Dependent Personality Disorder and Mental Health
Dependent personality disorders are common according to experts.
These types of personalities suffer symptoms including,
incompetence to make their own decisions. They will often rely
on others around them to make a decision. Dependent personality
types will often avoid responsibility and will rely on others to
handle their lives and tasks. This type of personality will
avoid starting tasks, unless someone is there to guide them
through the process. Dependent personality types will often
tolerate abuse, neglect, including cheating of spouse.
They are often depressed and will use alcohol or drugs to
relieve their anxiety and stress. The person is often passive,
will not defend him or herself, and is afraid of rejection,
punishment, and so forth. It is important to evaluate these
types of personality and not confuse them with traditional women
that have submissive traits or personalities. The two are
different in the sense the traditional woman will not tolerate
anyone going against their beliefs and will defend their person
without thinking twice about it in most cases.
Dependent personality types are found in Histrionic and
Borderline Personality types, but the difference is Histrionic
and Borderline Personality types will manipulate, control,
abuse, and act out in behaviors that are dangerous to others.
They are very manipulating and will murder in some instances.
The dependent personality type is not aggressive and can hold a
relationship, while borderline and histrionic types cannot.
Dependent personality types often need long-term treatment since
the underlying source of the symptoms is fear because of undo
punishment, neglect or abuse. The person probably lived in an
unruly household and was subjected to harsh punishment. Most
dependent personality types will rely on their parents and the
parent will often find a reason to dismiss any decisions the
person makes. For example if the patient is engaged and a sudden
breakup occurs the mother may say, I told you so. I knew he was
no good.
The man may have been a good person, just left simply because he
could not handle the disorder. Dependent personality type may
even ask mom or dad if it is ok to go to the store. They often
stick close to the sources that initiated the disorder from the
beginning. Therefore, we are dealing with co-dependency and
dependent personality problems. The co-dependency is the parents
that will not allow the patient to move ahead to independence.
Therefore, we have to apply a technique that will work to help
the patient separate his or her self from the patients and work
toward relying on self. I see no room for medication in this
diagnose, since behaviors and not medical issues affect the
patient. We need to move ahead by helping the patient see that
fear is the root of the problem, and then search the mind to
find the source that caused or promoted the fear. We can do this
with talk therapy, since the patient has all the answers, yet is
not aware of the cause. We know that the patient was neglected
as a child and possibly harshly punished often, including
scolding.
It would be helpful to get the parents in therapy to help them
with their mental problems, but in most cases the patient is to
blame according to many for his or her problem and culprits are
never an excuse unfortunately. Now, we begin by talking through
the problems and sorting out the information, gathering roots
that instigated the patient's behaviors. It is important to
remain consistent to help the patient see that he or she can
defend her or his individuality without being punished for doing
so. We should never raise our voices or attempt to control the
patient, rather allow the patient room to speak his or her mind
freely.
An inviting method for opening up the patients mind is to ask
questions that surround the problem. For example, Betty what do
you think is going on inside your mind that is causing you
problems? Do not allow the patient to blame his or her self,
since this is only contributing to the dependency. Allow the
patient room to take the floor and hold it for the time allowed.