Book Online Counselling and Treatment for Avoidant Personality Disorder

Consultation with verified Avoidant Personality Disorder Therapists on Zoom / Google Meet.

Mental Health Care for AVPD

People with this condition may have low self-esteem. They might determine their worth based on what others think of them. Because of this disease, any negative comments can cause extreme pain. So, they may avoid meeting new people and social interaction. AVPD can make it difficult to form an intimate relationship.
They may still want to have friends and desire intimacy. But because they are hyper aware of the potential criticism, they may try to do everything to avoid it. This fear of rejection may seem difficult to overcome. Yet, there are ways to cope with the symptoms and live a happy life.
top_rated
Top-Rated
queer_affirmative
Queer-Affirmative
happy sessions
791 happy client sessions

Ms Anshika Mendiratta

Clinical Psychologist
2 years of experience
Therapy with me is about reflecting on your behavior patterns and feelings to gain awareness and understanding of how to navigate them effectively. Hello, I'm Anshika, a licensed clinical psychologist offering both online and in-person therapy sessions alongside conducting psychometric assessments. My primary focus is on assisting individuals in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and achieving improved mental and emotional well-being. To do so, I strive to establish a deep connection with my clients to make them feel safe and comfortable throughout the therapeutic process. My therapeutic approach is rooted in the belief that everyone is unique and deserves personalized care. In my opinion, a single theory does not work for everyone. Different people respond better to different styles of therapy, so I do my best to accommodate my client's preferences as much as possible through an integrative approach. I take great care to individualize treatment plans to address each client's specific needs. My areas of expertise lie in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Supportive Psychotherapy, targeting various concerns like Depression, Anxiety, OCD, and Personality Disorders. I also have expertise in conducting psychometric assessments for both children and adults. Beyond the therapy room, I am committed to making a meaningful impact and fully embracing the transformative journey of therapy.
Mon, Dec 9, 09:00 pm IST
Instant Confirmation
Google Meet
Koramangala, Bangalore
new_at_docvita
New at DocVita
queer_affirmative
Queer-Affirmative

Dr Navni Mehta

Counselling Psychologist
1 years of experience
No matter what’s bringing you to therapy, it’s safe to say something’s not going the way you’d like. Whatever you are facing today, know that tomorrow is an opportunity to thrive and overcome. Hello! my name is Dr Navni Mehta and in my journey, I have helped 200+ individuals, couples and families with Anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, marital/relationship issues, addiction, trauma, parent-teen issues, personality disorders and work-life balance. My expertise includes CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), IPT (Interpersonal Psychotherapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), PCT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dream Analysis, Couple Therapy, and Family Therapy addressing various concerns. I bring a unique perspective shaped by my diverse background in dentistry, hospital management and psychology. Over the past 7 years, I have worked closely with doctors, medical professionals, founders, entrepreneurs and individuals gaining a deep understanding of their viewpoints through my experience in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers and palliative care facilities. All sessions remain confidential. My sessions are impactful and introspective; you may laugh, cry or sit silently. The environment is judgment-free so that you can give voice to your inner self without hesitation, guilt or shame. As your therapist, I will walk beside you and assist you in navigating life challenges leading to wholeness for yourself and your relationships. The very essences of my therapy are self-realization, Applied positive psychology, Anger management, potential maximization, Problem-Solving, Behaviour counseling, relationship counseling, body image issues, low self-worth and mindfulness techniques to offer my clients a full-circle approach. Finding the right therapist can be challenging, but my mission is to lead with compassion and empathy, creating a space where my clients can be their authentic selves.
Tomorrow, 03 Dec, 12:15 am IST
Instant Confirmation
Google Meet
top_rated
Top-Rated
queer_affirmative
Queer-Affirmative
happy sessions
2907 happy client sessions

