excuse me but your post is the first ive heard of AvPD, but im a bit nervous because i match quite a few of the symptoms. i was wondering, do people with AvPD do things like say, refuse to apply to jobs because they are a afraid to leave a safe environment and afraid that their applications will be rejected or that they would do the job poorly.. sorry for the long message and if i spelled anything wrong
Hi. Just to clarify, that recently posted list of symptoms are not official symptoms listed in the DSM but are problems often associated with the disorder. The complete DSM diagnostic criteria is listed here.
Yes, that’s actually very common. I turned down my only job interview to date because I couldn’t deal with there only being three other people working there and how close-nit it was.
Many people with Avoidant Personality either have trouble working in social-heavy jobs or work in jobs with minimal social interaction. Here are all of the employment related mentions in the DSM entry for AvPD (these are just possibilities, not a complete list):
Individuals with avoidant personality disorder avoid work activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
Offers of job promotions may be declined because the new responsibilities might result in criticism from co-workers.
These individuals avoid making new friends unless they are certain they will be liked and accepted without criticism.
Someone with this disorder may cancel a job interview for fear of being embarrassed by not dressing appropriately.
The avoidant behaviors can also adversely affect occupational functioning because these individuals try to avoid the types of social situations that may be important for meeting the basic demands of the job or for advancement.
I recommend you check our our Resources page for many information on AvPD.