Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD) Rehab: Treatment for Symptoms, Causes, & More

Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD) is part of a cluster of personality disorders that involves an intense fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy.

These feelings drive people to avoid social situations but are also coupled with an equally intense desire for close and meaningful relationships.

Similar in some ways to social anxiety disorder, AVPD is distinct in that it is rooted in poor self-esteem.

Mental rehab for AVPD is available to help people manage it and lead more quality, fulfilling lives.

Rehab for mental health conditions like AVPD consists of finding which root causes apply to you or your loved one and treating them.

AVPD is generally diagnosed during early adulthood because personalities are still developing during adolescence. While not all causes of avoidant personality disorder are known, some risk factors are at the root of the disorder.

Risk factors for AVPD include:

• Experiencing other mental health disorders such as persistent depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Genetics
• Hypersensitivity or rigidity to new experiences during infancy
• A fearful attachment style
• Experiencing rejection or being treated differently from others during early childhood
• Experiencing negative environmental factors as a child, such as abuse or trauma

Personality disorders are organized into three clusters: A, B, and C. AVPD is grouped in Cluster C with other personality disorders that involve anxiety and fear (like dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder).

A mental health professional will use psychotherapy (sometimes combined with medication) to help you identify what is causing your social isolation. You will also learn coping strategies to improve your quality of life.

The symptoms of AVPD sometimes overlap with those of other disorders, such as schizoid personality disorder or schizotypal personality disorder.

Common symptoms of AVPD include:

• Having very low self-esteem
• Fear of being rejected
• Intense fear of criticism or negative evaluation
• Feeling extreme shyness during social interactions
• Severe worry and anxiety that causes them to avoid tasks that require social skills
• A tendency to misinterpret or exaggerate potential problems

Symptoms involving personality traits can overlap with those of other disorders. For example, people with AVPD or panic disorder both experience anxiety.

But a person with AVPD experiences anxiety related to false perceptions. A person with panic disorder, however, experiences a condition that is not triggered by perception.

Overlapping symptoms can complicate treatment, but clinicians can prescribe medication for anxiety while using talk therapy to untangle the symptoms from the causes.

The symptoms of AVPD can create a number of side effects that can range from mild to severe. At its worst, side effects from AVPD can be debilitating.

When you struggle to cope with severe side effects, you can experience an increased risk for substance abuse or even substance use disorders.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) uses the following side effects to diagnose AVPD:

• Being fearful and passive in intimate relationships
• Being unwilling to work with others for fear of criticism
• Being unwilling to form close relationships unless sure the other person will view them positively
• Viewing themselves as socially inept
• Feeling inadequate in social situations
• Being unwilling to try new activities for fear of being humiliated

Prescribed medication, along with monitoring of symptoms, can help reduce the side effects related to AVPD.

But the real work of treatment is in using therapy to uncover the root causes of the disorder and develop new ways to cope with social inhibition.

Rehab for mental illness, such as avoidant personality disorder, can involve a range of levels of care and treatments within those levels.

Levels of care describe the time, setting, and intensity of the treatments, whereas treatments themselves refer to different types of therapy or medication.

Residential treatment is one of the most intensive levels of care, requiring you to live at the facility while undergoing treatments all day for at least 30 days.

People with severe AVPD may benefit greatly from residential treatment. It creates a space and length of time in which you can focus exclusively on treatment.

It also creates a time for stabilization if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Residential treatment includes the following:

• Psychiatry
• Support groups
• Medication monitoring
• Talk therapy
• Crisis stabilization

True to its name, outpatient treatment doesn’t require you to live at the rehab facility while you are receiving treatment.

However, this doesn’t mean that outpatient treatment is not intensive. For someone with AVPD who doesn’t need crisis stabilization, outpatient treatment can be a good fit.

It also benefits those who have a strong family support system and need to maintain responsibilities at work, school, or as a caregiver.

Outpatient treatment has three levels of care, including:

• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): Provides intensive treatment up to eight hours a day for five days a week.
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): Provides treatment during morning or afternoon sessions three to five days a week.
• Outpatient program (OP): Provides follow-up treatment and therapy for about an hour a week.

Mental healthcare providers have a range of therapies to choose from when providing treatment for people facing AVPD.

The most effective therapies for AVPD include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps you understand how your thoughts affect your actions, enabling you to create healthy thoughts for healthy behavior.
• Psychodynamic therapy: Helps you understand difficult relationships and unhealthy behavior, enabling you to change how you interact with others.
• Group therapy: Brings therapist-guided group interaction that could be helpful practice for someone facing AVPD.

Other treatments for AVPD may include dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.

While there is no medication specific to AVPD, antidepressants and other medications can help treat depression and anxiety.

Talk therapy can also help you deal with substance abuse at the same time you are dealing with AVPD.

Even though avoidant personality disorder makes you feel isolated, you are not alone. Many organizations can educate you, connect you with support groups, or help you find treatment.

The best avoidant personality disorder resources include:

• Avoidant Personality Research Center: Located in Illinois, this non-profit organization offers education, awareness, and supportive resources for AVPD
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Offers a treatment locator that helps you find treatment in your area.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: Offers a free helpline, education, and help connecting with support groups in your area.
• National Institute of Mental Health: Provides education and resources for people facing mental illness.

If you are facing avoidant personality disorder, you can find top-reviewed, quality rehab centers today.

The effects of mental illness can be debilitating, but the effects of AVPD are especially isolating. But with professional treatment, you can restore your well-being and learn to manage your condition.

Begin your journey toward mental health today. Reach out to PsyWeb now to find the best treatment for you or a loved one with AVPD.