Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is among a class of mental health disorders known as personality disorders.
  • People with this disorder struggle with thoughts of inadequacy all of the time and are extremely vulnerable to criticism from others.
  • Despite their desire to communicate with people, they generally avoid social interaction because of a strong fear of rejection.

Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is among a class of mental health disorders known as personality disorders. In essence, these illnesses are long-term practices of behavior that are inconsistent with cultural standards and create misery for the individual or people around them. 

Other personality disorders defined by emotions of uneasiness and apprehension include avoidant personality disorder. People with this disorder struggle with thoughts of inadequacy all of the time and are extremely vulnerable to criticism from others. Despite their desire to communicate with people, they generally avoid social interaction because of a strong fear of rejection.

Avoidant personality disorder affects roughly 2.4 percent of the population in the US. It seems to affect both men and women in the same way. Avoidant personality disorder symptoms, like those of other personality disorders, can be observed as early as childhood and typically begin to cause distress in early adulthood or adolescent years. Several other personality disorders, such as avoidant personality disorder, are not recognized in people under the age of 18 since there should be confirmation that certain patterns of conduct are persistent and inflexible and do not diminish with time.

Together with dependent personality and obsessive-compulsive disorders, AVPD is recognized as a Cluster C personality disorder. Cluster C disorders are linked to high levels of emotional reactivity and anxiety, as well as being recognized to be detrimental to daily life.

Although AVPD is not detected until adulthood, symptoms can be seen in teens and older children.

According to a recent study, between 1.5 and 2% of adults in the US fulfill the criteria for avoidant personality disorder. However, these numbers could be low because some persons with Avoidant personality disorder have been misidentified with social anxiety disorder, which has similar (but not exact) symptoms. (source: APA, n.d.)

Experts claim that a mix of environment and biology or genetics causes avoidant personality. The illness is more prevalent in members of the family, implying that it has a genetic predisposition. Avoidant personality may also be influenced by rejection from friends or parents.

Childhood abuse, neglect, and initial traumatic experiences may be associated with the onset of AVPD. Children who perceive their caregivers as deficient in compassion and support, and/or who suffer abandonment from them, according to research, may be at greater risk. Children who are subjected to neglect, abuse, or a general lack of care are also at risk. As a coping tactic, youngsters may shun interacting with others as a result of these events.

Another factor, according to researchers, could be a transformation in appearance as a result of a physical illness.

Approximately 0.5 percent to 2.4 percent of people match the avoidant personality requirements. The illness usually manifests by young adulthood and affects people of all genders at nearly the same rate, however, women may be somewhat more likely to fit the requirements. People who have anxiety disorders are much more prone to have an avoidant personality. For example, it may affect up to 50 percent of those with agoraphobia and up to 40 percent of those who suffer from social anxiety.

In one study, pessimism, having had more bad childhood circumstances, and being extremely sensitive were all found to have a positive link with AVPD. (source: NIMH, n.d.)

The majority of people who suffer from AVPD do not seek medical assistance.

When they do, it’s usually for a particular life situation or other sorts of symptoms like anxiety and depression, and they’ll usually stop treatment after that problem is overcome.

Avoidant personality disorder, like all other personality disorders, can be hard to treat since it is a long-term behavior pattern, and it can be challenging for the individual suffering from it to understand that psychotherapy help is needed and useful.

Sadly, individuals with avoidant personality disorder who do not receive therapy have a poor prognosis—they tend to isolate themselves and use avoidance as their main coping technique.

Treatment, on the other hand, can assist to reduce symptoms and expand the range of coping skills that a person can employ to regulate their anxiety when done correctly. An individual with an avoidant personality disorder will almost always be shy, although avoidance will not be their primary concern.

Talk Therapy For Avoidant Personality Disorder (source: StatPearls, 2025)

While additional study is needed to establish which forms of avoidant personality disorder treatments are most helpful, the most effective therapies share some characteristics, including:

  • Methods that seek to address the underlying unfavorable emotions and cognitive patterns that are frequent in people with avoidant personality disorder, such as shame, expectations, and low self-esteem that others would reject or dislike.
  • More social connections and introducing more social activities to their routines are two behavioral techniques that work to achieve long-term behavior changes.
  • Social skills education aims to develop social and communication skills, such as the capacity to read and react appropriately to nonverbal and social signs, resulting in increased confidence and more favorable interactions.
  • Individuals with avoidant personality disorder have found that group therapy is more helpful than individual therapy, probably because it allows them to practice communication and social skills in a secure environment.

Psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and schema therapy are examples of talk therapy for avoidant personality disorders.

Social skills training and group counseling may also be beneficial.

Psychodynamic therapy aims to be conscious of how prior experiences, pain, and conflicts could be responsible for current symptoms. CBT for avoidant personality disorder is useful in learning how to transform counterproductive thinking patterns, whereas psychodynamic therapy aims to be fully cognizant and informed of how prior events, pain, and crisis may be resulting in current symptoms.

Schema therapy for AVPD is an integrated method that incorporates CBT as well as a variety of other therapies. It focuses on the therapist-client interaction with the objective of enhancing the ability to function normally and acquiring insight for change through the knowledge and re-engineering of early childhood events. (source: MedlinePlus, n.d.)

“Limited reparenting,” wherein the client acknowledges childhood necessities and learns to build and integrate a healthy parental voice, is a major aspect of schema therapy.

Schema Therapy’s Core Concepts

The patient learns 4 basic concepts in schema therapy:

  • How dysfunctional schemas are recurring patterns during one’s life.

Rejection and disconnection, dysfunctional performance and autonomy, defective boundaries, undue responsibility and overwhelming standards, over-vigilance, and inhibition are the 5 patterns that have been identified.

  • What coping strategies were learned as a kid? (for instance, fighting back, escape).
  • What coping schema methods are being deployed, and how are they counterproductive? (for instance, detachment, avoidance, punishment, compliance).
  • How to create healthy adult coping mechanisms and meet basic emotional needs

Medication

Although no medications have been approved particularly for the treatment of avoidant personality disorder, if an individual has other linked conditions such as anxiety or depression, medication may be administered to help with those symptoms. (source: Merck Manual, n.d.)

Antidepressant medicine, for instance, can help with enhancing mood and anhedonia, reducing symptoms of anxiety, and lowering vulnerability to rejection.

Coping

Recognizing the indicators of avoidant personality disorder is among the first steps toward improving the quality of life. You will be able to work more effectively with your therapist to identify strategies to work with your clinical manifestations if you understand them.

Consider including family and friends in your treatment so they can properly appreciate what you are going through and how they can assist you.

Developing healthy coping strategies that keep you from turning to alcohol or drugs, overeating, smoking, or self-harm when you are having a difficult time is also important. (source: NICE, 2009)

Getting help from a qualified, sympathetic therapist is usually essential for symptom relief.

The tactics listed below can also improve your day-to-day experiences.

Keep in mind that your physical health is as important.

If you are aware of the mind-body connection, you’re likely familiar with how mental, physical, and emotional health may interact with one another.

Mental health symptoms cannot be “cured” by better physical health. Still, feeling physically good can enhance your perspective and motivation to make changes by raising optimism, resilience, and energy.

These suggestions can help you improve your physical well-being: (source: NICE, 2011)

  • For energy, eat well-balanced snacks and meals. Try any of these nutrient-dense, mood-enhancing meals.
  • Every night, try to get 7 to 9 hours of decent sleep. Having less sleep than you require on a regular basis might have a detrimental impact on your physical and mental health.
  • Find time for your preferred form of exercise. Regular exercise has a number of advantages, like improved health, relief from stress, better sleep, and other mental health symptoms.
  • Music, relaxation techniques, or a warm bath can help you relax.

Make more time for your hobbies and interests.

Actively participating in activities and hobbies that you enjoy does more than only help you enjoy your daily life. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people with similar interests.

Realizing that you have something in common can help you feel more confident and open up.

Are you unsure of your interests and passions? Trying different activities can help you figure out what you enjoy and what you don’t.

Trying new activities can be intimidating and unsettling, but keep in mind that you can meet people who are taking similar risks. (source: Cochrane, 2022)

Make an effort to express yourself

  • Art and journaling are excellent techniques that can help convey your feelings before you are prepared in sharing them with others.
  • A diary might provide you with a place to write or draw your upsetting feelings.
  • When you write things, you may realize that they have less of an impact on you. Journaling can also aid in the identification and exploration of unpleasant feelings, as well as the tracking of any patterns.
  • You could also use a notebook to explore your principles, preferences, and future dreams if you’re unsure about who you are.

Remind yourself that it’s fine to take on things slowly.

You probably won’t feel ready to trust individuals or leap into a supportive relationship right away. That’s OK.

Slow and steady improvement can be the key to long-term success.

