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Dysphoria or dysphoric mood is a mental state in which a person has a profound sense of unease or dissatisfaction. While not a mental health diagnosis on its own, dysphoria is a symptom associated with a variety of mental illnesses, some of which include stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.

There are different types of dysphoria that a person may experience. This includes gender dysphoria, which is a sense of unease caused by a conflict between a person’s assigned sex at birth and their gender identity.

Learn how to recognize the signs of dysphoria or dysphoric mood, some of the factors that may contribute to this sense of unease, and the different types of dysphoria that a person may experience. We also cover available treatments and ways to cope.

Signs of Dysphoria

Dysphoria may accompany other signs of depression or mental health problems, such as crying, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, and disturbances in appetite or sleep. Some of the common signs of dysphoria include:

• Apathy
• Fatigue
• Low life satisfaction
• Sadness
• Unease
• Worry

An example of dysphoria might include feeling unable to relax, dissatisfied, tense, and unable to find the energy or interest to do anything.

People who experience dysphoria also appear to think differently. A 2019 study published in Psychiatry Research found that dysphoria was linked to more frequent thoughts about the future.

It’s unclear whether more negative thoughts about the future cause dysphoria or whether dysphoria causes a bleaker outlook.

Prevalence of Dysphoria

A person experiencing dysphoria might not necessarily qualify for a mental illness diagnosis such as depression. Instead, their symptoms may be too mild or too short in duration to meet the criteria.

It’s estimated that about 5% of the general population experiences dysphoria, with women between ages 25 and 44 at the highest risk. Dysphoria may be fleeting or short-lived. It often resolves quickly. But long-term dysphoria, which is often related to mental illness, may cause a higher risk of suicide.

Causes of Dysphoria

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to feelings of dysphoria. Some of these include:

• Stress: Environmental stressors, like the loss of a loved one, a stressful work environment, or family conflict may cause feelings of dysphoria.
• Health conditions: Some physical health conditions, like nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, or toxicities may also cause dysphoria.
• Medications: Dysphoria may additionally be a side effect of certain medications.

Other Mental Health Conditions

Dysphoria may be associated with a variety of mental health conditions. People with the following mental illnesses may report dysphoria:

Substance Use

Up to 70% of people with alcohol dependence report dysphoria during heavy drinking. People with alcohol dependence and a mood disorder are especially likely to experience more dysphoria as well as poorer clinical outcomes.

In some cases, dysphoria may lead to heavy drinking. In other cases, heavy drinking may cause dysphoria. Mood often improves when a person stops drinking, but the improvement may not be immediate.

Tobacco Use

Dysphoria has also been linked to tobacco use. It is associated with higher levels of tobacco dependence, greater perceived barriers to smoking cessation, and more severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Among all depressive symptoms, dysphoria holds the strongest association with smoking outcomes. Researchers suspect it is central to the development and maintenance of maladaptive smoking.

A 2019 study published in Addictive Behaviors found that individuals with pain-related anxiety are especially likely to smoke cigarettes to cope with feelings of dysphoria.

Types of Dysphoria

Because dysphoria is not considered a diagnosable mental health condition, it is not formally divided into different types. However, there are different related conditions that may be unofficially considered as types of dysphoria.

Gender Dysphoria

Currently, the term dysphoria is most commonly used when discussing gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria refers to the distress a person experiences when their gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

The dysphoria sometimes resolves when the individual transitions or begins to live as the gender they identify with. However, some people continue to experience dysphoria during and after transitioning.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Dysphoria may also be talked about in terms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a much more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Symptoms may include a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including moodiness, irritability, depression, and poor self-image. It may be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.

Tardive Dysphoria

Tardive dysphoria is used to describe treatment-resistant chronic depression. This type of dysphoria is linked to the long-term use of antidepressants.

Treatment for Dysphoria

If you are experiencing a dysphoric mood that lasts more than two weeks, it’s important to seek professional help. Start by talking to your physician. Your doctor will want to rule out any medical conditions or medication interactions that may be causing your dysphoria.

Once physical health issues are ruled out, you may be referred to a mental health professional, who can assess your symptoms and determine if your dysphoria is part of a mental health condition. Treatment depends on the cause of the dysphoria.

Coping With Dysphoria

In addition to professional treatments, there are also lifestyle modifications that may help people cope with feelings of dysphoria. Some things that you can do if you are having dysphoric feelings include:

• Adjust your routines: Sometimes getting stuck in a rut can make it difficult to break out of the routines that are contributing to feelings of dysphoria. Finding ways to adjust your daily habits may help lift your mood.
• Eat a healthy diet: Nutritional factors can play a role in mood and mental health, so making sure that you are eating well may be helpful in reducing feelings of dysphoria.
• Exercise: Research has shown that exercise can play an important role in mental health and may even be useful as a treatment for depression. Try to follow the CDC’s guidelines for physical activity, which include at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.
• Spend time with others: Dysphoria can sometimes cause people to isolate themselves, but social support can play an important role in mental well-being. Focus on finding ways to make more time for family and friends.

Eye contact anxiety refers to the discomfort a person feels when looking at someone directly in the eyes. A person with eye contact anxiety may avoid making eye contact when talking to someone. If they do make eye contact, they may feel like they are being judged or scrutinized.

Eye contact anxiety can interfere with everyday social interactions. By the same token, the ability to maintain good eye contact is an important aspect of social interaction. People who look others in the eye are perceived as friendly and welcoming. However, many shy and socially anxious people have difficulty with this part of communication. 

If you’ve not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but still find that eye contact makes you anxious, you can build your tolerance by engaging in increasing amounts of eye contact over time, or practice strategies like the 50/70 rule, looking away slowly, and using the triangle technique among others that will be covered in this article.

Why People Avoid Eye Contact

People have eye contact anxiety for many reasons. For those without a diagnosed mental health condition, avoidance of eye contact could be related to shyness or a lack of confidence. Looking someone in the eye while speaking can feel uncomfortable for those without a lot of practice making conversation or who tend to prefer not being in the spotlight.

To find out if your eye contact anxiety may be related to an official anxiety disorder, you’ll want to speak to a mental health professional who can diagnose you. In fact, it’s recommended that all adults under the age of 65 get routine screening for anxiety.

Eye Contact and Social Anxiety Disorder

Often, people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) describe looking someone in the eyes as anxiety-provoking and uncomfortable. This is likely due, in part, to genetic wiring.

Research has shown that people diagnosed with SAD have a pronounced fear of direct eye contact. If you have SAD, the part of your brain that warns you of danger (your amygdala) can be triggered by eye contact. 

A 2017 review published in Current Psychiatry Reports found that social anxiety is related to a mixture of being on guard and avoiding processing emotional social stimuli. This means that at a party, you might both be on the lookout for people who seem to be judging you, but also try to avoid situations in which you feel you are being judged.

In addition, the review showed that socially anxious people tend to avoid maintaining eye contact. Again, this is likely due to the fear of being judged.

Eye Contact and Autism

Research on autism shows that autistic people are hypersensitive to eye contact such that their brains show higher than normal activity in the pathways that process expressions on people’s faces. This means that they may avoid eye contact because it can cause extreme discomfort and even pain.

The Power of Eye Contact

Making eye contact during conversation is an important social skill. It can affect how you are perceived by others both in personal and professional relationships. In fact, researchers have uncovered numerous benefits of maintaining eye contact during a conversation, including:

• People will be more likely to remember your face.
• People will be more likely to remember what you said long after the conversation has ended.
• People are more likely to believe what you’re saying.
• People will perceive you as more confident and intelligent.
• People will be better able to read and mirror other non-verbal cues.

Overcoming Eye Contact Anxiety

We all have varying levels of comfort when it comes to maintaining eye contact. While some people may be predisposed to fearing or avoiding eye contact, most can learn to improve their skills and become better at making good eye contact, starting with:

• Reducing anxiety about eye contact
• Improving skills for making eye contact

Reducing Anxiety About Eye Contact

People with a diagnosed anxiety disorder may benefit from treatment including cognitive behavioral therapy (CNT) or medication. Most people with social anxiety disorder can learn to overcome their fear response and maintain better eye contact. In this way, eye contact is just one aspect of social interaction that you can become desensitized to through practice and exposure.

