DPD or dependent personality disorder is an anxious personality disorder which includes the feeling of inability to stay alone. People who suffer from symptoms of DPD also tend to develop symptoms of anxiety whenever they don’t find anyone around them. They always tend to depend on other people who can reassure them about their existence, about their comfort, support and advice. In short, they need continuous endorsement and support from others. People who don’t suffer from such a condition can sometimes have to handle feelings of insecurity. As per the Cleveland Clinic, people with this kind of condition will usually show their first signs during adulthood.
The different symptoms of DPD
People who suffer from dependent personality disorder become overdependent on people both emotionally and physically. They give in extra effort to please and convince others so that they always help them whenever they need help. People who suffer from DPD usually demonstrate passive, needy and a sort of clinging behavior due to the fear of separation. There are various other characteristics of personality disorder which include:
- Inability to make any sort of decision like daily-basis decisions like what to wear without seeking any advice and getting any kind of reassurance from others.
- Trying to avoid all sorts of adult responsibilities by acting helpless and passive. They also tend to depend on a friend or a spouse to make simple decisions like where to live and work.
- A constant sense of devastation and abandonment when a relationship suddenly comes to an end. A person who suffers from DPD usually move very fast to another relationship when the previous one ends.
- Lack of self-confidence and pessimism and they also believe that they are not able to take care of their own self.
- Too much of sensitivity to criticism.
- Inability to disagree with others as they fear losing approval or support of others.
- Incapability of beginning projects due to not enough self-confidence.
- Ability to tolerate abuse and manhandling from others
- Toughness to stay alone
- Tendency to fantasize or be naive
- Placing the requirements of the caregivers above all
What are the reasons which lead to DPD?
Though the exact cause of DPD is still not known, it usually includes a combination of developmental, biological, psychological and other temperamental factors. There are some researchers who believe in overprotective and authoritarian parenting process which lead to this development of dependent personality traits.
If you know someone who is suffering from this kind of mental disorder, you can seek help of the best mental health counselor who can resolve such issues.
