![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Klavot on August 4, 2007, at 9:30:24
I think I might have avoidant personality style, though not avoidant personality disorder (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant_personality_disorder for the distinction). Especially, I avoid social interaction for fear of being hurt psychologically, I have a poor self image and I tend to see my future pessimistically. The other day, somebody told me I'm psychologically unstable and I developed a stress migraine that lasted almost a day because of it. Are there any medications to treat avoidant personality style, even if only symptomatically?
Klavot
Posted by Phillipa on August 4, 2007, at 12:49:53
In reply to Avoidant personality style, posted by Klavot on August 4, 2007, at 9:30:24
Sounds like theraphy and maybe a benzo to take the edge off? I think I am a lot like that too. But when working and loved by all felt good and didn't need any meds at all and was happy. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on August 4, 2007, at 18:16:15
In reply to Avoidant personality style, posted by Klavot on August 4, 2007, at 9:30:24
Well I'm not pooh-poohing the idea of avoidant personality disorder/style, but looking through the spectrum of personality disorders do you not recognize different parts of yourself in them? For example I meet the criteria for NPD, BPD, SPD (Schizotypal and Schizoid), and APD depending on the situation I'm in. I never know which one to choose since I can fit into nearly all of them, so is this just a manifestation of my Dissociative Identity Disorder lol? You can tie yourself in knots with these things and still get no further forward.
You might find some of the techniques used in overcoming avoidance useful though. I'm reading a book called "The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders" and the ideas put forwards are very helpful in places. I don't know if I have BPD or not, but I certainly have some of the traits such as emotional instability, outbursts of rage and self-harm etc. so I have a certain borderline 'style' to my interactions with people. I'm also avoidant. Opiates are the only monotherapy that have been an all-round success on all my symptoms. Benzos helped tremendously with the anxiety and avoidance, but made me more depressed and emotionally unstable, even aggressive and physically violent at times. My Parnate, Lamictal and Klonopin combo was the only real success with 'legit' medications. I suspect Nardil would be the best contender as a monotherapy for avoidant anxiety issues if you can tolerate the side effects.
Q
Posted by Sigismund on August 4, 2007, at 20:49:41
In reply to Avoidant personality style, posted by Klavot on August 4, 2007, at 9:30:24
You could fear psychological hurt for a range of reasons, and they may be rational.
>Are there any medications to treat avoidant personality style, even if only symptomatically?
All the ones that I know of that work are illegal, except for alcohol.
It is important to keep a firm distinction between psych drugs and drugs of abuse, apparently.The reason I avoided things/people was to avoid being trapped by them. (Of course I was the person who trapped me in them etc etc.)
You may be interested in this, dunno how good it is....
Posted by Racer on August 5, 2007, at 1:45:46
In reply to Re: Avoidant personality style » Klavot, posted by Quintal on August 4, 2007, at 18:16:15
> Well I'm not pooh-poohing the idea of avoidant personality disorder/style, but looking through the spectrum of personality disorders do you not recognize different parts of yourself in them? For example I meet the criteria for NPD, BPD, SPD (Schizotypal and Schizoid), and APD depending on the situation I'm in.
You're forgetting one of the most important parts of the criteria for any personality disorder: "The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations." In other words, if your PD depends on the situation you're in, then you don't have a PD...
As for how to deal with an avoidant personality style, I guess you'd look at specific symptoms and go from there. Since it's one of the anxious personality disorders, medications which help control anxiety would likely help. Also, since a lot of it is behavioral, CBT could be helpful.
Good luck.
Posted by Klavot on August 5, 2007, at 4:07:48
In reply to Re: Avoidant personality style » Quintal, posted by Racer on August 5, 2007, at 1:45:46
Thank you everybody. And by the way, just because I don't explicitly thank people for their feedback, that doesn't mean I'm not grateful.
On a god day, when I am well rested and in control of my environment, I can handle the challenges that life throws at me. But on a bad day, when my defences are down, I tend to avoid challenges in order to self-protect. Problem is, there seem to be so many more bad days than good days lately.
Klavot
Posted by Quintal on August 5, 2007, at 4:14:35
In reply to Re: Avoidant personality style » Quintal, posted by Racer on August 5, 2007, at 1:45:46
Yes, you're right Racer. I was putting an ironic twist on the whole personality disorder thing because that's what I saw in my notes on the doctor's computer when when I went about my stomach pain a few weeks ago. Under 'Active Conditions' or words to that effect, it had listed 'benzodiazepine misuse and dependence', 'prescription only drug misuse' and the clincher 'personality disorders'. So it's official then - I have a personality disorder.
It doesn't mention which one it might be though... and the psychiatrist told me to my face that I don't fit into any one category 'because you are a human being, not an object'. The problem with the inflexible patterns thing is that people do behave differently in different situations, even people with personality disorders. I'm not sure how psychiatrists arrive at these diagnoses and why, or how many use them. I have a feeling they're used more to warn other doctors of people they deem 'problem' patients rather than diagnostic criteria. Again, this might sound reasonable, but I got on fine with the first two psychiatrists I saw and there was no suggestion of personality disorders from them. I got off on a bad footing to the last pdoc from the outset when he tried to tell me Zyprexa was a regular antidepressant like Prozac - I lost my temper and we got into an argument. He was the one who refused to raise the dose of Parnate above 30mg even though it was working well for me - basically a power trip. He discharged me at the next appointment with the 'personality disorders' label and said he didn't want to see me again 'unless things change significantly'. So that is my experience with psychiatrists and personality disorders.
Yes, medication helps with anxiety and ultimately therapy is most likely to help you recognize maladaptive and self-destructive patterns and draw up strategies to deal with them.
Q
Posted by med_empowered on August 5, 2007, at 20:09:22
In reply to Re: Avoidant personality style » Racer, posted by Quintal on August 5, 2007, at 4:14:35
are BS. I mean, DSM things in general are BS, medically speaking; they dont show up on brain scans, etc. But personality disorders, in particular, are more moral judgements than actual disorders. Its BS, moralistic BS at that.
Anyway, the AvPD supposedly responds to MAOIs. ANd benzos. And therapy.
Posted by Klavot on August 6, 2007, at 14:50:04
In reply to personality disorders.., posted by med_empowered on August 5, 2007, at 20:09:22
> are BS. I mean, DSM things in general are BS, medically speaking; they dont show up on brain scans, etc. But personality disorders, in particular, are more moral judgements than actual disorders. Its BS, moralistic BS at that.
That is your cynical opinion, formed and influenced by your own peculiar experiences with psychiatry. A behavioural condition does not have to show up on a brain scan for it to exist.
I am experiencing certain behavioural aberrations which are clearly destructive and are causing me great distress. That is not "moralistic BS".
> Anyway, the AvPD supposedly responds to MAOIs. ANd benzos. And therapy.
Thank you for the information. I think CBT might be an avenue for me to consider.
Klavot
Posted by Sigismund on August 7, 2007, at 21:41:31
In reply to Re: personality disorders.. » med_empowered, posted by Klavot on August 6, 2007, at 14:50:04
I suppose people are entitled to carve up suffering and the human condition?
To say, this much suffering is normal, that much not. They can do that. But who are they to speak?
They are academics on some committee, which is OK, I guess, but that is not where I want to take my lessons from.
Posted by Klavot on August 8, 2007, at 9:57:37
In reply to personality disorders.., posted by med_empowered on August 5, 2007, at 20:09:22
Dear med_empowered
I'm sorry for the somewhat acid tone of my previous post to you. I was in a bad mood when writing it.
Klavot
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.