- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers and welcome back to another video. Thank you all so much
for the love and support that you've given us; enabling us to make
yet another exploration into everyday psychology. So let's begin. How often have you
described someone as shy? Surely you can think of
someone or maybe it's even you who's shy and introverted. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and you can often live a normal life. However, what happens if
the shyness is so intense and extreme that we shut
ourselves out from the world? What if we fear criticism and disapproval from others so much that
we limit what we can do? This is often the case with
avoidant personality disorder also known as AVPD. Before we begin, please remember that this is
for informative purposes only. It's not intended to treat, diagnose, or prevent any condition. If you resonate with any
of the signs mentioned, please do reach out to a qualified mental health professional. With that said, here are six signs that define avoidant personality disorder. Number one, intense fear of rejection. Do you go to extreme
lengths to avoid rejection? Are you extremely sensitive to criticism? Fear of rejection is the
biggest telltale sign of avoidant personality disorder. While disliking and fearing
rejection is relatively common, AVPD takes this to a new level. It affects every aspect of your life, especially relationships and work life. You may also repeatedly
perceive situations as negative despite the contrary. According to "Psychology Today," this can be so severe to the
point that you prefer isolation over the possibility of getting rejected. Number two, a lack of close relationships. So you spot your coworker at the mall. Uh-oh, what's your
immediate course of action? Is it more tempting to run
and hide or greet them? Ultimately, this huge
fear of being rejected translates into difficulties
in forming relationships. If you go to great lengths
to avoid surprise meetings, even with those you see on
a regular basis otherwise, this might be a red flag. You prefer to avoid others at all costs, unless you know that you'll be accepted. Even in relationships,
you may fear intimacy and push others away. According to a study, you may find interacting
with others difficult and intimidating so you prefer to stay away from this, thus limiting your social network. Number three, avoiding risk taking. Have you ever turned down
opportunities for a promotion or job changes due to fear that you might do something wrong? People with AVPD have a
tendency to avoid risks or anything that might result in failure. Failure can be embarrassing, which is something that opens the door to rejection and ridicule. This limits you in what
you're willing to do, which makes it hard to
gain new experiences. This can extend to work
situations as well. Earning any kind of
disapproval is a scary thought so you try to limit it
as much as possible. Number four, excessive shyness. Is meeting new people stressful
and unappealing to you? Does your need to avoid other
people at all costs often lead to social isolation? Even talking with others that
you do know can be difficult as it opens the door to
potential disapproval. When with others, you find that your thoughts are loud and overpowering, often negative and putting you down. You might prefer to stay
inside than go out with others, even if that's an activity
you think would be fun. The fear of rejection takes
over and impacts your decisions. Number five, low self-esteem. Avoidant personality
disorder brings with it feelings of inadequacy. You might compare yourself
to others and feel unworthy. You can also feel socially inept due to limited social interaction and your constant self-criticism. Self-esteem problems make it
harder to interact with others and can cause you to
become even more isolated. And number six, avoids conflict. Since this disorder primarily revolves around fearing disapproval and rejection, you may notice that you
avoid conflict at all costs. People pleasing is very
common and can lead to issues. You might settle for less and get involved in undesirable situations so that you can avoid disapproval. This can also cause issues in other areas as you can find yourself
unable to make decisions when other people are involved. Please note that this disorder
varies from person to person. Someone with a condition may
feel all, some, or different from what is listed here. The disorder can be comorbid
with other conditions such as anxiety and depression, which can result from social isolation and fear of rejection. It's important to know that
this condition can be treated. And with the right professional help, you can immensely improve. We hope we were able to give you insight into some of the ways you can identify avoidant
personality disorder. What are your thoughts on AVPD? Are there any signs that we missed? If you've been diagnosed with AVPD, what are some of your experiences? Let us know in the comments. If you found this video interesting, be sure to hit the like button and share it with
someone who might relate. Don't forget to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification
bell from our videos. As always, thanks for watching. And we'll see you in the next one.
