Dependent personality disorder facts for kids

A dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a personality disorder. It means someone relies a lot on other people. This reliance is for their emotional and physical needs. It's a long-term condition. People with DPD often find it hard to manage on their own.

Understanding Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is a way of thinking and behaving. It makes a person feel unable to make decisions alone. They often need others to take care of them. This is more than just asking for help sometimes. It's a deep need to be looked after.

What is DPD?

DPD is a type of personality disorder. Personality disorders are lasting patterns of inner experience and behavior. These patterns are different from what is expected in a person's culture. They can cause distress or problems in daily life. For DPD, the main pattern is a strong need to be cared for. This leads to submissive and clinging behavior. It also causes fears of separation.

People with DPD often feel helpless when they are alone. They might struggle to start projects. They may also find it hard to disagree with others. This is because they fear losing support or approval.

How Does DPD Affect Someone?

Living with DPD can be challenging. People with DPD might:

• Have trouble making everyday decisions. This includes simple choices like what to wear.
• Need a lot of reassurance from others. They might constantly ask for advice.
• Avoid taking responsibility. They prefer others to lead the way.
• Feel uncomfortable or helpless when alone. They might quickly seek new relationships.
• Go to great lengths to get support. This could mean doing things they don't want to do.
• Fear being left alone. They worry about having to care for themselves.

These behaviors can affect friendships and school life. A person with DPD might struggle to be independent. They might also have difficulty expressing their own opinions.

Getting Help for DPD

It's important to remember that DPD is a recognized condition. Help is available for those who experience it. Treatment often involves therapy. A therapist can help a person learn new ways of thinking. They can also learn new ways of behaving.

Therapy can help people with DPD:

• Build their self-esteem.
• Learn to make their own decisions.
• Become more independent.
• Develop healthy relationships.
• Understand their own feelings and needs.

Family support can also be very helpful. Learning about DPD can help family members understand. It can also help them support the person in a healthy way.

It's a journey to manage DPD. With the right support, people can learn to live more independently. They can also build stronger, healthier relationships.

See also

In Spanish: Trastorno de la personalidad por dependencia para niños