You could even try starting with making eye contact with characters on television, in online videos, or over Facetime or other video chats if real-life eye contact feels too stressful at first. If you find your anxiety rising before or during situations in which you must make eye contact, try practicing deep breathing to slow your heart rate and calm yourself down.

Improving Eye Contact Skills

If you are talking to someone one-on-one (or looking at people within a group), choose a spot directly between or slightly above the listener’s eyes. If this doesn’t feel comfortable, try letting your eyes go slightly out of focus, which has the added benefit of softening and relaxing your gaze.

You can and should also look away occasionally. Staring too intensely can make people uncomfortable.

Employing these two strategies to improve your eye contact will make your listeners feel more connected to you and increase the likelihood that you will feel more comfortable when speaking—either to a group or to an individual.

When speaking to a group of people, instead of thinking of the group as a whole, imagine having individual conversations with one person in the group at a time.

As you speak, choose one person in the group and pretend that you are talking just with that person. Look at that person as you finish your thought or sentence. As you begin a new sentence or idea, choose another person in the group and look them in the eye as you finish your thought. Make sure that you eventually include everyone in the group.

In our 20s and 30s, close relationships become more important. Dating, marriage, and romantic commitments are important, but so are friendships and other social relationships. These connections provide the social support we need to thrive, which is why establishing solid interpersonal relationships is vital during young adulthood.

According to psychologist Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, this stage represents a period he called “intimacy vs. isolation.” It marks the sixth stage of his developmental theory and spans from approximately 19 to 40 years of age. It follows identity vs. role confusion, the fifth stage.

Erikson believed that people face conflict at each major stage of life. In the intimacy vs. isolation stage, this conflict centers on relationships. When we are able to navigate this period of life successfully, we end up having fulfilling, enduring relationships. Struggling, on the other hand, can result in loneliness and isolation.

Intimacy, According to Erikson

Although many associate the word intimacy with sex, Erikson believed that intimacy is characterized by closeness, honesty, and love—and is essential to emotional well-being. This stage is all about forming close, loving connections, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or otherwise.

Whereas one person might form healthy relationships with romantic partners as well as a circle of friends, acquaintances, family, and others, another person might lack the ability or desire to form social connections, healthy relationships, and general social support. This is the intimacy vs. isolation conflict.

Navigating this conflict successfully fosters the intimate relationships and supportive social networks that are so vital for physical and mental health.

The Benefits of Intimacy

Intimacy has very real benefits for mental and physical well-being. As experts often say, we’re social creatures, so having a social network of people to lean on for support, guidance, and validation is pivotal.

People who successfully resolve the intimacy vs. isolation conflict are able to develop:

• Close romantic relationships
• Deep, meaningful connections
• Enduring connections with other people
• Positive relationships with family and friends
• Strong relationships

Intimacy has also been linked to a range of health benefits. This includes lower stress levels, more healthy behaviors, fewer symptoms of depression, and lower blood pressure.

Resolving the Intimacy vs. Isolation Conflict

Intimacy requires listening to, supporting, and sharing with others in a reciprocal relationship: The parties share equally.

Successful relationships entail support, intimacy, and companionship, but sometimes, things don’t go smoothly. Rejection or other responses can cause withdrawal and erode confidence, self-esteem, and courage to reach out in the future, resulting in isolation.

Relationships aren’t always easy for everyone for a number of reasons, however. Factors that can increase the likelihood of isolation include:

• Childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse
• Divorce or death of a partner
• Fear of commitment
• Fear of intimacy
• Inability to share thoughts and feelings
• Relationship experiences

No matter the cause, isolation can be detrimental, causing loneliness and even depression.

