Your personality is your unique way of thinking, understanding, reacting, and relating to people.
A personality disorder Overview of Personality Disorders Your personality is your unique way of thinking, understanding, reacting, and relating to people. Many people might seem to have an unusual personality. But they're considered to have a personality... read more isn't just an unusual personality. It's when your personality traits cause significant problems in your life or keep you from relating normally to others.
What is dependent personality disorder?
Dependent personality disorder is:
A pattern of feeling extremely dependent on other people
People with dependent personality disorder often:
Fear they can't take care of themselves and worry about being abandoned
Appear submissive and needy so others will want to take care of them
Lack confidence and need a lot of reassurance
Ask for advice, even for simple decisions
Let others make decisions for them, for example, having their spouse tell them what to wear, what job to take, and who their friends are
Let others take advantage of them, such as by agreeing to do unpleasant tasks for them
Tolerate physical, emotional, or sexual abuse for fear of losing the abuser's support
Have a hard time disagreeing with others even when they're in the right
Have a hard time starting projects on their own or working independently, but when they feel reassured that someone is supporting them, they usually function all right
Most people seek help or advice from others at times and try to be agreeable. However, this kind of behavior can become a disorder if people let others rule their lives or even abuse them, or if people can't function in the workplace.
They may also have depression Depression Depression is feeling too sad or sluggish to do your daily tasks or take part in activities you usually enjoy. It’s normal to feel sad after something sad happens, such as a death or loss—depression... read more , anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Anxiety is being worried or nervous. Anxiety is often normal. For example, many people are anxious when they're having money problems, trouble at work, or family difficulties. However, if you're... read more , alcohol abuse Alcohol Use Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant (it slows down brain and nervous system functioning). Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma,... read more , or another personality disorder Overview of Personality Disorders Your personality is your unique way of thinking, understanding, reacting, and relating to people. Many people might seem to have an unusual personality. But they're considered to have a personality... read more .
What causes dependent personality disorder?
Dependent personality disorder is probably caused by a combination of:
Traits that run in families
Bad experiences in childhood
Anxiety
How do doctors treat dependent personality disorder?
Doctors treat dependent personality disorder with:
