Understanding Schizoid Personality vs Autism Spectrum

Schizoid personality disorder falls under cluster A of the personality disorders. Cluster A disorders are characterized as odd or eccentric. The three personalities in this group are Schizoid, Schizotypal and Paranoid.

Schizoid personality is defined as follows:
It’s a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

1. Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family.
2. Almost always chooses solitary activities.
3. Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person.
4. Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities.
5. Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.
6. Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others.
7. Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affectivity.

The social impact of this personality can cause occupational problems because of the way that you interact with people. A person with schizoid personality would be best suited for a job where you can work alone with minimal supervision. Working with the team is the last thing you need to do. Because of your aloofness in relationships, family members may reject you.

Sometimes autism spectrum disorder can look very much like schizoid personality. Autism spectrum disorder is a brain development disorder where there are delays in your brain development beginning in childhood. This causes difficulties with social interaction, communication and repetitive behaviors. Often people with autism spectrum will have impaired sensory processing. So they may be hypersensitive to certain sounds or textures. It’s a spectrum illness because the degree to which a person is impaired ranges from low functioning to high functioning.

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[ratgirl]

I have schizoid personality disorder, I don’t seek help because I don’t see myself as having a problem—that other people do doesn’t bother me at all—I just want to be left alone to pursue my interests; and enjoy very limited contact with others as one isn’t the loneliest number.

[Pootycat]

4:45 Schizoid people ALSO don't infringe on the rights of others. We're hermits. Sociopaths, psychopaths, narcissists, & some other types, cause problems, and may draw the attention of the Law. We just live in our fantasy worlds, and don't bother anyone. "Go away! Just leave me alone!" 🤗

[abdulshukoor]

I have schizoid personality. Lockdown hasn’t caused me any kind of claustrophobia.

[mythic_snake]

My son is on the autism spectrum, and I believe I may be schizoid. I was told by a therapist a long time ago that she thought I might be. I do have some very mild traits of autism (extremely sensitive to sensory input, very little eye contact, struggle with social skills), but not really pronounced enough to diagnose as autistic. But I know that it's hereditary, and my son probably got it from me. I identify strongly with almost all the schizoid traits though. I don't want to be this way, and I have this weird cognitive dissonance between wishing I had friends but also wanting NOTHING to do with other people.

You mentioned that you weren't sure why more schizoids don't go to therapy. I can tell you from my own experience at least... I have been in and out of therapy in an attempt to better myself, and it pretty much always goes nowhere because therapists try to "redirect" your "negativity" every time you try to open up which feels very invalidating and dismissive, and suggest things like group therapy which is a horror I do not wish to experience, and they just generally make you feel like every thought and feeling you're having is wrong, and here's a worksheet. It's also been a recurring problem in therapy when I mention things like having no interest in activities or feeling "flat" most of the time, they immediately jump to the conclusion that I'm depressed and hyperfocus on treating me from that assumption. Or when I mention that I have all these issues with socializing and how it makes me feel, they assume that the best thing for me is to just do some deep breathing exercises and imagine myself on a beach, and I should be able to overcome those feelings. I know that therapists probably think I'm being "resistant" or "difficult" but all I really need is for them to meet me where I am, and not expect me to fake normal so they can follow their script. So from my perspective it is they who are uncooperative, and I just eventually stop going back.

Anyway, I hope this sheds some light on some of the mystery.

[Ataraxy]

In my early twenties, my family pushed me to get tested for Asperger's. I was diagnosed with Schizoid PD instead.

[xcm]

I thought it was weird why I am 35 and have had no friends or relationships but then I realized. I don't care enough to and it was only weird cuz other people do. As long as I'm by myself I'm A- Ok.

[jimon]

Wow, thank you, as a diagnosed schizoid I've debated going into therapy several times. The main reason Im hesitant to start therapy is that opening up to someone is rather threatening, The stakes go waaay up, and its a big commitment to find a good therapist. Also the more impacted your life is from the disorder; the less likely you will be able to afford quality treatment.

[derben]

Im kinda angry at my therapist for categorizing me as a schizoid person, because im quite the opposite of what is described here, I'm just bad at expressing that. Good Video

[ChickadeeBoi]

Could ya talk about "masking" in schizoid personalities? I've had many of these traits since childhood and at 24 was diagnosed schizophrenic. But I've also made a habit of hiding it and imitating "socially acceptable" behaviors very well over the years (I'm 27 now and my first therapy session was at 7)

[gregofthedump]

For the past year or so, I've been wondering if I have this personality. I've spent many years trying to want friends, but not being interested enough to do the things I would need to in order to find them. Same with romantic relationships. I've never felt compelled to seek out women, although in my early twenties I experimented with socialising at pubs and nightclubs, to no end.


