Dependent Personality Disorder

People with dependant personality go beyond the normal degree of interdependence to allowing another person to take over major areas in their lives. It is not unusual for people with this disorder to have another personality disorder. They are also at a higher risk for developing major depression, dysthymia, and anxiety disorders. There are no reliable estimates to this disorder's prevalence. The major traits of dependant personality disorder are:

Need for others to control their lives

They have difficulty in making decisions or initiating new projects on their own. This is because they lack the self-confidence and trust in themselves, not because they lack motivation or energy.

Submissive and clinging behavior

People with this disorder have problems expressing disagreement with others because they fear the person will not like them or support them afterwards.

Fears of separation and abandonment

Individuals with dependant personality disorder have a strong need to be taken care of. They will volunteer to do undesirable tasks to keep another person 's affection and support. After a relationship ends, they may feel so incapable, helpless, and alone that they will search for a new partner and enter into a relationship with the first person to come along.

Lack of confidence in themselves and abilities

People with this disorder often belittle their own abilities and would describe themselves as dumb or stupid. Because they doubt their own ability to make decisions, they feel uncomfortable and helpless when no one is there to take care of them. A person with this disorder will rarely initiate projects or activities because they lack self-confidence in their judgement or abilities.

Symptoms

• has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others
• needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life
• has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval.
• has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy)
• goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant
• feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself
• urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
• is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself