms become more extreme and obvious by the age of 40 at the latest.

On the other hand, as we originally showed, individuals with addictive personality disorder are rarely themselves aware of their illness. They only ask for help towards the end of their problems and are unable to control what happened.

Characteristics of people with addictive personality disorder

• Inability to be alone
• Avoiding liability
• Extreme passivity
• Difficulty accepting and facing criticism
• Inability to cope with the difference
• Obsessive fear of being rejected
• Extreme passivity in human relationships
• Lack of initiatives: decision-making does not naturalize without support and advice

Causes of the disorder and diagnosis: what kind of person is exposed to the disorder?

At present, the cause of the disturbance is not known. However, it is clear that it occurs in adulthood and that in some patients treated for anxiety disorders are partly related to parental separation in childhood. However, this is not always the case.

The disease occurs in about 2% of the population (although we know that many people live without a diagnosis). Dependent personality disorder is more common in women than men.

In diagnosis, it is important to emphasize the work of physicians. They are most often the first contact, the first step in obtaining a diagnosis, and they should always refer their patients to specialized professionals.

The patient is given a blood test at the beginning to rule out any hormonal imbalance. The patient’s symptoms and medical history are then analyzed.

Treatment of addictive personality disorder

Every patient is unique. Sometimes there may be more complications than usual, such as depression, anxiety disorder, personality avoidance disorder, etc. These all add to the medical issues that need to be addressed carefully.

However, it must be remembered that the combination of psychotherapy and medical treatment is most often very effective. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy may focus on thought patterns, beliefs, and an inability to make decisions. We must not forget that such diseases require long-term treatment, approaches that are often carefully combined with antidepressants or other medications and where progress is regularly assessed.

Finally, we must also not forget the support of the patient’s family and friends. The support of loved ones is the third pillar of care, where the person with the disorder must combine continuous efforts, commitment and a strong will to improve and fight for a better quality of life.