Do I have schizoid personality disorder?

A.D.,

I don't know if you're schizoid or not. Certainly, there are features in your lifestyle that would indicate schizoid, but maybe not. We cannot diagnose you. We are not professionals and we have not met you.

For one thing, many professionals are quite reluctant to diagnose a teen with a "personality disorder" unless it is quite extreme. It doesn't sound like you're an ISOLATIONIST loner though!

The other thing is that there is debate on whether schizoid is a "personality disorder" or a difference in "style". Afterall, schizoids do not (as a rule) engage in behavior that hurts ourselves or others. We are not overly fearful or anxious. We just don't LIKE being around people very much! Society just finds us a bit unnerving, because most people have some needs for approval from others, and we just do not give that - we don't interact!

The main "trick" in the matter is choosing a set of things in life and livelihood where solitude is expected. Thus, a job of forrest ranger would be far preferable to being a manager at Walmart. It's also a matter of changing expectations to meet reality. We will unlikely be happy having a loud, boisterous, extended family living under our roof. Certainly, that is fun, exciting, and loving for some people. It's tiring and irritating to a schizoid. Our lives may be viewed as "lonely" and "boring" by others. So? We don't have to please them. We can't please everyone. We've got to please ourselves.

I was officially diagnosed as "Schizoid PD" in 1990. I was told that there's very little they can give in the way of medications to help. I was, instead, "treated" by changing my expectations, and realizing that my life would be different than others in order for it to be a "happy", "content" or "successful" one. Living the life of many others would be horrible for me and for others.

Being labeled a "mental patient" has its drawbacks though! Especially for a "lifestyle difference".