Dependent Personality Disorder – What Is It & How to Deal with It?

• March 21, 2023
• Mental Health, Rehabilitation

Dependent Personality Disorder – What Is It & How to Deal with It?

Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of. People with DPD tend to rely on others to make decisions, and often have difficulty making decisions for themselves. They also tend to lack self-confidence and have a strong fear of being alone or abandoned.

The condition generally affects an individual during childhood or by the age of 29 years. Several factors can lead to the development of this condition such as abusive relationship, childhood trauma, family history, or cultural difference.

Symptoms of DPD

A number of factors signify the presence of Dependent Personality Disorder in an individual. Some of these are as follows:

1. Difficulty making decisions without excessive advice and reassurance from others.
2. Difficulty expressing disagreement with others due to fear of losing their support or approval.
3. Difficulty initiating projects or doing things on their own due to lack of self-confidence and fear of being alone.
4. Going to extreme lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, including volunteering to do unpleasant tasks, or staying in abusive or unhealthy relationships.
5. Feeling helpless when alone and uncomfortable or anxious when forced to be independent.
6. Avoiding to take personal responsibilities.
7. Fear of abandonment.
8. Feeling of helplessness when relationships end. 

Tips to Deal with DPD

Here are some tips that can help an individual in dealing with DPD:

1. Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is important in managing DPD. Make time for activities that you enjoy and that make you feel good about yourself.

2. Learn to set boundaries: Learning to set boundaries can be difficult for people with DPD, but it is important to learn how to say “no” and establish healthy limits with others.

3. Build a support network: Building a support network of trusted friends and family members can help you feel more confident and secure in your relationships.

4. Practice decision-making: To reduce your dependence on others, it is important to practice making decisions on your own. Start with the small ones at first and then, gradually increase the complexity of the decisions you make.

5. Challenge negative thoughts: People with DPD often have negative thoughts about their own abilities and self-worth. Challenge these thoughts by identifying evidence to the contrary.

Seek Professional Help

Remember, managing DPD takes time and effort, but with the right tools and support, it is possible to live a fulfilling and independent life. If you or someone you know is showing the signs of DPD, the first step should be to seek help from a mental health professional. A therapist can help you identify the root cause of your dependence and develop coping strategies to address them.

In case you are planning to seek professional help and are looking for a reliable treatment center, then Athena Behavioral Health can help. Athena Behavioral Health is one of the safest, reliable, and secure treatment centers for mental health and addiction among individuals. Backed by a team of professional psychologists at our treatment facility, we are counted as one of the best mental rehabilitation centers in India. Our treatment experts make sure that the best customized treatment is provided to each patient based on their specific illness to ensure their speedy recovery.

Athena Behavioral Health has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and well-furnished office that helps it in ensuring a comfortable stay to the patients. Sounds interesting? If anyone around you or someone else you know is dealing with any mental health issue and is searching for a mental health rehabilitation center, share the contact details of Athena Behavioral Health with them. They may contact us by sending us a WhatsApp message at 9289086193 or dropping us an email at info@athenabhs.com and our experts will contact them shortly.