My therapist has told me that it seems like I have avoidant personality disorder, and said that it does not seem at all like I have narcissistic personality disorder. I was convinced of that, until I came across a link talking about how there are two types of narcissism: arrogant/overt narcissism and shy/covert narcissism. The type typically associated with narcissists is arrogant/overt narcissism and the description of shy/covert narcissism is VERY different from it. It actually overlaps a lot with AvPD.

As I read it, I actually noticed that a lot of it does describe me. I am extremely sensitive to criticism, my expectations in life are unfulfilled, I am vulnerable to stress, and I am extremely envious. The thing I don't really see is the grandiose fantasies. However, I don't know for sure that they aren't there, it says something about them being unconscious. Also, I feel like I do have a lot of empathy, which is something I heard narcissists don't have. However, I do tend to mostly think a lot about my own issues of personal adequacy. I have serious self-esteem issues and I am constantly obsessing over whether or not I am living up to my standards of how I should be.

Can anyone offer any insight about this?