The Consequences of Isolation

In reality, struggling in this stage of life can leave people feeling lonely and isolated if they fail to form supportive relationships with others. Adults who struggle with this stage typically experience:

• Few or no friendships
• Lack of intimacy
• Lack of relationships
• Poor romantic relationships
• Weak social support

They might never share deep intimacy with their partners—or develop any relationships at all. This can be particularly difficult as their friends and acquaintances fall in love, get married, and start families. It can also lead to greater loneliness since people who have “settled down” often have less time to spend with their single, unattached friends.

Loneliness can affect overall health in other ways. For example, socially isolated people tend to have unhealthier diets, exercise less, experience more daytime fatigue, and have poorer sleep than their more social counterparts.

Loneliness and isolation can lead to a wide range of negative health consequences, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Depression
• Substance misuse
• Stress
• Suicide

Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly common in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 33% of adults report feeling lonely, and 25% say that they do not have enough social and emotional support.

How to Build Intimacy

If you are wondering how to level up your intimacy, there are things you can do to help. The key? It’s all about openness and vulnerability. Sharing time together is important, yes, but it also takes letting down your walls and letting people see the real, unfiltered you.

Some important tasks that can play a role in succeeding or struggling at this point of development include:

• Being intimate: This is more than just engaging in sex; it means forging emotional intimacy and closeness. Intimacy does not necessarily have to be with a sexual partner. People can also gain intimacy from friends and loved ones. Authentic, close connections are what matters.
• Caring for others: It is essential to be able to care about the needs of others. Relationships are reciprocal. Getting love is important at this stage, but so is giving it. That means being a good friend and partner. It means being there when people need you and offering the care and validation you expect them to give you.
• Making commitments: Part of forming strong relationships involves being able to commit to others for the long term. This might involve saying, “I do,” but marriage isn’t the only way to show someone you are committed to the relationship. Communicating, setting goals, and making long-term plans are also effective ways to show someone you are in it for the long haul.
• Self-disclosure: To get close to others, we must reveal details about ourselves. This involves sharing part of oneself while maintaining a strong sense of self-identity.

Importance of Sense of Self

Things learned during earlier stages of development also play a role in being able to have healthy adult relationships. For example, Erikson believed that having a fully formed sense of self (established during the previous identity vs. role confusion stage) was essential to being able to form intimate relationships.

Such findings suggest that having a strong sense of who you are is important for developing lasting future relationships. This self-awareness can play a role in the type of relationships you forge as well as the strength and durability of those social connections.

How to Overcome Isolation

If you are struggling with feelings of isolation, there are things that you can do to form closer relationships with other people:

Avoid Negative Self-Talk

The things we tell ourselves can have an impact on our ability to be confident in relationships, particularly if those thoughts are negative. When you catch yourself having this type of inner dialogue, focus on replacing negative thoughts with more realistic ones.

Build Skills

Sometimes practicing social skills can be helpful when you are working toward creating new relationships. Consider taking a course in social skill development or try practicing your skills in different situations each day.

Determine What You Like

Research suggests that factors such as mutual interests and personality similarity play important roles in friendships. Knowing your interests and then engaging in activities around those interests is one way to build lasting friendships. If you enjoy sports, for example, you might consider joining a local community sports team.

Evaluate Your Situation

What are your needs? What type of relationship are you seeking? Figuring out what you are looking for in a partner or friend can help you determine how you should go about looking for new relationships.

Practice Self-Disclosure

Being able to share aspects of yourself can be difficult, but you can get better at it through practice. Consider things you would be willing to share about yourself with others, then practice. Remember that listening to others is an essential part of this interaction as well.

What Is a Karmic Cycle?

A karmic cycle is a repetitious pattern of events, emotions, or realizations that occur in your life. It appears in your life as an opportunity to break negative cycles and subsequently reap great wisdom.

A karmic cycle isn’t a medical term and has minimal research backing. For students of yoga, astrology, Buddhism, Indian spirituality, or New Age spirituality practices, the term karmic cycle may feel somewhat familiar. However, this may be an entirely new concept for those of us who don’t dabble in the aforementioned worlds.

