I am convinced I am highly alexithymic. Anyone else here feel that way? For those who aren't familiar, instead of explaining it here is the wikipedia article: Alexithymia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It seems a very relatable concept to AvPD (but maybe not with everyone's specific reasons for being avoidant, because I think there can be different causes of AvPD with a similar result of social avoidance). But whether or not you think it relates to you it's an interesting concept.

AvPD-relevant quotes from wikipedia article include:

"The core characteristics of alexithymia are marked dysfunction in emotional awareness, social attachment, and interpersonal relating."

"Alexithymia creates interpersonal problems because these individuals tend to avoid emotionally close relationships, or if they do form relationships with others they usually position themselves as either dependent, dominant, or impersonal, 'such that the relationship remains superficial'."

"two interpersonal problems are significantly and stably related to alexithymia: cold/distant and non-assertive social functioning."