Ms Sanchita Agrawal

(she/her)
Clinical Psychologist
8 years of experience
I strongly believe in the power of collaboration and strive to create a safe and open space where my clients can freely express themselves. Hi, I am Sanchita, a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience working with individuals of all ages. My focus areas include emotional and behavioral difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, schizophrenia, autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and marital issues. I have worked in both in-patient and outpatient departments across the government and private sectors. My approach to therapy is eclectic, as I tailor it to the specific needs of each individual I work with. I am also well-versed in various therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavior therapy, motivation enhancement therapy, behavior modification, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. My M.Phil training has provided me with expertise in administering various assessment tools ensuring credible and standardized diagnoses. As your psychologist, you can count on my dedication, compassion, and commitment to delivering the highest quality of care. I bring a wealth of experience and a diverse skill set to support you on your journey toward improved mental health and overall well-being. By fostering empathy, non-judgment, patience, and perseverance, I aim to facilitate effective problem-solving and empower my clients to achieve their goals.
Wed, Dec 4, 10:00 am IST
Instant Confirmation
Google Meet
Koramangala, Bangalore

FAQs

A Quick Overview

An avoidant personality disorder (APVD) can create feelings of extreme shyness and social anxiety. It could also lead to avoidance of social situations. If you have this condition, you may avoid socializing due to the fear of rejection and negative criticism. This ailment may be more than shyness and social awkwardness. It is also characterized as Cluster C personality disease. Anxious, fearful thinking or behavior characterizes this illness. If not treated with counseling, you may find doing daily tasks, like your job, extremely difficult.

Major Causes

What causes this ailment is unknown. However, it may involve genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors.
This condition might be prevalent in some families and passed down to new generations. It may also result from the early childhood environment, the relationships you form as a child, and life experiences.
Some experts believe that this condition may develop as a coping mechanism for challenging or traumatic situations. It could be the body's way of protecting itself from painful experiences. Extreme shyness and avoiding relationships can serve as defense mechanisms to protect you from emotional pain.
Shyness, common in early childhood, can extend throughout adolescence and maturity in those with this illness. Those suffering from the disease report previous experiences of parental or peer rejection. This could harm a person's self-esteem and sense of worth.
Your attachment or abandonment experiences with your initial caregivers may impact the development of this ailment. Childhood caregiver bonds might often serve as the foundation for later-life partnerships. If you accept their criticism, you may develop a negative self-image and have difficulty trusting others.
Personality disorders can develop if your caregivers used to criticize, demean, and ignore your needs instead of providing a nurturing and encouraging environment. Such experience in the early stages of life can lead to the development of a fearful attachment style. Thus, they crave intimacy but distrust others, which leads to them being alone.
Adopted children may be more likely to have mental conditions like this one compared to non-adopted children. Studies suggest there is a high chance for patients to perceive their parents as less affectionate, encouraging, and endearing.
This fearful or avoidant attachment pattern might make forming partnerships harder. Despite your yearning for intimacy, you may be unable to overcome the underlying fear of encountering the same rejection and scorn.

Common Signs

Key signs of this illness may include:
  • Avoiding jobs that may need extensive interpersonal contact because of worries about criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
  • Hesitating to engage with anyone until they are sure of being liked.
  • Fear of being disliked or ridiculed. This may cause restraint in close relationships.
  • Constant worry about criticism or rejection in social situations.
  • Withholding from new interpersonal situations due to thoughts of inadequacy.
  • Considering themselves socially awkward, unpleasant, or inferior to others.
  • Hesitating to take personal risks or engage in new activities for fear of embarrassment.
  • Avoiding conflict and can come across as a people-pleaser.
  • Anhedonia
  • Desire to be liked and are sensitive to negative feedback.
  • Lack of a social network.
  • They might not share intimate feelings with someone or avoid close relationships.

Risk Factors

The risk factors include:
  • Family history: Some members may have a genetic predisposition toward developing such ailments. As this genetic material passes down through generations, some family members can be prone to them.
  • Childhood abuse and neglect: Abuse as a child can increase the risk of almost every mental illness, including AVPD. Plus, parental neglect could be involved in the development of this condition.
  • Adoptions: Adopted children might be more prone to developing personality diseases. They may feel that their needs, whether emotional or physical, are usually neglected. It can increase the risk of the development of these diseases.
  • Fearful attachment style: It is a need for connection in the face of interpersonal distrust and rejection dread. It may be particularly relevant to AVPD.
  • Temperament: Men and women with this disease might be cautious about avoiding harm. This trait links to neuroticism and shy or anxious traits. These characteristics might exhibit themselves in childhood. They are likely related to a combination of heredity and early-life experiences.