Either way, fully understanding karma, karmic cycles, and how both are vehicles for change in your life is the first step to healing. Let’s dig into the history behind this concept.

History of Karmic Cycles

The history behind the concept of karmic cycles begins with the idea of karma. At its simplest definition, karma is a concept stating that the quality of a person’s actions influences the quality of the outcome. In other words, a good deed will lead to a positive outcome, whereas a bad deed will lead to a negative outcome.

This growth comes through a series of moral, ethical, and spiritual challenges, which is when a karmic cycle comes in.

Signs of a Karmic Cycle

Here are two attributes of karmic cycles: First, they appear to invite you to actualize your highest potential by having the chance to make different choices. Second, they’re relatively easy to spot once you recognize the signs.

Something Feels Very Familiar 

Perhaps your boyfriend reminds you of your angry father. Or, try as you might, you keep ending up in toxic work environments. On the other hand, maybe you’re struggling with something a bit more serious, like drinking half a bottle of wine every night while realizing that you watched your mother do the exact same thing.

In psychology, such scenarios may be linked to attachment styles or intergenerational trauma. In spiritual terms, this scenario can be considered a karmic cycle. The identifying factor is a repeated maladaptive pattern in your life. 

You Keep Attracting the Same Types of People

If every partner you’ve had featured the same not-so-great traits from your parents, you are likely in a karmic cycle of sorts.

Studies show that we gravitate towards what feels comfortable, even if that means we end up repeating a traumatic pattern.

If we are used to those who love us having a hot temper, the discomfort of seeing our partner get easily angered may be eerily familiar and even tolerated with a familiar level of suffering. Alternatively, having an upbringing with absentee caregivers may result in feeling comfortable in the loneliness of a relationship where emotional intimacy is lacking.

You Are Being Faced With Your Fears

Let’s say one of your greatest fears is financial insecurity. Because of this fear, you may have unhappily stayed in your unfulfilling job for many years because it is stable and secure. However, on the inside, you may dream of a more fulfilling and creative career.

If you lose your current job, this could be considered a karmic opportunity. Instead of continuing the cycle of only applying for jobs that will support you financially but not fulfill you emotionally, you might choose instead to face your fear and decide to do something different. You might choose to finally go for a career that you feel would satisfy you, operating from a place of courage and inspiration instead of fear.

Facing your biggest fear is a karmic opportunity to reevaluate your true desires.

How to Use a Karmic Cycle for Healing

Remember, the purpose of a karmic cycle is to ultimately achieve a higher level of ethical and moral wisdom in this lifetime. Karmic cycles by design are for our healing. If we become aware of our karmic cycles and are ready to do the mental, emotional, and spiritual work to change them, then deeper healing and greater self-actualization are possible.

Seeking the support of a trusted mental health professional who honors your spiritual beliefs is important. The themes that can come up on these journeys can be harrowing and it can be challenging making different choices than any others you’ve made in the past, yielding different results. You do not have to do this work or walk this journey alone.

Seeking a form of holistic therapy can be a great fit, as many forms are spiritually-affirming, utilize an eclectic mix of cognitive and somatic therapies, and tend to the root cause of issues. 

Moving through a karmic experience can be immensely challenging, and the stronger your connection is to your highest and truest self, the greater your chance to break old karmic cycles that no longer serve you. The ride may not be easy, but it is always worth it.

The Impact of Karmic Cycles

A karmic cycle has the potential to change your life. With the proper support, perspective, intention, and action, you will find that your life circumstances begin to shift for the best.

Potential Pitfalls of a Karmic Cycle

The path to change and maturation is seldom comfortable. However, when a karmic cycle begins to feel unbearable, reflect on how you feel when you try to avoid the issues at hand. More often than not, the pain we experience when we run from emotional work is worse than the discomfort of facing the pattern head-on. 

OCD and OCPD share some similarities, but they are distinct conditions that differ in important ways. OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts that then compel a person to engage in behaviors to relieve feelings of distress and anxiety. This can be contrasted with OCPD, which is marked by excessive attention to detail and perfectionism. 

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of OCPD and how to distinguish between OCPD vs. OCD. It also covers how OCPD is diagnosed, what causes it, and how it is treated.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is defined by strict orderliness, control, and perfectionism. Someone with OCPD will likely try to stay in charge of the smallest details of their life, even at the expense of their flexibility and openness to new experiences.

Other personality disorders in this category include narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

OCPD is not the same as narcissism, however. People with OCPD dwell on doing things perfectly, while people with narcissistic personality disorder have an exaggerated sense of grandeur and believe they should receive constant praise and attention.

Symptoms of OCPD

The primary symptoms of OCPD focus on an obsession with perfectionism and a need for control. Someone with OCPD may experience symptoms like:

• Acting restrained or restricted with their emotions
• Adherence to rules in an inflexible, rigid way
• Creating order and lists for tasks
• Desire to control their relationships with others
• Difficulty empathizing with others and/or maintaining intimate relationships
• Extreme dedication to their work
• Having trouble giving things to others
• Need for perfection even in the smallest details
• Problems with self-identity and/or self-direction
• Trouble giving up control and delegating tasks

At first glance, OCPD may seem similar to an anal personality type. While someone with an anal personality might share some of these traits, like perfectionism, orderliness, and a need to be in control of their environment, having these quirks isn’t the same thing as having a personality disorder.

How Is OCPD Diagnosed?

There is no specific test that can determine if a person has OCPD. In order to make a diagnosis, a clinician will ask questions about your symptoms and the effect they have on your life. They may also conduct lab tests and a physical exam to help rule out other conditions.

It must also be accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms described in the DSM-5-TR:

• Excessive devotion to work at the expense of family or friends
• Extreme need for perfection and relentless control over your environment and interpersonal relationships
• Inability to be generous to others
• Inability to delegate tasks
• Inability to get rid of worn-out or worthless items (even those without sentimental value)
• Over-conscientiousness
• Preoccupation with details, rules, lists, and order, which can result in missing the major objective of an activity
• Rigidity and inflexibility with regards to morals, ethics, values, and/or the adherence to rules

They may also look for additional signs of OCPD. These include the presence of rigid perfectionism and at least two more personality traits:

• Intimacy avoidance
• Getting mentally “stuck” on an idea
• Reduced emotional expression

Your doctor may also check for any difficulty you have with empathy and intimacy. People who have OCPD often struggle to maintain interpersonal relationships, including romantic relationships. They may find it difficult to empathize with others and are sometimes described as cold or aloof. They also struggle with intimacy and find it difficult to show affection or express emotions.

In order to be diagnosed with OCPD, these symptoms must create significant disruptions in a person’s ability to function in important life areas, including school, work, family, and other relationships. 

It may take some time for a doctor or therapist to determine if you have OCPD. They may need to meet with you a few times to discuss and observe your symptoms. A doctor or therapist may also need to talk to loved ones to get a better picture of your daily behaviors and interactions before they make a diagnosis.

OCPD vs. OCD

While OCD and OCPD are distinct forms of mental illness with their own unique and specific characteristics, there is considerable overlap between them. There are, however, some basic ways to distinguish between them.

Presence of True Obsessions and/or Compulsions

OCD is defined by the presence of true obsessions (an irrational thought or idea that continually repeats) and/or compulsions (an irrational behavior performed repeatedly). These behaviors can occur together or on their own, and they interfere with a person’s quality of life and ability to function.

With OCPD, on the other hand, the personality traits are not directed by uncontrollable thoughts or irrational, repeated behaviors. While people with OCPD often engage in rigid behaviors that may be centered on following certain procedures, they don’t have the same intrusive thoughts and overwhelming compulsions that people with OCD do.

Feelings About Obsessive Behaviors or Thoughts

People with OCD often feel distressed by the nature of their behaviors or thoughts, even if they are unable to control them. People with OCPD, however, typically believe that their actions have an aim and purpose.

