Snap, I liked your description of the differences between the two! It was very concise (which can be soooo hard to accomplish!)

Grey Wolf: you didn't do anything wrong at all by posting in here! In fact, congratulations! It was a brave thing to do.

No one here can diagnose you, but you know that already. But you know what? Who cares? Or well, who SHOULD care. If reading about things about Avoidant PD makes you feel like it describes you, and if you can find comfort and help with that, then it's a positive thing for you.

That said, therapy might help. I'm finding therapy helpful simply because well, I am trying my best to be honest and actually talk about emotions. It's such a challenge for me.