Related Conditions


Other mental health conditions can occur along with avoidant personality conditions. In these circumstances, medical professionals may tailor treatments to reduce the symptoms of each illness. Among the most common conditions associated with this ailment are:
  • Social phobia: A condition in which a person experiences feelings of overwhelming anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. There is a clear relationship between social anxiety disorder and this condition. In some instances, the two diseases may be diagnosed together. Those with both conditions might experience extreme and disabling anxiety symptoms. Without treatment, they may struggle at work and with loneliness.
  • Dependent personality disorder: A condition in which people may rely on others for advice or decision-making. Feelings of inadequacy, a need for reassurance, and hypersensitivity to criticism mark dependent personality disease and AVPD. Both of these conditions may occur together in historic and BPDs.
  • Borderline personality disorder: People with BPD may have difficulties in many areas. These include social relationships, behavior, mood, and self-image.
Social support can be beneficial when it comes to usual life stress. If you don't have that support, you might struggle to manage difficulties and feel overwhelmed.
Research also suggests that loneliness can factor into other health issues, including:
  • Sleep disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Depression
  • Substance use

How is it Different From Social Anxiety?

A person with social anxiety may have a heightened fear of social engagement due to potential scrutiny concerns. People suffering from SAD might know that their fears of severe judgment may be unjustified, even if they can't control them. But, people with AVPD may believe they are inferior, and criticism could be warranted. SAD patients can also experience performance anxiety. They may be concerned that they might say or do something embarrassing.
AVPD can cause negative self-evaluation in comparison to others. Those suffering from this condition may be highly critical of themselves and have a negative self-image. They might project this onto others, assuming that others see them the same way they do.
SAD patients may avoid certain situations, such as meeting new people and public speaking. A person with an avoidant personality might feel discouraged from participating in activities that affect all aspects of their life. They may repress their emotions, avoid being in a relationship, have restricted employment prospects, do not trust others, and so on.

How to Deal With Your Symptoms

Psychotherapy could be the most effective treatment for this condition. There are no specific medications to treat this condition. However, antidepressants and anxiety medications could help with your symptoms. Therapy aims to help you identify your unconscious beliefs and how others perceive you. It also aims to help you function better socially and at work.
Psychodynamic Therapy: It can help you become aware of your unconscious. It can assist you in comprehending how your past experiences influence your current behavior. You can evaluate and address old emotional disputes and traumas. Then you can move forward with a more positive attitude about yourself and how others perceive you.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: CBT can help people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that may negatively influence behavior and emotions.
Other than therapy, a mental health professional can help you reframe negative beliefs and practice social skills. They may also help you learn coping strategies to manage distress and address other mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, or depression.

Get Treatment From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

If you have such a condition, discussing your concerns with a therapist may feel terrifying. Even if you believe counseling could help ease some of your distress, your fear of criticism and judgment may outweigh your desire for help.
When it comes to treatment for this disease, it's usually best to choose a therapist specializing in treating these conditions, especially since its symptoms might mimic social anxiety symptoms.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

If you or a loved one suspects you have this ailment, making an appointment with a mental health counselor, therapist, or psychologist may be the best place to start. From the comfort of your own home, you can make an appointment with a compassionate therapist with experience in these illnesses. Make an appointment with a therapist through Docvita right now.

Languages

  • English
  • Hindi
  • Kannada
  • Punjabi
  • Gujarati
  • Telugu
  • Tamil
  • Spanish
  • Bengali
  • Malayalam
  • Assamese
  • Urdu
  • Marathi
  • Odia
  • Konkani
  • Nepali
  • Tulu