Most people who self-diagnose don't want to see a doctor. They become very adamant, clinging to the label for dear life.

According to studies, AvPD is nearly always not the actual diagnosis when someone tries to self-diagnose, because it's very hard to have perspective when self-reflecting, especially in times of crisis. There are traits that don't bother people that could clearly point to a different diagnosis - even a physical ailment - so people overlook or ignore them. They overstate the impact of their difficulties, because those are what stand out to them.

People understand that they have to take it with a grain of salt when they throw a list of symptoms into a search engine and WebMD spits out a list of physical diseases. I don't understand why they aren't as savvy when it is a mental disorder that pops up when they do a search.

I agree it is not a smart move to avoid evaluation, and here's why - if you don't have an actual diagnosis, then you'll never find effective treatment. You don't start a trip around the world by grabbing a shovel and digging a hole in your backyard.