Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder Treatment Q&A

Passive-aggressive personality disorder (PAPD) is a type of personality disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of negative attitudes and behaviors that express hostility, reluctance, and resentment. Those with PAPD are often uncooperative and avoidant in their interpersonal relationships, and they tend to act indirectly when they have a conflict or disagreement.

Those with PAPD may also be excessively critical of themselves and others, even when there is little or no evidence to support their negative assessments. They often engage in passive resistance by pretending to agree with other people but then failing to follow through with their promises or commitments.

People with this disorder can often be stubborn and resistant to change, even when it’s in their best interest to do so.

The symptoms of passive-aggressive personality disorder include:

• Avoidance. Those with PAPD often avoid confrontation, don’t express their opinions openly, and/or avoid tasks that they believe will cause them stress or conflict.
• Negative Attitudes. People with this condition may complain about everything, belittle others, and have a general sense of pessimism.
• Passive-Resistance. They may use passive-resistant behavior to express their anger and frustration, including purposely taking longer to complete tasks, intentionally misunderstanding instructions, or failing to complete tasks as expected.
• Procrastination. Patients may procrastinate intentionally as a way of expressing their resistance towards others.
• Resentment. Sufferers often harbor feelings of anger and resentment towards others and may feel disappointed, frustrated, and resentful, but may not express those feelings openly.
• Sarcasm. People with passive-aggressive personality disorder often use sarcasm as a way of communicating their negative feelings towards others. They may use biting humor or ironically positive comments as a way of expressing their anger.
• Victim Mentality. Sufferers may feel like they are constantly being victimized by others and that they’re not being treated fairly.

The root cause of passive-aggressive behavior is complex and can be influenced by many different internal and external factors.

Some experts believe that this behavior is learned during childhood, as a way to cope with authoritarian parents that don’t allow open expression of feelings. In such cases, children learn to hide their true feelings and to express them indirectly, through sarcasm, pettiness, or other passive-aggressive behaviors.

Another cause of passive-aggressive behavior may be due to a lack of assertiveness. In some cases, people don’t feel confident expressing their feelings directly and may resort to passive aggression as a way to avoid confrontation.

Passive-aggressive behavior can also be a response to emotional trauma or stress, as some people find it difficult to express their feelings and emotions directly and may instead communicate through passive-aggressive actions.

If you suspect that you have a passive-aggressive personality disorder, it’s crucial to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor as they can help you develop coping strategies and suggest treatment options that can address the underlying causes of the condition.

They may provide you with tips such as:

• Develop coping strategies. Engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, exercise, and deep breathing techniques.
• Identify the triggers. Keep a journal where you can document the situations that trigger your passive-aggressive behaviors as this can help you become more aware of them.
• Improve assertiveness. Assertiveness can help you communicate your needs and boundaries without being aggressive or passive-aggressive.
• Practice communication: Practice direct and honest communication, such as speaking openly about your feelings, thoughts, and opinions without using passive-aggressive tactics.
• Seek support. Connect with others who understand what you are going through via joining a support group or seeking individual counseling.

If you’re looking for professional support in managing and treating passive-aggressive personality disorder, connect with us at Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches or book online to schedule an appointment. Our team of specialists can provide you with the insight you need to begin understanding and tackling your disorder. We have convenient locations to serve you. We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Delray Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Jupiter FL, Stuart FL, Palm City FL, Royal Palm Beach FL, Wellington FL, Vero Beach FL, Citrus Ridge FL, Plantation FL, Sunrise FL, Jacksonville FL, Riverside FL, Port St. Lucie FL, Beau Rivage West FL, and surrounding areas.