avoidant personality disorder
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Personality is the qualities and traits of being a specific and unique individual. It is the enduring pattern of one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is how one thinks, feels, makes decisions, and takes actions. Personality is determined, in part, by genetics, and also, by environment. It is the determining factor in how one lives his life. A personality disorder is a severe disturbance in the characterological constitution and behavioral tendencies of the individual, usually involving several areas of the personality, and nearly always associated with personal and social disruption. Avoidant Personality Disorder, or more commonly known as APD, is characterized by the previously mentioned symptoms and, by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, which is usually indicated by late childhood or early adulthood. Like many illnesses, there are various levels of intensity that one diagnosed with APD may experience, for example, one individual may have a mild case of APD, while another may have an extremely severe case. APD is considered to be an active detached personality pattern, meaning that avoidants purposefully avoid people due to fears of humiliation and rejection. An individual with APD is associated with four or more of the following: 1)avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection;2)is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked;3)shows restraint within intimate relationships because of fear of being shamed or ridiculed;4)is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations;5)is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadeqaucy;6)views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others;and7)is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing...