Dependent Personality Disorder
People with Dependent Personality Disorder have a psychological dependence on other people. People affected by this disease also have difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive amounts of advice and reassurance from their peers.
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Symptoms that people with DPD posses include:
-Having difficulty making everyday decisions -rely on others for most major decisions in life. -Having difficulty expressing disagreement with others -Having difficulty initiating projects -Going to excessive lengths to obtain nurture and support from others -Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone -Quickly seeks a new relationship when one ends -Having unrealistic fears of being left to take care of them selves. (1) |
The movie What About Bob is about a man named Bob that has Dependent Personality Disorder. As shown in the video to the right, Bob becomes so dependent on his therapist, Leo, that he stalks him and follows him to his family vacation, just so he is there for his every need. Leo's family welcomes Bob in. As it is also shown in the video, Leo, however is not as happy the Bob has joined the vacation. |
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Decision Making
This video shows what life is like for someone with DPD. Many aspects of the disorder are included, but something that stands out is the inability to make decisions without constant reassurance of their decision. In the video it was just a bag of chips, and in real life for these patients it can be that and so much more, like who to befriend, and what college to attend. To cope with this problem the individual usually lets one person take responsibility for most areas of their life. This is shown in the video when the mom picks out the clothes for the girl to wear. (1) |
Need For Close Relationships
Many people with DPD end up staying in abusive relationships. Like it is shown in the video, people with DPD will do anything to stay in a relationship in which they depend on, even if it hurts them. The couples relationship was not healthy,however the girl (like many people with DPD do) stayed in the relationship, and did things she thought were wrong, because her fear of being left alone was greater than doing what she believed was right. (1) |