Right, so this is going to come off badly... I'll say that off the bat. But I mean well.
I'm getting a little ... irritated that this forum (and others) are literally full of people who don't have this diagnosis.
People think they have AVPD. Or they think they are avoidant.
I understand people are looking for answers..... but at the same time - No one can diagnose anyone on this website, let alone something as complicated as a personality disorder.
So go hit up Wikipedia. If it genuinely sounds familiar.. Then go and see a psychiatrist and stop doing yourself (and others) a disservice by telling yourself and others you're 'certain you have avpd' - in the process spreading potential misinformation and homogenizing this diagnosis which is already one of the least studied yet most detrimental mental health conditions.
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Why does this irritate me.?
Well it's a bit similar to; "I'm so OCD about what order I do my breakfast routine in"
A.K.A - You don't have OCD, stop saying that!
I have to deal with this all the time with OCD.
Half the population seem to think 'everyone has OCD' Just some people have it worse
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My bottom line being:
If you are genuinely worried that you may have this truly awful condition - Talk to your doctor.
Tommorow, why hang about. If talking to your doctor is too daunting for you.... then call up, get their email and write down what's going on for you and your concerns in an email and send it to them to review.
Asking here, or elsewhere if your 'avoidance' is Avoidant-Personality-Disorder
Will not get you anywhere.....
At most - you may get; "user77a88 said that my post sounded AVPD"
So are you going to live the rest of your life according to a wikipedia description and what user77a88 thought of that post you made on a mental health forum?
Don't be crazy. Go see a doctor,
Hopefully, you don't have this AVPD. Hopefully you have something milder and less life-ruining. Maybe your just -acting avoidantly- as you're depressed or anxious...
If, for financial or other reasons - you can't see a doctor straight away. Try and live life - don't try and figure out how to live life as someone with AVPD... without a diagnosis.
And of course, if you do have a diagnosis of AVPD, don't try and 'fit the mould' - you aren't your diagnosis. You're an individual.
The diagnosis describes you, not the other way around.
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Well, I hope this helps someone.
.. personally I feel like I've come across a belligerent, intolerant @ssh***e.
I'm in a bad mood.... (I turn 30 in a few days, and I'm fed up. I've been mentally unwell since I was 2 years old ffs.)
I think I posted this, as I'm tired of AVPD being the elephant in the room - I know the irony...
But it's so bad; I can't even talk to mental health professionals about this diagnosis because half of them don't seem to believe it exists and the other half - don't have a clue how to help me.
I am SO lucky, I have a therapist who deals with me as a person. She knows my diagnosis and believes their credence/authenticity - but she treats me as an individual.. she actually prefers to steer away from 'labels' such as AVPD - As...........; they give you a reason not to engage in what you find difficult.
"Well of course I didn't talk to the lady... I have AvPD??"
Labels can give you a reason not to try, or even to give up. That's why they are dangerous.
That's 1/2 the reason I don't want anyone undiagnosed to accept this label as a truth.
The other half is that the people really suffering with it the have to sort through the posts in a thread of people who;
think they may have the condition or they
relate to the people who do.
Thus making the support network for individuals with avpd convoluted - more of a; 'feeling avoidant' ,, 'avoiding stuff??' well come on have a seat.
^again, feeling like an @hole saying the above... But people suffering from something want to be able to talk to other people suffering from the same thing; for knowledge insight and comfort.
All humans suffer, and avoid. It's human.
However not all humans suffer from AVPD, obviously.
So 2nd part, is .... feels like I'm making it out to be a club or something... - but people with AVPD need a place to talk about AVPD.
Someone coming to the forum, and seeking advice about this disorder for a loved one afflicted - Perfect use.
It's just - the 'I think I'm AVPD,,, what do you think' threads that seem to dominate the forums on the web ... and that makes life EVEN harder for the AVPD afflicted individual as the internet and forums is all a lot of us have left.