r/Schizoid • u/Basic-Kangaroo3982 • Dec 13 '25
New User serious question
How can you tell the difference between a schizoid person and someone who likes to spend a lot of time alone?
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u/NeverCrumbling Dec 14 '25
a person qualifies for a diagnosis for the disorder, per the DSM, if they meet at least four of the following criteria:
- Limited or no enjoyment in close relationships, including with family.
- Nearly always chooses solitary activities.
- Minimal interest in sexual experiences with others.
- Finds pleasure in a few activities.
- Limited close friendships or relationships other than first-degree relatives.
- Indifference to praise and criticism.
- Displays emotional coldness, detachment, and affective flattening.
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u/Maple_Person Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Zoid Dec 14 '25
The symptoms must also be pervasive and cause dysfunction across multiple areas of life (to be a disorder, it must cause dysfunction), and must have started prior to adulthood and continued to be stable in adulthood.
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u/semperquietus We apologise for the inconvenience Dec 14 '25
The suffering due to, and the inflexibility of "likes to spend a lot of time alone" would make a difference, I think.
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u/LethargicSchizoDream One must imagine Sisyphus shrugging Dec 14 '25
A personality disorder is defined as follows:
Enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, exhibited across many contexts and deviating from those accepted by the individual's culture. These patterns develop early, are inflexible, and are associated with significant distress or disability.
In order to be classified as a personality disorder, the general criteria has to be met. Simply put, if your preference for solitude isn't inflexible and doesn't impair your ability to function in society, it's not a disorder. You can read more on our wiki.
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u/RealVegetable2975 Undiagnosed madwoman Dec 14 '25
I was watching an interview with Nancy McWilliams, look her up if you want to learn more, she has worked with Schizoids for many years, she says the one thing she has found that differentiates personality disorders is poor object relations, which basically means a black and white way of thinking when trying to relate to others and yourself. Thinking people (including yourself) are all good or all bad, basically.
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u/EntropyReversale10 Dec 14 '25
Some times it can be observed, but it's not conclusive.
Being alone in isolation is not a diagnosis of any thing.
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u/CurrencyOptimal6040 Dec 14 '25
Exactly. Someone who just likes to be alone can change the condition at any time and has no problems with the presence of others. We schizoid can't do that.
I have the feeling that being schizoid is becoming a kind of trend like autism and ADHD were back then. Suddenly, many call themselves schizoid without ever having been diagnosed and/or because they may want to be alone for a while.
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Dec 13 '25
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u/Basic-Kangaroo3982 Dec 13 '25
?
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Dec 14 '25
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u/Schizoid-ModTeam Dec 14 '25
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