Dependent Personality Disorder...
Dependent Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by an over-reliance on others that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. The dependent and submissive behaviors arise from feeling unable to cope without the help of others. This disorder is only diagnosed when these behaviors become persistent and very disabling or distressing. This diagnosis should be used with great caution, if at all, in children and adolescents, for whom dependent behavior may be developmentally appropriate.
Complications:
Complications of this disorder are increased risk of: depression; alcohol or drug abuse; physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Occupational functioning is impaired if independent initiative is required. The individual avoids positions of responsibility and becomes anxious when faced with decisions. Social relations tend to be limited to those few people on whom the individual is dependent.
Comorbidity:
Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Disorder, and other Personality Disorders (especially Borderline, Avoidant, and Histrionic) frequently co-occur with this disorder.
Can anyone relate to this type of behaviour?
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Deinonychus
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 323
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
I really doubt that I have this disorder, but I do sort of wonder if I could really take care of myself on my own for very long without having some sort of major issue come up. My mother helped me out a lot so that I could remain self sufficient, but now she is dead. My husband more or less has stepped in and "cares" for me. I am capable of working, but I think that more of my issues are explained by traits commonly associated with AS. I met and married my husband a few years before my mother died, so I haven't really had to "try" to make it alone. I guess that is why I don't know if I can do it or not...... 

Pretty much the same with me. I don't know if it would qualify as having a disorder if one genuinely has problems with certain life skills. I would think there would be a difference between someone who could take care of themselves, but for whatever reason psychologically they believe they can't. You're not supposed to be able to qualify for a diagnosis of AS unless you have significant trouble with at least one of 3 major areas of life. I guess that it wouldn't make sense to me to get a further diagnosis of DPD, because you have difficulty.
I have often wondered how I'd fare completely on my own. I don't have the support of my family (they're currently not speaking to me for what reason, I don't know) but I do have the support of my husband. I don't have any trouble being able to make decisions, but there are some things that I do have trouble doing that would impact my family greatly if I were the only one around to take care of those things.
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Age: 58
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I think I have some of the characteristics, but the "disorder" doesn't fit me entirely.
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Well I definitely can relate to the fear of not being able to take care of myself on my own, but I don't let people take advantage of me even with this fear and don't feel dependent or submissive, just very angry and disappointed with myself. So I don't think I could be diagnosed with this even thought the fear is most definitely there.
whipstitches
Deinonychus
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 323
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
I have often wondered how I'd fare completely on my own. I don't have the support of my family (they're currently not speaking to me for what reason, I don't know) but I do have the support of my husband. I don't have any trouble being able to make decisions, but there are some things that I do have trouble doing that would impact my family greatly if I were the only one around to take care of those things.
I agree that not being able to tend to certain areas of life effectively and not "wanting" to tend to your life are really two separate things. You mentioned "wondering how [you] would fare completely on [your] own" and I totally relate to that. My major problem area in life has been employment. I more or less got sucked into the university and stayed there for about 10 years. I am WAY over educated and now have massive student debt, but I have no skills to find work. I had intended to become a professor, but I didn't finish my PhD because I more or less snapped when I learned that my mother was dying. This in turn flung me into a deep depression and I know there is no way that I would be able to function on my own right now. I have a lot of education, but I only have a bachelors degree to show for it. I can't handle the sensory issues that come along with most service jobs and I do not suffer fools very well at all. I would have a hard time being "a team player" in most service jobs. Most office environments have been very stressful because there is an expectation that you will "socialize". I just don't know what to do with myself right now so far as employment is concerned. I have been unemployed for about 4 years now and really do depend on my husband for support. My family has encouraged me to return to graduate school to obtain a masters degree because I was able to get a full scholarship. Since I won't have to borrow any additional money, there really isn't much to lose. I just hope that I will be able get some manner of beurocratic position when I am finished. I have a degree in geology and studied surface water and ground water systems in grad school. Hopefully I will be able to add "extensive knowledge of water policy" to that via graduate school and become a little more employable. This time I am going to see if I can get some assistance finding a job because I don't think that I will be able to do it on my own. I just can't seem to network and I am always looking in the wrong places for work.
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poopylungstuffing
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My partner is actually diagnosed with this...or was as a teen..
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I find it very difficult to choose between things. The apple or the orange? they both scrape down my throat, they both taste like metal, i'll still feel hungry wether i eat or not. I tend to get people to make decisions for me, with no emotional colouring it's nearly impossible for me to pick between two equal things. I'm certainly not clingy and i don't go with other peoples point of veiw to avoid offending them however, i have a tendancy to push people away even though i know i wouldn't cope on my own.
I have some of the characteristics especially in my 20's and somewhat now. But that did not happen til I was forced to live in a group home,where all of the things that i great at taking care of myself, was "controlled by other people. I was forced into learned helplessness, but at the same time, i was forced to do things and/or get in trouble if I did not show and/or have empathy, sympathy, and/or understanding to the other clients, especially if they were the ones who hurt me.
It is from being "controlled" , when I did not need it and at the same time having people around me lack understanding and be very mean to me where i just gave up.
