What is Schizoid Personality Disorder?

What is schizoid personality disorder? In today's show, we take a deeper look into this lesser-known condition. Unlike those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, individuals with schizoid personality disorder are in touch with reality and quite functional. Many, however, experience disassociation from their body, prefer daydreaming over reality, and don't desire or seek out close relationships
Join us as our guest, psychologist Elinor Greenberg, PhD, sheds light on schizoid personality disorder and shares how people with this condition often behave, cope and adapt to the world.
For more information and a complete transcript, visit What is Schizoid Personality Disorder?

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Guest Information for 'Schizoid Personality Disorder' Podcast Episode

Elinor Greenberg, PhD, is a psychologist and internationally renowned Gestalt therapy trainer and consultant who specializes in teaching the diagnosis and treatment of Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid adaptations. She is a faculty member of the NY Institute for Gestalt Therapy, the Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training, and a former faculty member of The Masterson Institute (a post-graduate training institute in an object relations approach to the theory and treatment of personality disorders), and an Associate Editor of the peer reviewed journal Gestalt Review.
Dr. Greenberg has been the recipient of two Quora Top Writer awards for her posts on personality disorders and writes an online blog “Understanding Narcissism” for psychologytoday.com. Her articles have been republished online by Forbes, Business Insider, Apple News, Thrive Global, You Tango, and The Mind’s Journal. She is also the author of the book: Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations: The Pursuit of Love, Admiration, and Safety, which explains the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders in a clear and easy to understand way. She is in private practice in NYC and can be reached through her website: www.elinorgreenberg.com.
About The Psych Central Podcast Host

Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

[@bagobeans]

As a child, I used to watch my mother give away my toys. She'd box them up and give them to neighbors. Once, I came home from school, and my "junk box" had been cleaned out. It really hurt. My brother sold my bike and my father gave away my pigeons. This was always done whenever I wasn't home, so that I was shocked when I made my discoveries. I was always reminded as a small child, (I was adopted) that I wasn't even part of the family. So, I can see why I disassociate myself from others. They just take...and thought they had the right because they bought it. Being alone is better for me. No one to remind me that I own nothing and I belong to nothing.

[@CrazyHermitVizard]

I fucking hate that kind of shit never happened to me but I was once in holidays and my parents changed my wall paper to a stupid color that smelled bad

[@CrazyHermitVizard]

I fucking hate that kind of shit never happened to me but I was once in holidays and my parents changed my wall paper to a stupid color that smelled bad

[@TheEggrollNation]

I'm sorry :(

[@stevec3872]

I am a 68 year old man who was only diagnosed as being schizoid just 10 years ago and wish it had been 50 years ago to have given me a better understanding of myself and to help me to make better decisions in my life based upon who I am--people and relationship choices as well as job choices. In life if you do not adapt, you suffer. I don't consider my being schizoid as being a disorder for me because I have adapted well to being schizoid and have lived a contented life and contentment is more sustainable as a state of being as opposed to constantly chasing elusive and fleeting happiness. I can appreciate and enjoy happiness when it occurs, but I understand its temporary nature. Being schizoid myself I must say that the description of it is usually presented like a caricature of what it is to be schizoid. I also believe that being schizoid is a spectrum with some being on the mild end and others on the opposite more severe end. What makes being schizoid a disorder is the degree to which it is a negative impact on your life or how you like your life to be. Overall I am content with my life and understand myself well. I am what has been described as a "secret" schizoid inasmuch as nobody knows that I am unless I tell them and even then most haven't a clue as to what being schizoid is. I present as friendly and open and most people like me. In spite of the cookie-cutter definition of what being schizoid is, I do have empathy for others and I'm not cold or robotic. I can do the social sprint but I have no interest in the social marathon. I can be the guy standing in a slow moving line at a store and make a funny comment about it to the person behind me and make them laugh, but then it's likely I will never see them again. My being friendly and engaging is authentic though because I know that for 90% or more of the time now I can go home and be alone (non-schizoids might be envious that I enjoy being alone yet don't feel lonely, which is good for one's mental health during this pandemic of isolation). I can see small descriptions of being schizoid that applied to me all the way back to when I was a kid. In a school classroom if I was able to choose where I would sit it would always be in the rear corner, farthest from the door. Some 50+ years later in a large group meeting where I worked I would still choose that same place to sit. In the 40 years that I worked I always did best at jobs where I worked by myself and had autonomy. Ironically one of the first bosses I had after graduating college sussed that out even when I didn't understand it myself and placed me where I work by myself. I came to understand that myself many years later when I would volunteer to work on weekends with the valid claim I could get more work done without people around but the real reason was I wanted to work alone. I never married and I finally came to the point in life where I came to understand that interpersonal relationships take more out of me than I want to give. I have no friends but there are many people with whom I am casually friendly. They might consider me a friend, but I think of them more as a friendly acquaintance. The being prepared and independent aspect of being schizoid fits me perfectly. Back in 1999 with all the concern about the impending Y2K when the calendar hit Jan. 1, 2000 I was ready and prepared for a disaster because I didn't want to need to depend on other people. Frankly, I could be content living alone in the wilds of Alaska. So although being schizoid is a disorder and negative enough for some that they would seek help, I don't think most of us would. In fact there may be more schizoids out there than anybody knows and if people understood just what being schizoid is they might be surprised to know that they know somebody who is schizoid. In this world where everybody has something is there really anyone who is "normal"?

