Overview
Dependant personality disorder or as it’s often referred to DPD, is a personality disorder defined as being based on anxiety and fear. It is a serious mental health condition that can affect every area of a person’s life. People with the condition have an overwhelming need to be taken care of by other people and an extreme fear of abandonment or being alone which can make them seem needy and clingy.
They have an immense fear of disapproval and rejection so will take great steps to avoid any kind of confrontation or argument. This can make them appear very passive or submissive which can often lead to them being taken advantage of, mistreated or abused by others as they are so keen to gain their approval and are constantly seeking reassurance from them.
People with DPD struggle when relationships end because of their fears of being alone or abandoned and this can lead to them making new relationships soon after one ends, even if they realise the relationship is far from healthy. They struggle to make the simplest decisions and prefer other people to make them for them as they have difficulty taking responsibility. They tend to only interact socially with people they rely on for support and care.
The condition is usually diagnosed in early adulthood and is believed to affect around one per cent of the population, affecting women slightly more than men. Sufferers doubt their own abilities and skills and can often appear naive and helpless.
Causes and risk factors for developing DPD
There is no known single cause for the development of DPD as with many personality disorders. However there are several factors that are believed to contribute to the development of the condition, these can include genetics, psychological, environmental and developmental factors. It is thought that having experienced childhood trauma neglect or abuse can also make someone more at risk of developing the condition. Examples can include:
· A family history of anxiety, depression or other types of personality disorder
· Being orphaned or abandoned by their parents at an early age
· Having parents that were overprotective, authoritarian, disapproved of individual thinking or were aloof or withdrawn
· Suffered childhood neglect or abuse, either verbal or physical
· Having suffered chronic or traumatic illness or health conditions in childhood or adolescence
Potential complications
Having DPD that remains untreated can lead to developing a variety of conditions which can include:
· Anxiety, depression or phobias
· Other personality disorders such as panic disorder, avoidant personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive personality disorder
· Self-Harming, suicidal thoughts or attempts
· Sleep disorder
· Obesity, chronic pain or chronic health conditions
· Substance abuse disorders
· Emotional, physical or sexual abuse
Symptoms of dependant personality disorder
Whilst personality disorders can often have similar symptoms there are always some that are distinctly different and this defines them from other disorders. Symptoms of DPD can include the following:
· Having difficulty making simple everyday decisions on their own
· Will often let other people make decisions for them
· Have an intense fear of not being able to take care of themselves
· Want other people to take responsibility for certain areas of their lives and avoiding responsibility
· Often placing the needs of their caregivers above their own needs
· Are often oversensitive to criticism, lack confidence and can be passive or submissive which can make them more likely to accept mistreatment or physical or sexual abuse
· Have difficulty starting tasks on their own
· Struggle being on their own and have an extreme fear of abandonment and feel helpless when relationships end, often starting new relationships soon after, even when they know they are unhealthy
· Are prone to being pessimistic
· Seek constant reassurance from others
· Tend to avoid arguments or confrontation as well as doing things they don’t want to do as they fear losing the support or approval of others.
· Prone to being naïve
Diagnosis and treatment
Generally DPD is not diagnosed until around the age of eighteen onwards as a persons personality continues to develop through childhood and adolescence. To make a diagnosis there needs to have been a long lasting pattern of behaviour that hasn’t shown any signs of changing.
You should contact your doctor who can give you a health check to rule out any underlying medical conditions. They can check your hormones and prescribe medications such as antianxiety medication, antidepressants and mood stabilisers for symptoms such as anxiety or depression, but there is no medication available specifically for DPD.
They will need to refer you to a mental health professional to diagnose and treat the condition, and to help manage and alleviate symptoms as the condition cannot be fully cured. Treatment can involve medication and therapy but is usually treated with psychotherapy, which can include:
· Psychodynamic therapy
A form of talk therapy that helps you to focus on the roots of your emotional suffering. This helps you to better understand yourself and the relationships and behaviour patterns in your life, which in turn helps you to change the way you relate to your environment and the people in it.
· CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)
Is a structured goal orientated form of therapy that helps you look at your thoughts and emotions and how they affect your actions and behaviours. By recognising negative thoughts and behaviours you can learn to replace them with positive thinking patterns and habits. Therapy can also help with assertiveness and to help build confidence and increase independent thinking.
Ways you can help manage DPD
Other than medication and therapy there are ways that you can help yourself to minimise symptoms, these can include joining support groups where you can meet people with the condition who will understand your perspective and how you feel.
Self-care is essential as it can help to reduce anxiety and stress, meditation and mindfulness can help along with maintaining a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.
Keeping a journal is a great way to track symptoms which can also help you to identify triggers, as well as showing you how well your treatment is progressing. Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK). For more free information click above link.
