My counsellor told me that I have a lot of AvPD traits - in fact I do have all of the DSM IV criteria. It was a relief to hear him say that, because I already knew that about myself.

However - I have traits and not a diagnosis (1 reason at least for this is that I well, won't say much to the psychiatrists as I only need/want any help with the bipolar). It's traits because while I fit alllll of the criteria, it just doesn't seem that way because I don't act like you would expcet someone with AvPD to act. I've retrained a lot of my behaviour, and the behaviours that are still around are well... masked or downplayed, really.

Personality disorders are more something that's well... just you and how you formed, so they're not really something you can ever totally be done with even with medication and therapy. But I've done a pretty good job of retraining a lot of my behaviours on my own over the years.

And I soooooo just went and lost my train of thought. Basically, while I have all the traits of AvPD (it's entirely how my brain works) my behaviours aren't so drastically harming me (because I've been mostly successful and keep pushing myself) so I wouldn't have a diagnosis.