[DocJohn]

Welcome to a safe place to discuss schizoid personality disorder and related issues:

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx30.htm

Enjoy,
DocJohn

[SeptemberMorn]

I have a question. How can you best help a spouse with this disorder?

[RiverX]

Originally Posted by SeptemberMorn

I have a question. How can you best help a spouse with this disorder?

I'd like to try to answer. (as a card carrying, diagnosed schiz).

I'd say, learn all you can about it, specifically about 'intrasychic structure', that is to say things like the inner conflicts which give rise to the desire to connect in collision with aversion and distancing.
As you learn to understand what's going on, you'll find ways to communicate, and also to know when not to try to, and hopefully, your person will feel understood, and, actually this is what many schizs long for, to be understood, but not appropriated from or overwhelmed.

I got my education about it from the Masterson Klein literature. Also, try
www.selfinexile.com which attempts to explain in some depth.

riverx

[SeptemberMorn]

River, thank you very much for your info! Truly appreciated.

if okay.

[SeptemberMorn]

I had him read a part that I think discribes him to a T and he said he didn't recognize any of it. He thinks his reasons are valid ones and they are not a problem.

[RiverX]

Originally Posted by SeptemberMorn

I had him read a part that I think discribes him to a T and he said he didn't recognize any of it. He thinks his reasons are valid ones and they are not a problem.

Part of what? ....

r.

[ben10]

Hi, thanks alot for your post- i am looking for a bit of support , i have been experiencing a sense paranoia, increasing in severity over the past 4yrs. it has reached the point of ruling my life and well-being. I am always forthright in therapy and believe the Paranoia was considered a symptom of a larger issue for some time. Most recently i told my T it has manifested itself into every crevice of my existence. I will recieve my med adj on mon. however when i read the paranoid personality disorder most of it doesnot fit....i have learned to temper my emotions and take responsibility for my actions via recovery. however, a combination of schiz disorders do describe alot of what a feel and fear. I updated & selected PPD in my profile, now, it wont allow me to change it---- "arrrghhh....whatever will you think of me Now?????.." LOL I wonder if I've made any sense at all.

i tend to do things in reverse...so now im going to go check out the link you provided. hopefully i'll find some remnants of 'me' in there. I also have a medication horror story from 2005 which is causing me much apprehension in relation to this new diagnosis. not sure if it is appropriate to discuss.

thanks for listening...

[RiverX]

Originally Posted by ben10

Hi, thanks alot for your post- i am looking for a bit of support , i have been experiencing a sense paranoia, increasing in severity over the past 4yrs. it has reached the point of ruling my life and well-being. I am always forthright in therapy and believe the Paranoia was considered a symptom of a larger issue for some time. Most recently i told my T it has manifested itself into every crevice of my existence. I will recieve my med adj on mon. however when i read the paranoid personality disorder most of it doesnot fit....i have learned to temper my emotions and take responsibility for my actions via recovery. however, a combination of schiz disorders do describe alot of what a feel and fear. I updated & selected PPD in my profile, now, it wont allow me to change it---- "arrrghhh....whatever will you think of me Now?????.." LOL I wonder if I've made any sense at all.

i tend to do things in reverse...so now im going to go check out the link you provided. hopefully i'll find some remnants of 'me' in there. I also have a medication horror story from 2005 which is causing me much apprehension in relation to this new diagnosis. not sure if it is appropriate to discuss.

thanks for listening...

That sounds like some good recovery, I also got that taking responsibility from having been in recovery. Sounds like that parania thing is getting a grip on you. I've been thro a period of time with terrible intrusive thoughts , altho not exaclty paranioa.
Its possible to apply the recovery tools on the whole schizoid disorder paradigm. It takes some studying and learning, and a deeper working of the steps. I believe this is possible, let me know if I can help, maybe I can - dont know.

[CaringMom23]

Thank you for this helpful information. I want to understand and support a family member whom I believe to have this personality type, and has struggled in college.

[nexto]

Thinking of all the things I wish my ex wife would have communicated without communicating (if that makes sense) to me, here are some things to consider. Space/time for me to come to grips that she was being supportive without her saying so in those terms. If there is an interest in an activity that You would like the 2 of you to take part in(anything) bring it up in normal conversation, with an underlying thought that you would be together, and wouldn't be splitting up to join with other persons. This would have made me more comfortable in social interactions when we were out. There is nothing like feeling alone in a crowd. I feel like that all the time it seems like, and I would like to be able to count on support that there is someone who is there with my best interests in mind. It's thoughtful on your part.
Another thing would be just spending time quietly, not forcing conversation or questioning why they are being quiet or are they alright all the time, this drives us further into ourselves.
For me, also, when my ex would initiate sex or sexual intimacy, it would make me withdraw. We like sex on our terms, we aren't selfish, don't take it like that, we just need to feel that there is not an ulterior motive, and the best way to do that is not to force the idea or ask a bunch of questions that make them have to open up about there private inner feelings. Think about how things went when you were dating.
Remember, you have each other for a reason.
I hope this was a help, nexto

Originally Posted by SeptemberMorn

I have a question. How can you best help a spouse with this disorder?

[Petunia111]

I am sure that my mother-in-law has this disorder. Also, she isn't a very bright woman; in fact, she is repulsively stupid. She says things that are totally unbelievable, even for a mother-in-law, of any stripe. I try to keep visits to a minimum and try not to take anything she says seriously, but she is a total trip. I don't know how my hub came out normal, I really don't.

[Chancellor]

So, after having been formally evaluated for what I thought might be a mild degree of Aspergers, it turns out to be schizoid personality disorder. Learning more about this should prove interesting.

[Lynneledgewood]

OMG. I read the link to the article and it was me to a tee even how they described the parents was my mom. I was always responsible for everything that went wrong in the house even after I had moved out. Geez I guess when my ex said I was emotionally unavailable he was absolutely correct.

[NextToNormal]

Wow.. this sounds.. so much like me.

[j9g5mvks]

Just checking in... I think I probably have this disorder and I think the reason I'm here is to develop coping mechanisms to deal with associated unhappiness (vague, I know). Peace

[Carpio]

I've been diagnosed SPD in 2005, with dysthymia. I've come to realize that I have learned to be "content" with unhappiness, as a state of "normal." This probably also contributes to why my work history is a series of jobs that never last beyond two years. Poor social relations to supervisors/managers and coworkers.
If you are with someone with SPD, the best thing is to try to understand their quirks/behaviors and not try to "fix" them. Telling them how they are socially stunted dummies doesn't help. Sarcasm can be confusing, sometimes not recognized or understood.

[jenjenw82]

I've never been diagnosed but the outline seems to fit me. I have my first session with a therapist this Friday. I would like to learn how to trust people if I could and to deal with my hatred/annoyance with people. I read that a lot of people are unhappy with not being social but I enjoy it. I like having my own time and not having people around to annoy me. But after snapping at a customer last week I realize that if I don't want to lose my job I need to figure out how to ignore stupidity.

[jenjenw82]

I posted but it's not showing up.

[Chancellor]

Now that the disorder no longer exists (as it has been removed from the DSM), does that mean we're all cured?

[loki817]

I'm new here was just diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder and antisocial personality traits which if you ask me seems a little redundant but anyway hello