If you try to overcome all of your concerns at once, you may become overwhelmed and decide that connection isn’t worth the effort.

Starting by making a list of simple ways of interacting with others and attempting to perform a few of these things each and every day can be beneficial. Consider the following situation: (source: NIDA, n.d.)

  • Request a book recommendation from your librarian.
  • Leave a comment on your coworker’s Facebook photo.
  • Inform a stranger that you admire their attire.
  • When you go on a walk, say hello to a neighbor.

Then, each day, attempt to perform one of these things.

Despite the fact that avoidant personality disorder is commonly thought to be a lifelong condition, many people can improve significantly with treatment.

Depression in adolescents and alcohol abuse are frequently preceded by social anxiety. The emergence of social phobia in a child under the age of 11 years has been linked to symptoms persisting into adulthood.

Childhood lack of connection with friends and lack of engagement in organized activities may extend throughout adolescent years, according to studies of people with an avoidant personality disorder. Adults who had positive accomplishments and interpersonal ties during childhood and teenage years, on the other hand, were more likely to recover from an avoidant personality disorder as grownups.

In their teenage years, children who were regarded as being particularly scared and withdrew in unfamiliar situations at the age of two were shown to have a greater degree of social anxiety. (source: SAMHSA, n.d.)

You may be completely oblivious of the seriousness of your parents, siblings, partners, relatives, or friends’ mental health problems. This should not, however, stop you from participating. If you observe signs of severe distress, you should assist someone you care about is contacting a mental health professional to determine what is going on.

Being diagnosed with a personality disorder can be humiliating for some people. Others will be utilized to make a judgment, they believe, is a disgrace or a sign of ineptitude. Even if they have substance misuse, depression, or anxiety issues that they want to tackle, they may be hesitant and aggressive when approached about obtaining treatment.

In these instances, your unshakable sympathy, compassion, and understanding can make all the difference. Regardless of their flaws or vulnerabilities, they recognize that you care about what’s going on with them and will soon learn that your concern derives from love. If your present treatment to them as a method to gain more control and boost their self-esteem by admiring their strength and courage, there’s a strong chance they will agree to it.

We will be pleased to answer any questions you or a loved one may have about our diagnostic procedures and onsite luxury rehab facilities for personality disorders and related illnesses at our high-end upscale luxury personality disorder rehab. If they are prepared to change, we are ready, eager, and delighted to assist them.

In addition to established treatments such as medication, counseling, and/or talking therapy, alternative and complementary treatment and rehabilitation approaches can be used. The following are some of the most prevalent complementary treatments:

  • Yoga is a type of exercise that comprises a sequence of body movements and breathing techniques that aim to connect the body and mind on a mental and spiritual level. In people with AVPD, yoga promotes physical flexibility and strength while also improving mental well-being.
  • Depression, anxiety, tension, and a range of other mental health issues, including AVPD, can all benefit from meditation. Progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness-based meditation, and basic breathing techniques are all examples of meditation approaches.
  • For those with AVPD, nutrition and food have a lot of mental health concerns. Monitoring a person’s diet on a regular basis might improve their mental wellbeing and well-being, as well as some mental disease symptoms.
  • Regular physical activity is also an important part of mental healthcare. To relieve stress, people with AVPD should aim to exercise for at least half an hour each day.
  • Equine therapy is a type of treatment that involves using horses to help people with mental illnesses such as AVPD, anxiety, ADHD, dependent personality disorder, OCD, and autism.

FAQs

How Long Does Treatment For Avoidant Personality Disorder Take?
Personality disorders are generally long-term or even lifelong in nature, therefore treatment may be required for a long time. Studies on the duration of avoidant personality disorder treatments have varied findings, with some studies indicating better benefits for short therapies and others indicating better results for therapies lasting 20-50 sessions.
Those taking medicine for another underlying ailment may need to keep taking it indefinitely to manage symptoms and take control of their health.
Is It Possible To Recover From Avoidant Personality Disorder?
AVPD is not as well-known as other mental health illnesses because it is a rarely researched condition. However, AVPD is presently regarded to be a persistent, lifelong disorder that cannot be healed, similar to other personality disorders. With the aid of psychotherapy, This condition can be treated and managed, and quality of life can be enhanced. Rather than living a life of dread and solitude, people with AVPD can engage in ongoing therapy to assist them to develop their social skills to the point where their connections with others are more normalized. The problem will not only endure but may worsen if not treated.

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