In today's world, many people suffer from various addictions. Psychological and physiological dependencies are equally harmful to us. How to deal with them, which is the primary source of the problem, can you help yourself? It is possible, the main thing is to be honest with ourselves and not to forget that we are all ordinary people.
Personality disorder
Personality disorder is a type of mental disorder. It is characterized by the fact that personality behavior deviates greatly from established norms. This is a serious violation in the psyche of the patient, which entails the destruction of almost all areas of life. Personality disorder is always accompanied by social disintegration, that is, separation of oneself from society.
When can I discover?
Dependent personality disorder occurs in adolescence or late childhood. At this stage, the disease is only emerging, but it can manifest itself in adulthood. After conducting certain tests for the accentuation of personality, that is, a person’s inclinations, it can be determined whether he is prone to mental disorder. Since adolescents have an unstable nervous system, the most accurate results of accentuation can be obtained at the age of 16-17 years. Psychological tests provide an opportunity not only to determine the type of personality, but also to demonstrate the severity of the disorder and its further development. The younger the person, the easier it is to cure him. This is due to the fact that with age, all fears and beliefs are rooted in the mind very firmly, it is more difficult to “expel” them from there every year.
What is dependent personality disorder?
Another name for this disease, or rather, an outdated name, is an asthenic personality disorder. The disease is a personality disorder characterized by a feeling of helplessness, weakness and non-viability without the help or support of others. The patient feels that he cannot live and exist normally without anyone else.
Causes
During the Soviet Union, a personality disorder of a dependent type was considered psychopathy, which was explained by a congenital inferiority of the human nervous system, the presence of birth injuries, heredity and harmful factors that could affect the fetus. Today, scientists believe that there can be many reasons. They can be not only congenital, but also acquired. Of course, genetic predisposition plays a huge role, but it has been proven that past physical, psychological or sexual abuse (especially at an early age) can create fertile ground for the development of personality disorder.
Dependent Personality Disorder: Symptoms
Symptoms of the disease include:
- the desire to shift to other people making responsible decisions;
- complete submission to the desires of another person, inadequate compliance;
- refusal to criticize or present any demands to other people, even to a reasonable extent;
- inability to live independently, which provokes a fear of loneliness;
- fear of being abandoned;
- the inability to make simple household decisions without the support or advice of third parties.
This is only the main list of symptoms, because it is simply impossible to describe all kinds of behaviors and thoughts of a sick person. It is very important to recognize the dependent personality disorder, and not indulge in the illusions that the person is simply too affectionate and tender.
As for the additional symptoms, we can say that a person perceives himself as something inferior. He cannot make decisions and make choices, does not even strive for this. In order to feel peace and security, it is very important for the patient to have at least one person who will always tell you what to do. The danger lies in the fact that the patient does not see reality. He can blindly follow all the instructions of another person, follow his lead and not notice the obvious use. Moreover, a sick person will defend and praise his “ruler” in every possible way, seeing in him only good and positive qualities. It should also be noted that such patients are very afraid to enter into conflicts with a loved one. They will in every possible way avoid stress, doing everything possible to please another. Moreover, having support from the outside, such a person can be aggressive towards others. Having her, he believes that the whole world is for him, so there is nothing to fear.
If the patient loses the person to whom he was attached, he may fall into depression or complete apathy. The fear of loneliness will constantly haunt the patient, so he will quickly begin to search for a new object that would take full responsibility. This explains the gullibility and naivety of people who are ready to entrust their lives to anyone who will not refuse.
Diagnosis
As we said above, dependent personality disorder is a form of general personality disorder. The disease belongs to the class of anxiety and panic disorders. In order to make a correct diagnosis, a person must manifest some of the following characteristics from the age of 18 years:
- difficulties in making everyday decisions without external approval;
- the need for people who make responsible decisions;
- still hidden desire to be led;
- difficulty in taking the initiative;
- feelings of increased discomfort due to the fact that a person himself will not be able to help himself;
- expressed desire to receive approval and guardianship, even to the detriment of oneself;
- quick replacement of old relationships with new ones if a breakup occurs;
- a huge amount of inadequate fears.
Self treatment
How to overcome dependent personality disorder? Self-treatment is almost impossible in the last stages. In order to recover from this disease yourself, it is very important to realize the problem. Especially great are the chances of a person who, without assistance, realized that he was sick. Realizing and accepting the fact of the disease, you can move on. It is very important not to make abrupt transitions. For example, you cannot deprive yourself of support at once. In the treatment of mental disorders of a dependent type, sequence and gradualness are very important. The patient must wean from constant dependence, make small decisions every day, tune himself to his own significance, the ability to live independently. At the same time, healthy support from loved ones should be remembered. You should not go too far and deprive yourself of the natural need for approval, but it is important to know the measure. Only gradual and independent treatment can give truly impressive results.
Unfortunately, official treatment is most often violence against the will of the patient. It is quite acceptable and necessary in the treatment of physical ailments, but mental organization requires a more subtle and careful approach.
Official treatment
Formal treatment involves group psychotherapy. A person learns to work in a group and thanks to this increases his self-esteem in order to overcome the dependent personality disorder. Symptoms of the disease are such that in order to overcome them, it is very important to realize oneself as a full-fledged and viable person. Psychotherapists also recommend conducting assertiveness training, that is, learning to say no. This is a very important skill for such patients; it is on this that most of the attention should be concentrated. The treatment process itself is based on the fact that a person has learned two truths:
- he can live alone and make decisions independently;
- to refuse is normal.
Possible consequences of the disease
Dependent personality disorder, the causes of which can be overcome, can have very negative consequences. Unfortunately, if a person does not seek medical help or does not work on himself, this can end very badly. Not all people can recognize and acknowledge themselves as ill, but some succeed. Responsibility for the health of others lies with their loved ones, who must identify the disease in time and enroll the person for treatment. The perception of this disease as an insignificant trifle or stupidity can lead to the fact that a person will suffer from addiction all his life. Possible consequences:
- propensity for drug addiction, alcoholism, promiscuous sex life, violation of generally accepted norms;
- persistent depression, psychosis;
- with age, treatment will be more difficult;
- disclaimer of responsibility for one’s own life.
It should be very well understood what this disease can lead to in time to help yourself or your loved ones. Only attention, support and sensitivity will help the patient to free himself from the burden of heavy dependence.