A schizoid personality disorder is a group of conditions called “Cluster ‘A’ ” or eccentric personality disorders. People with these disorders often appear odd or peculiar.
Detached And Distant: Signs Your Loved One May Have Schizoid Personality Disorder
A schizoid personality disorder is often characterised by antisocial behaviour, detachment from others, and lack of interest in personal relationships. At first, their behaviour may be masked as other issues, like clinical depression. Still, as time passes, they worsen rather than improve and continue isolating themselves, which illustrates a different problem. With closer observation, you may distinguish some specific symptoms/behaviours that could indicate SPD.
No Interest in Relationships
A ubiquitous symptom in those with schizoid personality disorder is their complete lack of interest in developing and maintaining relationships of any kind. Even with family, they are typically more withdrawn than the average person. While the type of behaviour can differ depending on the individual, this can also be compounded by other mental issues that may be present simultaneously, as this symptom is consistently present.
No Intimacy
In addition to having no interest in building normal relationships, those individuals with SPD will likely never develop an interest in intimacy or sexual relationships of any kind, even those that are non-committal. Physical intimacy is not something from which they receive pleasure, and even physical interaction without emotional attachment is something they are not mainly motivated to participate in.
Emotional Detachment
Disinterest in those around them isn’t limited to personal interactions. People with SPD also tend to be indifferent to other people’s emotional states, praise, criticism, etc. As they have a limited range of emotions to express in interpersonal interactions, they may often seem emotionally distant and cold.
Self-Isolation and Solitary Activities
People with SPD do not have an interest in building connections with others, so they often choose to isolate themselves, spending most, if not all, of their time alone. They usually don’t seem to enjoy many activities, but those they choose to partake in are always solitary. They don’t show feelings of happiness with these activities but instead remain emotionally detached.
Symptoms That Are Not Present
With several varieties of personality disorders and other psychiatric illnesses, there is often an overlap in behaviours and symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate. With that in mind, a couple of symptoms are typically not displayed as part of SPD. Those with SPD do not have ‘highs’ and ‘lows’, during which they range from reclusive to socially outgoing. They also do not tend to exhibit truly psychotic behaviours. Your loved one may have a different issue if these symptoms are present.
Dealing with a loved one who has borderline personality disorder can be very challenging. Whether SPD ends up as the correct diagnosis or if you or someone you love experiences any of the above symptoms, it’s essential to seek help immediately. With that said, these symptoms are a guideline you can use to find help; please do not attempt to diagnose anyone yourself. There are many resources available to help with finding counselling and psychiatric evaluation to get a proper diagnosis.
Kylee Peters wrote the article
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/relationship-help.htm/