[@alyssacervera7663]

Thank you for this comment, it was very insightful and in a way helpful!

[@3dmotion333]

I felt like I was reading this about myself. It is surprising that schizoids, despite their age, the countries in which they were born and the genders, can be quite similar inside. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@bru9]

Wow thank you. It's like looking at a mirror. Everything is spot on

[@gristamshackleford2102]

i'm pretty sure i have SCPD. i just cant find/afford someone to diagnose it. that part about picking the last seat was spot on, i also dreaded when in school they said "alright pick a partner". i was not shy though, i just hated interacting. i dont mind being like this or feel that i suffer. i like being alone.

[@Contessa998]

I’m not sure what my deal is. I’m a 63-year-old female. I’ve had relationships, but never married. I live alone and I don’t mind it. I have a little dog. I feel that society puts so much pressure on us to be engaging and I don’t really enjoy it except for small amounts of time and it can only be one on one. I’m glad I’m in healthcare where I can work on my own. Sometimes I like working with patients that can’t talk Lol.

[@pablobendixiii5536]

My wife and I are both SPD (her much less than me) and it's great. We give each other the space and freedom we need to be ourselves. We call it "being alone together". But it took a very long time to adjust to each other.

[@thelaziestbee]

haha, I have same experience with me and my BF. It has been great!! I always fond so called normal things incredibly, unbearably boring.

[@yasminnur7991]

I'm super social for a schizoid, but it still shows up in the ways I go after self care. By the time I'm done with a topic, like diet, or self care, I will literally come to a spot where I realize I could 'qualify' for a degree or even be really good at it for a career, but I literally did it all for a problem I personally was having.

[@avismafiafan7445]

Hallo Yasmin. I read your comment 👍🏻 and I know that feeling too. When Im interested in a subject I tend to get in a wormhole or rabbit hole and I loose track of time and have a tunnel vision and stat sucking in all the information in I Can get on the subject like a big sponge. What is your profession are you in anyway , tech related. Where are you from , if I may ask, Im Jesper from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@mtn7224]

I so totally relate to this

[@Contessa998]

You sound autistic

[@1x93cm]

omg being married to another schizoid would be awesome because you'd be married but not really since you'd both have your seperate lives and maybe just watch a movie together occasionally while not expecting anything from eachother!

[@skarletrose1]

My husband is schizoid. That’s kind of what it’s like. Not quite so extreme, but, not way far off.

[@shanewilson7994]

I'm a diagnosed one, girlfriend may be an undiagnosed one (it fits her to a T) and even though we're long distance, it is actually pretty great. We both get the weird feeling of "being chosen" since we don't tend to form attachment very often, we do stuff together, gaming, but there's no smothering, and do our own things too and honestly, its pretty awesome.

[@Houseproudasamotherhen]

What

[@infoharvester]

@@shanewilson7994so happy for you, or jealous 😅

[@stingylizard]

Perfect! Just don't have children,as they would have the most miserable childhoods.

[@robinlerch9463]

I self-dx as SPD, but if the topic is right, I can engage until the cows come home. I then would ideally recharge for several days alone, but that is to bask in the lush memories of meaningful connection and to process it all. All this to say, we do not live in a vacuum, but our surroundings impact our choices. In 2022, we in the US idealize money, power, image especially and Lord knows I love autonomy and safety (financial, physical, emotional) but in the presence of authentic connections on my terms, a topic of my choosing, I am the furthest from a Schizoid. Times are shallow. I've been married 34 years to a busy busy guy who lets me be and write, and vice versa, but then we can get together and connect over shared interests. He knows if he were married to anyone else he would be in divorce court. He is rarely home! I'm ok with that, and cell phones make this much easier. I have a career where I work autonomously, itinerant, can choose where I work, with whom, when I work. Never liked qorking at same place everyday. The key to happiness for me is meaningful connection and time to think. Religion is important to me because lifebis short deathbed certain eternity is forever (Bl John Henry Newman). I would be a very happy religious (nun/sister). Be well!

[@hcnuup]

Well, that was disturbing. Someone just describing your childhood in specific terms like that.

[@twilit]

Haha

[@rocketschamp]

I got diagnosed with this from my psych eval and she nailed my life to a tee!

[@RaffertyMBTI]

This woman is pretty great. 10:08 is so accurate. Thank you.

[@Ajurra13]

After about 15 years of masking, I found the DSM-5 criteria and was diagnosed. I cant madk anymore and several years ago i started losing my ability to appear normal... Now my familay and close coworkers know and I dont even try to mask anymore.

[@monicadahl7715]

My husband while in the Navy for almost two years as a hospital core man was given an order from a nurse that didn’t have to do with his job assignment of drawing blood and he didn’t want to it because he was Regis about routines he said it reminded him of his sister and mom bossing him around. His mom was loving being raised on a farm told me she never thought he’d get married💔.He was 29 we both liked Christian books. He was very introverted like a turtle , I was more like a hare. I tried to change him for years but once my son was diagnosed with Aspergers I thought it fit him more. A lot of his friends were quiet like him from church. We have six grown kids that love their dad but wish he would talk more. After getting three concussions on his bike he began to open up. I now don’t have regrets marring him because I know him more. He is very rigid in his schedules and routines. Because of his dads ptsd from military and moms heart attack when he was three I think that is why he was hurt and felt.abandon by being sent away. I feel loved!

[@lysagreen2314]

Thankyou for explaining SPD in easy terms, and presenting in such a way as to give people hope.

[@jacquiventures]

Thank you Dr Greenburg for a clear and informative talk on SPD, so helpful.

[@Iluvrocket]

I bought this doctor’s book. It was helpful. Good talk.

[@rw4754]

Do Schizoids often get misdiagnosed with Aspergers?

[@lyrablack8621]

Aspergers isn't a diagnosis, it's just autism

[@ghenulo]

My sister thought I had Asperger's. But when I saw a psychiatrist, he said I had SPD. I trust the psychiatrist; my sister thinks she knows everything but doesn't.

[@oliverclothesoff4142]

yeah for sure my brother and i both have it but im also a stutterer so that makes it even worse

[@zdlax]

When I'm LOW on objective measures of power: Safety > Admiration > Love When I'm HIGH on objective measures of power: Admiration > Safety > Love

[@digitally_ascended_conscio6304]

The sound quality could be better.

[@levanahbatlila859]

This info is so helpful!

[@irenahabe2855]

Bravo. Thank you.

[@eirikmurito]

Every pd is rooted in abuse/neglect

[@ghenulo]

Yeah. My parents made me go to school. That was the most abusive thing they could do.

[@hiroprotagonist525]

My brother was (unofficially) diagnosed by a friend of mine who is a professional psychologist, because I was telling her he was behaving very strangely and did she have any idea of what might be going on there? She had already figured it out and told me, he is an extreme case and because he is convinced he is fine and it is the world who is wrong, he does not believe he has a problem and therefore treatment would be pointless. She also said in most cases of schizoid personality disorder, progress is very small is at all and most patients just go on with their dysfunctional lives with next to no improvement. I don't know how you or anyone else would begin to treat someone like y brother, assuming of course he'd even give you a minute of his time, which seems unlikely.

[@uncagedpine9589]

It may actually be the world. The disorder wouldnt have happened in the world didnt make him that way. Have you ever actually listened to his reasoning?

