What is Avoidant Personality Disorder?
Life’s challenges can be overwhelming; everyone deserves a space to feel heard and supported. At Roamers Therapy, we provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and evidence-based environments to help you heal, grow, and navigate your mental well-being journey. As your psychotherapist, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Avoidant Personality Disorder is classified under personality disorders marked by anxious and fearful thinking or behavior. People with avoidant personality disorder have chronic feelings of inadequacy, which makes them especially sensitive to the judgment of others and anxious in social situations. Although they may sincerely want to connect to others, it is common for them to avoid social interactions and isolate themselves due to their fear of rejection unless there is certainty over being liked and accepted.
How does Avoidant Personality Disorder affect people?
Due to intense fear and embarrassment, an individual with an avoidant personality disorder is likely to struggle with their social life and career. For example, they may demonstrate restraint in social relationships because they fear being shamed or ridiculed. Their preoccupation with criticism, disapproval, or rejection may lead to self-isolation, negatively affecting multiple domains of their life.
Find the Best Therapist in Chicago for Avoidant Personality Disorder
Individuals with avoidant personality disorder usually experience heightened distress tied to their desire to form meaningful relationships. Research shows that the best results occur in tandem with therapy. Talk therapy is an excellent option for those with avoidant personality disorder because of the inherent motivation to want to engage in meaning-making behaviors and activities. Sometimes individuals may take medication for any anxiety experienced concurrently with the personality disorder. Engagement of close family and friends in the treatment process may also increase effectiveness.
At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, visit our booking page.
First, decide if you’ll be paying out-of-pocket or using insurance. If you’re a self-pay client, you can book directly through the “Book Now” page or fill out the “Self-Pay/Out-of-network Inquiry Form.” If you’re using insurance, fill out the “Insurance Verification Form” to receive details about your costs and availability. Please let us know your preferred therapist. If your preferred therapist isn’t available, you can join the waitlist by emailing us. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.