What is the problem with having Schizoid PD?

I don't know if I have it or not but I relate to some of what I've read. And I was just thinking what is really the problem with it? For others/in general and for the person who has it?

I am just imagining if for example i was diagnosed with it (I'm not saying I think I have it but just for example/sake of argument) and then everyone knew, then a lot of people would see it as a justification that something is wrong with me. Like a lot of people have said. That I'm 'too quiet' etc. or people being emotionally demanding, intrusive and controlling with me because they think their way is right. It's like imagine if those people knew I had a 'Disorder' which related to those aspects in some way, then they'd just think even more that they are justified/right and use it against me. I know theirs a stigma that all personality disorders face. but it just annoys me that so many people see a problem with someone being quiet and not the same as them and also think it's okay to be emotionally intrusive etc. When those things don't affect them and it is them who is being inconsiderate and rude. I could go on... I guess I just wanted to rant about my current thoughts... but also ask a question (above) too so it's not too pointless. and sorry if that is not relevant or of no interest to anyone here.

lyratheowl wrote:I was just thinking what is really the problem with it? For others/in general and for the person who has it?

It varies from schizoid to schizoid. The emptiness and inability to connect along with anhedonia causes depression. Some people are totally okay with it. If you suffer from avolition though then you're screwed. This personality disorder is pretty okay if you live on your terms (enough time alone, a job that doesn't require social interaction, etc) but if for some reason you can't live like that then the stress is too high and depression and frustration arises. As I said, it's different from schizoid to schizoid 'cause the symptoms vary. I suffer from severe avolition but most people on this forum don't. Some people here are very conscious about the way others perceive them while others don't give a damn. The issues vary, but it can be a very forgiving personality disorder when you compare it with something like borderline or avoidant.

No problem at all, in the sense that it's simply a different way of being a person - and you'll find variations of this question throughout this forum.
However, I believe that the important thing is how it causes the individual to behave/respond in society, and whether they are able to accept themselves without feeling somehow 'wrong' and discordant.
I think the answer is in the word schizoid itself.
The problem is that SPD usually comes with a mix of other things that make it difficult to be properly comparative.

From my point of view there's two main problems.

One is that if you're not connected to people, then you're not connected to the economy, but you still need to buy things. It's really hard to make money if you're not social at all, especially when the economy isn't doing well. It tends to get very stressful regardless if you find a job or not.

The other main problem is that, if/when you do figure out the problem of sustainable income, then the tendency to avoid responsibility (because responsibility and social involvement overlap a lot) means you might as well not do any of the things you do. Once you realize you have the option to not do anything, then why do you go out of your way to do anything at all? It's a hard question to answer.

You either find a way to be okay with living a life that you know has no purpose (which is a complicated thing when you don't enjoy anything, because there's no compass and nothing to justify your choices and actions), or you find a way to be okay with having responsibilities (which means working through lifelong psychological issues and probably going against your personality).

Or you just keep yourself alive until you die, out of inertia. If you really are okay with that, then you don't have a disorder. But if you're frustrated that other people aren't okay with that, then you're not fully adapted to that reality yourself, because it means you still depend somehow on the opinion of people you don't want anything to do with (which in practice is the case for most everyone).

Avolition wrote:

lyratheowl wrote:I was just thinking what is really the problem with it? For others/in general and for the person who has it?

It varies from schizoid to schizoid. The emptiness and inability to connect along with anhedonia causes depression. Some people are totally okay with it. If you suffer from avolition though then you're screwed. This personality disorder is pretty okay if you live on your terms (enough time alone, a job that doesn't require social interaction, etc) but if for some reason you can't live like that then the stress is too high and depression and frustration arises. As I said, it's different from schizoid to schizoid 'cause the symptoms vary. I suffer from severe avolition but most people on this forum don't. Some people here are very conscious about the way others perceive them while others don't give a damn. The issues vary, but it can be a very forgiving personality disorder when you compare it with something like borderline or avoidant.

