Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of by other people, which leads to submissive behavior and an intense fear of separation.
Furthermore, these people also have a lot of difficulty making decisions, constantly needing other people’s decisions or approval.
This disorder appears most frequently in early adulthood and can give rise to anxiety or depression. Its treatment consists of psychotherapy sessions and, in some cases, administration of medication, which must be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
Main symptoms
The symptoms that appear in people with dependent personality disorder are mainly:
- Difficulty making simple decisions;
- Having a constant need to ask other people for advice;
- Needing other people to take responsibility for various areas of your life;
- Difficulty disagreeing with others;
- Difficulty starting new solo projects.
Furthermore, these people feel needy and go to extremes, such as doing unpleasant things, to receive affection and support, feeling uncomfortable and helpless when they are alone. Because they feel that they are incapable of taking care of themselves, they are usually excessively worried about being abandoned.
Possible causes
It is not known for sure what is at the origin of dependent personality disorder, but it is thought that this disorder may be related to biological factors and the environment in which the person is inserted, since childhood and the relationship with parents in this phase, such as being extremely protective or very authoritarian, can have a great influence on the individual’s development.
Discover other personality disorders that can be influenced by childhood.
How the treatment is carried out
Generally, treatment is carried out when this disorder begins to have an impact on the person’s life, which can harm relationships with other people and cause anxiety and depression.
Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for dependent personality disorder and, during treatment, the person must take an active role and be accompanied by a psychologist or psychiatrist, which will help the person become more active and independent. and get more out of romantic relationships
In some cases, it may be necessary to resort to pharmacological treatment. In these cases, the diagnosis of the disorder must be carried out by a psychiatrist, who will be the professional responsible for prescribing the necessary medications for treatment.
