Schizoid personality disorder
Schizoid personality disorder is one of 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
Schizoid personality disorder is a psychiatric condition often characterized by antisocial behavior, detachment from others, and lack of interest in personal relationships. At first, their behaviour may be masked as other issues, like clinical depression, but as time goes on, they worsen rather than improve, and continue to isolate themselves, which illustrates a different problem. With closer observation, you may be able to distinguish some specific symptoms/behaviors that could indicate SPD.
No Interest in Relationships
An extremely common symptom in those with a 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 Even with family, they are typically more withdrawn than the average person.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 behavior 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 particularly motivated to participate in.
Emotional Detachment
Disinterest in those around them isn’t limited to personal interactions. People with SPD also have a propensity to be indifferent to other people’s emotional state, praise, and/or criticism, etc. They may often seem to be emotionally distant and cold, as they have a limited range of expression or emotions in interpersonal interactions.
Self-Isolation and Solitary Activities
As people with SPD do not have an interest in building connections with others, they often choose to isolate themselves, spending most if not all of their time alone. They often don’t seem to take pleasure in many activities, but those that they do choose to partake in are always solitary. They don’t show feelings of happiness with these activities, but rather, remain in a state of emotional detachment.
Symptoms That Are Not Present
With several varieties of personality disorders, as well as other psychiatric illnesses, there is often an overlap in behaviors and symptoms which make it difficult to differentiate. With that in mind, there are a couple of symptoms that 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 behaviors. If these symptoms are present, your loved one may have a different issue.
Dealing with a loved one that has any type of borderline personality disorder can be very challenging. Whether SPD ends up as the correct diagnosis, if you or someone you love experiences any of the above symptoms, it’s important to seek help right away. With that said, these symptoms are a guideline you can use with which to find help; please do not attempt to diagnose anyone yourself. There are many resources available to help with finding counseling and psychiatric evaluation in order to get a proper diagnosis.
Article written by: Kylee Peters
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/relationship-help.htm/