thank you for your reply. I can see how emptiness and inability to connect to others could result in depression. The only issues which really bother would be feeling emotionally intruded upon by others, making social mistakes which leads to more emotional intrusions plus I hate making mistakes and OCD in general (which is very much connected to the first two and explains them very well). So those are my main problems I'd say. But it's weird I don't think I'd ever describe myself as 'depressed' per se. More just miserable because of such things as intrusive thoughts etc. or emotions such as anger, guilt and then I will just dissociate. And people may think I am depressed but i don't know if it really fits. At those times I think I am more schizoid but of course I don't know if it just makes me seem that way at those times or if I am schizoid all to the time but those times just magnifies it. I think depression (or something like how I get if it's depression or not) could seem like schizoid PD perhaps?

I think I suffer from avolition (I had to look it up just now) to some degree at least...and yeah it's definitely a problem. Also makes it harder to live how I want, as lack of money to do so. I imagine that's a problem. I didn't think it was a trait of schizoid though. But I see how it could be for some like you say. And I have anxiety, OCD (as I mentioned) and people-pleasing tendencies where I will go on this weird auto pilot in overwhelming social situations and not know how to act so I just act agreeable and then I regret afterwards as I acted how I didn't want to act. I think it also made worse by lack of practice and lack of ability to plan how i will act, predict what the social situation will be like and get into character. I don't know if any schizoids can experience those types things? I have OCD and PTSD which is are anxiety disorders but I don't think I have GAD or social anxiety per se.

Anyway as i said I don't know if I have it but on first look most of the symptoms seem to be traits I thought of my natural/healthy traits but which others have a problem with. I mean I definitely have my faults and problems in my life but just that I found it strange that the way I related to a lot of schizoid traits I don't associate as a problem for me. But just as who I am. Sorry for talking about myself so much.


And yes it makes sense that it would vary for each person.

Out of curiosity can I ask, how do you experience avolition? And do you have fantasies or 'dreams' (like goals) of what you want/how you want to be or what you want to achieve or whatever? thanks.

zeno wrote:From my point of view there's two main problems... etc.

Yes, I agree - especially the responsibility stuff.

I like zeno's answer. Problem making a living, especially since so many jobs require human contact, etc.

Other problems as some others have mentioned:

anhedonia, lack of pleasure
lack of motivation
interpersonal problems
finding no purpose/nothing to live for
lack of social network --> if you need help, who to turn to?
reluctance to seek help
being overly passive, so more likely to be victimised

Positives:

less likely to be influenced by other people (so no giving in to peer pressure, not following the crowd)
not feeling loneliness so able to spend long periods alone without distress
content with a simple existence, no need for expensive cars or designer labels to impress your friends

UK SPD wrote:No problem at all, in the sense that it's simply a different way of being a person - and you'll find variations of this question throughout this forum.
However, I believe that the important thing is how it causes the individual to behave/respond in society, and whether they are able to accept themselves without feeling somehow 'wrong' and discordant.
I think the answer is in the word schizoid itself.
The problem is that SPD usually comes with a mix of other things that make it difficult to be properly comparative.

Thank you for your reply. Okay yes that makes sense. What do you mean by the answer is in the word 'schizoid' itself? thanks.

zeno wrote:From my point of view there's two main problems.

One is that if you're not connected to people, then you're not connected to the economy, but you still need to buy things. It's really hard to make money if you're not social at all, especially when the economy isn't doing well. It tends to get very stressful regardless if you find a job or not.

The other main problem is that, if/when you do figure out the problem of sustainable income, then the tendency to avoid responsibility (because responsibility and social involvement overlap a lot) means you might as well not do any of the things you do. Once you realize you have the option to not do anything, then why do you go out of your way to do anything at all? It's a hard question to answer.

You either find a way to be okay with living a life that you know has no purpose (which is a complicated thing when you don't enjoy anything, because there's no compass and nothing to justify your choices and actions), or you find a way to be okay with having responsibilities (which means working through lifelong psychological issues and probably going against your personality).

Or you just keep yourself alive until you die, out of inertia. If you really are okay with that, then you don't have a disorder. But if you're frustrated that other people aren't okay with that, then you're not fully adapted to that reality yourself, because it means you still depend somehow on the opinion of people you don't want anything to do with (which in practice is the case for most everyone).

