Dependent Personality Disorder Test
I struggle to make choices without getting someone else's opinion first.
I'll take on jobs nobody wants just to feel accepted by people around me.
Spending time by myself makes me feel uneasy.
Simple decisions like picking work clothes can trigger my anxiety.
I often fear that I'm not worthy of love or that people pretend to like me.
I'll go along with others' views even when I disagree, just to avoid conflict.
I'd rather stay in a bad relationship than face life without a partner.
I feel safest when someone else maps out my next steps for me.
I worry I couldn't manage on my own if the people I rely on passed away.
I can handle knowing that someone is upset with me.
I frequently experience a sense of complete powerlessness.
If someone important to me traveled without me, I'd appreciate having personal time.
I constantly go out of my way to please the people I care about.
I don't believe I'm capable enough to tackle big challenges alone.
When people close to me go away, I get so lonely it turns into panic.
As soon as one relationship finishes, I immediately look for a new one.
I hold back my thoughts to prevent driving away those I love.
If someone I care about didn't like my outfit, I'd switch clothes right away.
I trust my judgment when it comes to making decisions.
The idea of living alone terrifies me so much it disrupts my sleep.
20 questions remaining
What You Should Know
People with dependent personality disorder are very dependent on others, have strong fears of being rejected, and believe deeply that they are helpless or incompetent. This disorder is thought to affect less than 1% of the population.
- People with the disorder usually depend on their parents or partner to take care of almost everything in their lives. When left alone, they might panic and act submissively or obsequiously to get others to take care of them.
- In the past, most people with dependent personality disorder were women. More recent studies, on the other hand, show that the disorder may affect men and women at about the same rate.
- The precise etiology remains unidentified; however, numerous individuals with dependent personalities disclose histories of trauma or abuse. Some people grew up in places where being independent was not encouraged or where they had to obey authority.
- People who are dependent act submissively because they think it will keep their loved ones close. In reality, their lack of initiative and neediness often drive people away, or keep the person in an abusive relationship because they are too scared to leave.
- Dependent traits, like those in other personality disorders, can be very strong and hard to change. But research shows that therapy, especially psychodynamic or cognitive behavioral approaches, can help people change beliefs that aren't working for them.
What You Can Do
- Get out of your comfort zone. If you still think you're too dependent on others, promise yourself that you'll do something new by yourself every so often.
- Accept that you need other people. It's normal to need others. When you feel like you need too much, think about times when you helped others without being asked.
- Think about therapy. If you feel needy or have low self-esteem, working with a therapist could help you feel better.