[@hiroprotagonist525]

@@uncagedpine9589 his "reasons" are circular meanderings and blaming the world for calling a fire a fire doesn't change the fact it still burns. The idea the world is the reason he descended into his meanderings is false. He SHOULD have gotten better care, yes, this is true, and I am fairly convinced if my parents had been more diligent about this, he might have developed differently... but would'ves and couldn'es don't make the world go round; it is what it is.

[@uncagedpine9589]

@@hiroprotagonist525 well ok I don't know his reasons. I never said we need to uproot the entire society for him alone, and like I said I don't know his reasons. I think I would be annoyed if someone went behind my back to a friend and pseudo diagnosed me. That was why I commented. From my perspective you seemed to disregard your brothers views on his own life, his own autonomy, and superspeed them with a random psyche friend opinion from a distance. It takes a lot more than that to diagnose someone.

[@hiroprotagonist525]

@@uncagedpine9589 Then tell me how you go about even understanding what a person who is clearly sick but is convinced it's the rest of the world who is wrong? Tell me how you even begin to help someone like that? Because they won't seek help and they will literally sink the ship they are on just to get their way, and they don't care who they take along with them! My mistake was underestimating the level of damage only one person can do, or I would have had him committed ages ago. He destroyed our family and prevented my mother from getting proper care when she clearly had dementia. So you'll excuse me if I don't give a rat's ass about his feelings anymore. And btw, I asked my friend to tell me what was wrong with him so I could help him. They knew him already, so it's not like he was being manipulated into a "trap" or anything.There was no backstabbing or sneaking around behind his back. Word to the wise, if you see a problem, don't wait, don't try to be nice, go in and do what needs to be done before it's too late.

[@uncagedpine9589]

Thanks for the trauma dump I guess. Im sorry that all happened. I explained why I commented initially. Like I said from my perspective it seemed like you disregarded his opinions for youre freinds. I am schiziod and I have never done any of that nor would I want to. Way too much drama. Too much talking. Schiziods are not manipulative. It sounds more cluster b then schziods are. Sounds like the anti-social 'chip on the shoulder'. Their way or the highway. I have never met a schiziod who was very demanding, most of the time just want to be alone and never talked to. Very passive and quiet, unemotional and pragmatic. The opposite of manipulative or drama queens. @@hiroprotagonist525

[@lindarosenthal6835]

Fascinating

[@jacquiventures]

Dr Greenburg, what is the best way to contact you?

[@fatamorgana8277]

thx God for the Internet !

[@andrzejudalski7081]

Idk man. Half of the descriptions doesn't sound like SPD... More like social anxiety, avoidant personality etc. Schizoids aren't afraid or anxious around people. They just... Don't care at all.

[@CrazyHermitVizard]

I would have chosen safety, love, admiration. But I would have said safety rather means that your mate is not crazy, doesn’t act out of line and shit like that.

[@broarmy2000000]

If I have undiagnosed High Functioning ASD with every single trait of SPD, can you have both? wtf

[@cannonballlight4939]

Yes

[@broarmy2000000]

@@cannonballlight4939 After doing some research I found out that you are right, you can have both but they aren't diagnosable together even if have complete SPD while having ASD. Apparently you are given the diagnosis of ASD and thats it.

[@karidehnavi4737]

Yes. My husband is both. Plus addictive personality disorder and OCD with unwanted negative thoughts.

[@wil3630]

@@karidehnavi4737addictive personality disorder? Do you mean avoidant?

[@BetaBuxDelux]

Dr. Greenberg is a genius. Yikes!

[@mspckls1057]

Lol the ending was hey confirmation trust noone there are no solutions

[@GeinsArtAndCraftSupplies]

I enjoyed this very much :3 I've been diagnosed with schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders and this was on the nose for the former. As a younger person I would think "That person seems really cool but I don't want to date them; they're too close to me" and then I'd wonder to myself what that even means. I have a dating app on my phone but when anyone messages me I quickly lose all desire to interact. Is there a dating site for just for schizoids? Haha 💝 A basic, low stakes way I used to get more comfortable talking to other was just asking a store employee where something is located or if they carry it. The one thing that I don't carry (maybe it's the schizotypal talking?) is an unsure self image. Like I was so belittled as an adolescent that I decided to turn around, dig deep, and always be myself as hard as I can.