Hey Azul,

Good question!

I recently received an Avoidant PD diagnosis in combination with Borderline and Dependent, and I absolutely did NOT trust the psychologist or anyone for that matter. Essentially I was forced to do a psychological assessment in order to determine my psych profile. (Long story) Keep in mind - this is after I was abandoned by my DBT therapist - whom I DID trust... I thought the psychological assessments would brand me with something terrible - but after getting it - it makes perfect sense.

I don't know a whole lot about Avoidant PD - but I do know it would make perfect sense that someone with Avoidant PD would be much less willing to open up. I would be interested to see some statistics about Avoidant PD sufferers willingness to seek help compared to other illnesses.

I know that for myself - therapy was very hard and even a joke. My parents tried to force me to go to a therapist when I was a teenager but I didn't open up because my parents saw the same therapist! As if I would open up. Especially since most of my issues pertained to them. The irony is - after being tossed around for several years and being misdiagnosed - I ended up seeing a therapist whom I really bonded with and I suddenly saw the merit to therapy for the first time. This when my borderline traits really came out.

Right now - after being abandoned for the third time - I am VERY hard pressed never to trust another therapist ever again. But I know that my need to attach is going to override any lack of trust that I have...

thanks,
HD