Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorders are common according to experts. These types of personalities suffer symptoms including, incompetence to make their own decisions. They will often rely on others around them to make a decision. Dependent personality types will often avoid responsibility and will rely on others to handle their lives and tasks. This type of personality will avoid starting tasks unless someone is there to guide them through the process. Dependent personality types will often tolerate abuse, and neglect, including cheating spouses. They are often depressed and will use alcohol or drugs to relieve their anxiety and stress.

The person is often passive, will not defend him or herself, and is afraid of rejection, punishment, and so forth. It is important to evaluate these types of personalities and not confuse them with traditional women that have submissive traits or personalities. The two are different in the sense the traditional woman will not tolerate anyone going against their beliefs and will defend their person without thinking twice about it in most cases. Dependent personality types are found in Histrionic and Borderline Personality types, but the difference is Histrionic and Borderline Personality types will manipulate, control, abuse, and act out in behaviors that are dangerous to others.

Manipulative

They are very manipulative and will murder in some instances. The dependent personality type is not aggressive and can hold a relationship, while borderline and histrionic types cannot. Dependent personality types often need long-term treatment since the underlying source of the symptoms is fear because of undoing punishment, neglect, or abuse. The person probably lived in an unruly household and was subjected to harsh punishment. Most dependent personality types will rely on their parents and the parent will often find a reason to dismiss any decisions the person makes.

For example, if the patient is engaged and a sudden breakup occurs the mother may say, I told you so. I knew he was no good. The man may have been a good person, just left simply because he could not handle the disorder. Dependent personality type may even ask mom or dad if it is ok to go to the store. They often stick close to the sources that initiated the disorder from the beginning. Therefore, we are dealing with co-dependency and dependent personality problems. The co-dependency is the parents that will not allow the patient to move ahead to independence. Therefore, we have to apply a technique that will work to help the patient separate himself or herself from the patient and work toward relying on self. I see no room for medication in this diagnosis since behaviors and not medical issues affect the patient.

We need to move ahead by helping the patient see that fear is the root of the problem, and then search the mind to find the source that caused or promoted the fear. We can do this with talk therapy, since the patient has all the answers, yet is not aware of the cause. We know that the patient was neglected as a child and possibly harshly punished often, including scolding. It would be helpful to get the parents in therapy to help them with their mental problems, but in most cases, the patient is to blame according to many for his or her problem and culprits are never an excuse, unfortunately. Now, we begin by talking through the problems and sorting out the information, gathering roots that instigated the patient’s behaviors.

It is important to remain consistent to help the patient see that he or she can defend her or his individuality without being punished for doing so. We should never raise our voices or attempt to control the patient, rather allow the patient room to speak his or her mind freely. An inviting method for opening up the patient’s mind is to ask questions that surround the problem. For example, Betty what do you think is going on inside your mind that is causing you problems? Do not allow the patient to blame himself or herself, since this is only contributing to the dependency. Allow the patient room to take the floor and hold it for the time allowed.

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