At fifty, I'm happy to stay indoors and not meet anybody. I was doing this long before the lock down. Currently working with a psychiatrist.

[kathrinjohnson]

Cluster A disorders are very interesting. I don't hear much about them. Thank you.

[Soraya]

I’ve always felt weird and strange. I’m always alone and enjoy it. Often feel fake when socialising. Find it difficult to find something I really enjoy and to sharing emotions with anyone even though I have loving people around me. Sometimes I feel lonely but then I like being alone. Actually I often feel very sad about things. I’m sure not maybe it’s just this pandemic! Thank you

[tudormiller]

I always thought I was either extremely introverted or on the autism spectrum. Now I know I most probably have Schizoid Personality Disorder, and Avoidant Personality Disorder. Great video really informative. Watching from London UK.

[natasshjanorielle]

This is the only personality disorder that I've ever connected to as far as thinking i have it. I don't hate people but i vastly prefer being alone and ppl always tell me I'm cold or emotionless/indifferent. I don't think I lack emotions I just think it's too much so I just don't want to be bothered. I never seek out treatment because I'm very content with my life and how I express myself. It's other people that have the problem with it if anything.

[venmis]

I have aspergers (or high functioning ASD) and kinda relate to some of the symptoms of Schizoid PD. But I do occasionally desire intimacy, even if it's not as high of a priority as it might be for others. I enjoy interacting with people, so long as our interactions are within a certain framework and not all encompassing. I suppose an analogy would be: I don't want to live on the same continent as others, but I also don't want to live on an isolated island in the ocean. I would like to live in an archipelago, where I can do my own thing on my own island, but with plenty of interaction with other islands (or even continents). I dunno, I'm not very articulate as you can see.

[offintonebula]

Thank you. Im trying to figure myself out in my mid 30s. Autism, Avoidant, and Schizoid resonate most with me.

[starbright]

I can't say I have schizoid personality disorder because I never been to a doctor, but what I can say is the signs are very similar to my personality. When I was about 8 years old I notice I didn't want people to get to close to me if a person would try to be my friend I would push them away with my attitude it was I had to like you for me to be your friend or like your company if I didn't like you I would never give you a chance or I will open up slowly to people or not at all. I do seem like a cold person. My sister she had lots of friends and all her friends didn't like me because I was a person that stayed to myself and always hated company, that's why my sister friends hate me til this day they hated me when we were all kids and now that we're grown they still hate me why? Because I never wanted to be there friend.but my sister did she loved her friends and their company and now today she's telling me that she wants to be like me and not have any friends because all her friends have changed since there school days. And a lot of people will say Schzoid personality disorder people need help, no we don't need help we just prefer to not be stressed out by people, people are fake and nasty. My sister had lots of friends one day she told me. "The reason why my friends don't like you is because the way you act, you don't talk to people." And now she's just like me. Anytime I'm at her house she will be on the phone with her friend mother and her friend mom out of nowhere would just start talking to my sister about how nasty I am when she didn't even see me since 1996when I was 10 years old and today I'm 36 and her friend mom still talking bad about me. It's a shame how my sister friend mom still talking about me since 1996 all because I stayed to myself and never talked to them.

[UNkWabbT]

Wow!!! This just totally described my personality. I am married but if my mom hadn't pushed me to get married I would have preferred to remain single. I have no desire to have any personal relationships, no interest at all in intimacy in my marriage (or otherwise). I prefer to be alone and my life is an emotional flat line. The only emotion I experience is overwhelming anger when I finally manage to get a little time alone and of course, the phone rings and someone interrupts my solitude. For example, my husband will run out to pick up something and without fail he will end up calling me 3 times before he gets back home less than 2 hours later.
I work in a busy office where everyone looks to me when something is needed. I'm the face to the public for anyone coming into the area and hundreds of people are in and out all day and that doesn't include the more than 50 associates that depend on me to answer their questions, find solutions to their problems etc, etc, etc. I'm about 5 yrs away from full retirement age and have been in this job for 3 years. I don't think I'm gonna make

[janets]

The onset of ASD is very different from Schzoid Personality. My son started having problems relating to other people when he was about two years old, maybe even earlier. He was diagnosed with ASD at around seven or eight. Schzoid Personality sounds like it comes on much later.

[Pandalka]

amazing. you can be as non-problematic for others as you can, avoid dramas, avoid conflict, mind your own business, work on developing yourself, enjoy your hobbies, enjoy solitude, appreciate any sort of independence you can achieve, try to interact in whatever way you are able to, but the great, sane, neurotypical world will still find a way to tell you how "disordered" you are and how you need to be fixed.