Do you know if someone has a personality disorder?
There is an excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.It is found in people who have never been able to form a strong sense of self and who live in the shadow of another.By the time the person should have a stable sense of self, this condition can result in anxious, fearful, and insecure behavior that can prevent them from leading a full and fulfilling life.The tendency to "cling" can hurt the person's relationship and leave them vulnerable to abuse.If you notice signs of dependent personality disorder in someone you know, encourage them to get help.
Step 1: There is a possible cause of dependent personality disorder.
It is possible that the person's childhood laid the groundwork for dependent personality disorder.A child's inability to individuate from their parents is often caused by overly anxious parents.If they were made to feel guilty for seeking independence as a child, they may feel that it's a bad thing.Understanding the factors leading to their disorder can help.A pattern of unhappy attachment might be revealed if you listen to them and ask questions about their childhood.There may be a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors that lead to this disorder.
Step 2: Understand the signs.
To draw an initial conclusion that someone might be suffering from dependent personality disorder, you need to look for the following characteristics.The person will still need a professional diagnosis, but the following traits in combination are indicative.Deep dependence is a sign of needing an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.This might be a problem if they can't complete small tasks on their own.Some people enjoy making decisions, while others prefer someone they trust to guide them.Are you seeking advice for everyday decisions?Do you often need help with a project?Do they allow other people to make decisions that affect their life?It shows immaturity and a lack of understanding about the importance of self-responsibility if they need others to assume responsibility for most major areas of their life.Do you find yourself in situations where other people have made decisions about important areas in your life, for example, what job to take?Do they go too far to get support from others?This may happen when they are doing unpleasant things.Do you volunteer to do unpleasant things for other people so they will take care of you when you need it?Are you not comfortable when you are alone?Are you worried that you won't be able to take care of yourself?Do you worry about people leaving you?When a close relationship ends, do they immediately seek another relationship as a source of care and support?They must find someone new to date quickly after a break-up if they jump into rebound relationships.Do they feel helpless when alone because of their exaggerated fears of being unable to take care of themselves?When a close relationship ends, do you want to get into another relationship right away?Even if the new relationship isn't the best for you.Do they have a hard time expressing their disagreement with others?They will try to please people if they fear disapproval, rejection, and a loss of support from others.It is necessary to exclude realistic fears of retribution.Ask them if it's hard for you to express a different opinion from someone you're close to.What might happen if you did?Do you pretend to agree with others even if you don't?Why?If you disagree, could it get you in trouble?
Step 3: Check for more criteria.
Sometimes people seem to have a personality disorder when they don't.If the above criteria are met, then you should consider a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder.If any of these are not met, it's not dependent personality disorder, if they deviate significantly from the norm of her culture in at least two areas.Affect is related to emotional arousal and response.Control over impulses and desires.Handling Interpersonal situations and Manner of relating to others.Do their symptoms show up in a broad range of personal and social situations?Their symptoms are considered pervasive, inflexible, and maladaptive if they are true.Is her personal distress caused by her symptoms of dependency?Is their symptoms stable and have an onset of late childhood or adolescence?Is it possible to exclude other adult mental disorders as possible causes of dependency?Is it possible to exclude organic brain disease or injury from being a possible cause of dependency?A frail grandmother who can't take care of herself does not have a personality disorder.
Step 4: Consider how the person feels when left alone.
He might feel helpless, uncomfortable, and anxious.Is it because they don't know what to think or do?When a person returns, think about how they react.Do they scold this person for leaving them alone and jump on them right away?exaggerated fears of not being able to take care of themselves make him feel helpless, abandoned, and uncomfortable when on his own.Pay attention to people who are too focused on thoughts of being left alone to take care of themselves.It's a sign that they don't feel able to cope alone, no matter how easy the task or the life they're leading.
Step 5: The person should be helped to learn to take responsibility.
She can't just "snap out" of this habit.It will take a while for them to be able to express their own thoughts and opinions.You know they can manage small tasks.Increase the difficulty of the tasks gradually when they have completed them all alone.Talk to them about what they enjoy doing.If they're going to be left alone, suggest those activities.Help them trust themselves.Give her books on improving self-confidence, book her into a course on self confidence, and give her time to tell you what she's good at.They should be eating balanced meals and exercising.If you have any addictions, treat them.Social support acts to reduce stress, so be careful that they don't disengage from others too much.It's a good idea to be alert to the possibility of abuse.They are vulnerable to abuse because of their neediness.You should ask yourself if you are playing a role in encouraging dependency.
Step 6: The person should be encouraged to read about the disorder.
Having an understanding of their disorder and seeing that they're not alone can be an immense relief for them, as well as showing them a way forward.
Step 7: They should be encouraged to get professional help.
There are treatments for dependent personality disorder.It isn't a life sentence.The person should be encouraged to seek help.Talk about how therapy can help improve their lives and relationships with people they rely on.Many people with DPD fear abandonment or rejection.The mental health professional should check for depression, anxiety, panic disorders, and somatic distress.
Step 8: Don't criticize them.
When encouraging them to seek therapy, don't use negative phrases.It will only make things worse if they are told that they're too passive, too dependent, or a pain to deal with.Try to use positive language.You might say that becoming more independent will make you happier and more fulfilled.
Step 9: It's your job to let go.
You need to change your behavior if the person is dependent on you.If you have long acted as a guardian, adviser, or other kind of person who is willing to help someone in need, you might have enabled bad behavior.While she learns to stand on her own two feet, start withdrawing this kind of support.Don't second-guess the decisions they make.To help them learn that advice doesn't always need to be taken, let them make and learn from mistakes.You don't have to stop helping completely.If you can give the same level of help to a mentally healthy person, then you should start giving less advice.