In some situations, the traits of OCPD can even translate to success—someone who is overly dedicated to their job and conscientious of every detail, for example, might see benefits at work, even if they are struggling in other areas of their life.

Consistency of Symptoms

The symptoms of OCD tend to fluctuate in association with the underlying level of anxiety. People with OCD engage in behaviors as a way to deal with feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. This means that their symptoms may be less severe during times when they are experiencing less anxiety.

Because OCPD is a personality disorder that’s defined by inflexibility, the behaviors tend to be persistent and unchanging over the long term. These symptoms do not fluctuate depending on anxiety levels and are present in almost every area of the person’s life.

What Causes OCPD?

We don’t yet know what causes OCPD, although there are some theories that explain different possibilities. One theory deals with attachment styles and says that OCPD may develop in children who:

• Had overprotective parents or caregivers who didn’t offer much care
• Didn’t develop emotionally and empathetically during their childhood
• Weren’t able to form secure attachments with their parents or caregivers

Risk Factors for OCPD

OCPD is one of the most common personality disorders. Men and women seem to experience it at about the same rate, though it’s less common in younger adults. It can occur with several other conditions, like:

How Is OCPD Treated?

Though more research is needed in this area, most treatment plans for personality disorders begin with psychotherapy, while medication might be used as a complement.

Psychotherapy

Therapy options for OCPD can include:

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which focuses on helping you notice and, eventually, change the negative thought patterns associated with OCPD
• Psychodynamic therapy, which is intended to help you understand your conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions so you can make healthier choices in your daily life

Medication

There is no specific medication that has been FDA-approved to treat OCPD. However, your doctor might recommend medication to help control some of your OCPD symptoms, especially if you’re also experiencing another condition like depression. This might include medication to control your anxiety and/or antidepressants.

Coping With OCPD

The condition can make relating to others much more difficult for a person with OCPD. Excessive perfectionism and an inability to delegate tasks can create a create deal of stress. Being rigid, having high expectations, and struggling to empathize with others can also affect interpersonal relationships. People with the condition may feel isolated and misunderstood as a result.

In addition to seeking treatment, you can learn some coping strategies for OCPD. These could include:

• Educating yourself: Learning more about your condition can be an empowering experience. It may help you notice when a symptom of OCPD is causing your behavior, so you can take steps to cope.
• Managing your stress: Keeping your overall stress levels low is always a good idea. Try developing a plan to reduce stress so you’ll be ready to cope with whatever comes your way.
• Practicing self-care: If you have OCPD, it can be easy to neglect yourself while you focus on your current project. Consider making self-care a regular part of your day.
• Trying mindfulness and meditation: Mindfulness can help you spot times when perfectionism is causing anxiety, for example, so you can take steps to calm yourself. Meditation pairs well with mindfulness, and it’s an effective stress reliever.

You may know someone who never seems to be able to control their emotions or understand the feelings of others. Perhaps they are constantly doing or saying the wrong things, at the wrong time. Or maybe they’re always judging others, but have a hard time accepting criticism. If this describes someone you know, chances are high that this person struggles with low emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence (sometimes referred to as “emotional quotient” or “EQ”) is essential to basically every aspect of life. In fact, many experts now believe that EQ may actually be more important than IQ in determining overall success in life. As such, having low EQ or low emotional intelligence can negatively impact not only your interpersonal relationships but also your mental and physical health.

When someone has a low EQ, it can present itself in many ways. Below are nine classic signs of people with low emotional intelligence.

They Always Have to Be ‘Right’

You probably know someone who always seems to get into arguments with others. Friends, family, co-workers, and even random strangers find themselves embroiled in disputes with these argumentative individuals.

People with low EQ will often argue a point to death while refusing to listen to what anyone else has to say. Even if you provide them with proof that they are wrong, they will argue that your facts are wrong.

They must win at all costs and find it impossible to simply “agree to disagree.” This is particularly true if others criticize the individual for not understanding what others are feeling.

They’re Oblivious to Other People’s Feelings

Many people with low EQ are seemingly oblivious to other’s feelings. They may be genuinely surprised that their partner is angry at them or that their co-workers don’t like them. 