Thank you for your reply. I think not having money would be an issue. It is possible to be connected to the economy and hardly have to deal with people, for example I know some freelance jobs is mainly just over emails but that is still interaction with people but it's not face to face or over the phone usually... But yeah it could be difficult to find a job like that or one with little or no interaction. if I was rich then I'd be a lot more happy and able to live the life I want. However, say I had my dream house and then something broke in it then I'd have to employ someone to come into my house and fix it. Which I wouldn't like. But that would be mainly because of my OCD I think. But it wouldn't be too bad I guess, as things like that don't usually happen very often. It would definitely way easier to be able to afford to live alone though and not have to work with people. Plus there are things I enjoy which involve being around strangers. Like walking around the city observing things. And I can't avoid the people no matter how money I have really. I realise I am just answering my own question even though I was the one who was saying I don't see anything wrong with it ha.

Do people with SPD really not enjoy anything though? There are plenty of things one can enjoy in order to avoid inertia which don't involve responsibility or social involvement? Also can I ask what you mean by responsibility exactly? That is making me think I don't have many schizoid traits. It's very interesting anyway. thanks.

MotherRussia wrote:I like zeno's answer. Problem making a living, especially since so many jobs require human contact, etc.

Other problems as some others have mentioned:

anhedonia, lack of pleasure
lack of motivation
interpersonal problems
finding no purpose/nothing to live for
lack of social network --> if you need help, who to turn to?
reluctance to seek help
being overly passive, so more likely to be victimised

Positives:

less likely to be influenced by other people (so no giving in to peer pressure, not following the crowd)
not feeling loneliness so able to spend long periods alone without distress
content with a simple existence, no need for expensive cars or designer labels to impress your friends

thank you for your reply. I like the way you listed the 'positives and negatives'. I can really relate to some of those points such being overly passive (I actually thought that maybe schizoid people may be better at this than I am or if not be less bothered by it than I am), reluctance to seek help, I don't mind having not much purpose because there are things that I enjoy and make me feel alive (when I'm not into an extremely withdrawn state and can barely function that is) and that point about not having anyone to turn for help is a good one and something I have been thinking about lately as I currently have absolutely no friends or anything. But I guess having money would solve a lot of those problems but then you could end up having to deal with more strangers who you pay to help you.

Can I ask what kind of interpersonal problems do you think it would likely cause?

I think the first two points under positives make a lot of sense and I find them too (whether I have SPD or not). For me I don't relate at all really to the last point as I care a lot about aesthetics. So I just really like beautiful looking/quality things and a lot of them are often expensive. Plus if you dress well in expensive clothes (have good style plus look wealthy) then people are more likely to treat you with more respect (for want of a better word) and not think you're weird or anything. They admire you or whatever and you just look good but the good thing is that you don't have to stand out at all either and you don't have to say or do anything. I can't explain it. but I just like all aesthetics including personal style and material things a lot. I am also very minimalistic though. I don't know if that made sense.

lyratheowl wrote:
Can I ask what kind of interpersonal problems do you think it would likely cause?

People feel slighted when other people don't seem interested in them. That can result in backlash. Someone shows interest and you respond coldly. They get upset and may try to get revenge.

Family members may feel insulted and try to smear you to the rest of the family, exclude you, deny you your fair share of family assets, etc.

Shopkeepers try to make small talk with you and you don't act interested or it takes an effort to engage, thereby making your daily chores more stress-inducing, or so awkward that you have to often change shops you go to.

I don't like seeing the same people in shops, etc., every day. I start to get kind of paranoid. I know they recognize me, they don't forget me, and they notice how I don't act "normal." I'm just in and out. I'm not interested in chatting, even when they ask me questions to try to learn about me. So I think either they think I don't like them, or they think I'm crazy. So then I have to change when it starts to get too awkward.

Its just the daily exchange of social pleasantries which is expected and when a person doesn't participate they are seen as weird and can even become a target if someone's ego gets hurt because of it.