FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the treatment for a person with an Avoidant Personality Disorder?
Psychological treatment focuses on reducing the anticipation of pain or suffering, to increase the ability to enjoy, to invert social isolation, to reduce fearful behaviors, to moderate hypersensitivity, to adjust self-image and to correct aversive interpersonal behaviors.

How do people with the Avoidant Personality Disorder perceive the world?
These people have a perception of the world as humiliating, cold and unfriendly. They have a very devalued self-image and a deep distrust of others, which is why the environment appears as a hostile threat to them. They learn to be vigilant against the ridicule and disdain they expect from other people. They tend to be extraordinarily attentive and sensitive to signs that indicate censure or dislike.

What is the general mood of people with the Avoidant Personality Disorder?
People with this disorder describe a general state of daze, since they feel a lot of tension, sadness and anger. They feel anxious and hesitate between their desire to attach and engage and their fear of embarrassment and rejection.

With what other disorders can Avoidant Personality Disorder be confused with?
Due to the characteristics and similarities, this disorder can be confused with social phobias, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Dependent and, finally, Paranoid Personality Disorder.

At what age can the first symptoms of the disorder begin?
In general, this disorder begins to be observed in adolescence and early adulthood, however, first symptoms may arise since grade school. There are some cases where the pathology began to be observed from three years of age.

How can I identify a person with the Avoidant Personality Disorder?
People with this disorder tend to be defeatist and inflexible because they cannot explore solutions or alternatives to solve problems due to the fear and anguish that overwhelms them. Because of this they tend to give off the impression of being a "negative" person. This, therefore, cancels growth opportunities (work, academic, possibility of traveling or doing new activities). They also tend to isolate themselves, so their world is limited to their thoughts and impulses.

OUR TREATMENT MODEL

CADE offers a multidisciplinary treatment according to the characteristics and needs of the patient that is based on the patient´s diagnosis and an individual intervention plan.

A psychological or psychiatric disorder generally has a genetic or biological origin detonated by difficult and early or current traumatic experiences that lead the individual to become ill. Therefore, the clinical intervention in these disorders necessitates the multidisciplinary work of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, nutrition and complementary therapies. The treatment can be outpatient, inpatient or semi-inpatient based.