Not only that, but they get annoyed when others expect them to know how they are feeling.

This can make social interactions confusing and frustrating. Understanding the emotional experiences of others is important when it comes to responding and interacting in meaningful ways. Empathy allows us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and feel how they might be feeling. The inability to consider other people’s feelings can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and a lack of authentic connections with others.

They Behave Insensitively

For the most part, people with low EQ don’t know the right thing to say. They may also fail to comprehend appropriate versus inappropriate timing of saying things.

For example, they might say something insensitive at a funeral or make a joke right after a tragic event. If you react to their out-of-line response, they then act as if you’re being overly sensitive.

Because they have difficulty understanding the emotions of others, it’s no surprise that they are unable to interpret and appropriately respond to the emotional tone and atmosphere.

They Blame Others for Their Problems

People with low EQ have little insight into how their emotions might lead to problems. The one thing a person with low emotional intelligence won’t do is hold themselves accountable for their actions.

When something goes wrong, their first reaction is to find someone or something else to blame. They might suggest that they had no other choice for what they did and that others simply don’t understand their situation.

For example, if they read through your texts, it’s your fault for leaving your phone unlocked. If they fail an assignment, break a window, don’t get the job, or burn dinner, somehow, someway they will make it someone else’s fault.

They Have Poor Coping Skills

An inability to cope with emotionally-charged situations can be an indicator of low EQ. Strong emotions, whether their own or those of others, are difficult to comprehend for those with low emotional intelligence.

People with low EQ have poor coping skills because they:

• Struggle to identify emotions: Besides having difficulty understanding what others are feeling, people with low emotional intelligence also struggle to understand their own emotional experiences. Because they often don’t recognize what they are feeling, it is more difficult to develop effective ways to manage those feelings.
• Have poor emotional regulation skills: Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage and control one’s emotions. When faced with strong feelings (that they may not understand), people may have a hard time managing these experiences. This can lead to strong emotional outbursts, impulsivity, and ineffective coping behaviors.
• Experience social isolation: Lower emotional intelligence can also contribute to poor relationships and social isolation. Social support is essential for coping with stress, so a lack of support can make it much harder to cope.

They Have Emotional Outbursts

The ability to regulate emotions is one of the components of emotional intelligence. People with low EQ often struggle to understand and control their emotions. They might lash out reactively without understanding what they are really feeling or why they are so upset.

A person who lacks EQ might also have unexpected emotional outbursts that seem overblown and uncontrollable. The smallest things set them off into a tirade that can last for minutes, even hours.

They Struggle With Relationships

People with low EQ often have very few close friends. Close friendships require a mutual give-and-take, sharing of emotions, compassion, and emotional support, all characteristics low-EQ individuals typically lack. Instead, people with low EQ often come off as abrasive and unfeeling.

This can have a reverberating effect on other areas of their lives. Because they struggle to maintain quality relationships, they are more likely to experience social isolation. Their weak social support networks mean they lack the support they need when facing stressful situations. Ultimately, this can have a devastating impact on a person’s psychological and physical well-being.

They Turn Conversations Toward Themselves

Emotionally unintelligent people tend to dominate the conversation. Even if they are asking questions and appear to be listening intently, they always find a way to shift everything back to them. Usually, they have to prove that whatever you’re experiencing, they’ve had it better or worse.

No matter what you say, they’ve been there and done that. You’ve been in a car accident? They have too…and their dog died. Going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? They climbed Mount Everest four years ago. They can send you a list of tips if you want!

They are constantly trying to one-up you. It can be a frustrating and emotionally invalidating experience.

Try Our Emotional Intelligence Test

Our fast and free EQ test can help you determine whether or not your responses to certain situations in life indicate a high level of emotional intelligence:

This EQ test was reviewed by Steven Gans, MD.

Low emotional intelligence can cause problems in many areas of your life. Fortunately, there are things you can do to increase your emotional intelligence. Sharpening your skills can improve your personal and professional relationships.