No, they're all people I know...there may be one or two new people who I haven't really been around before, but the rest are people I know.

What kind of therapy is actually working? Is he/she a specialist? I always found that in therapy they either didn't understand or they just humiliated me.

[Lamplighter]

IATE If they are people you already know, would that not make it easier to relate to them (as opposed to total strangers with whom you have to be more on guard because they're an unknown quantity?)

I take it you're not a fan of therapy then? Up until my latest T I'd have agreed with you - especially on the didn't understand front. What has helped I think, is the fact that I'm now seeing an experienced clinical psychologist whereas all the Ts before that were just bog standard not terribly widely experienced or deep counsellor-style therapists (though they liked to call themselves psychotherapists.)

I have read that CBT and other behaviourally based approaches are quite useful for AvPD - personally CBT is anathema to me with its emphasis on 'challenging'. What's helping me is the fact that my T is focusing on the relationship between us, trying to establish trust first (a very tall order that one!), and though she is trained in CBT modalities, she's adapting her approach to suit what I need and not vice versa. Really it's a question of shopping around until you find the right 'fit'. It's also a question of being committed to healing - being avoidant makes it a bit too easy to quit therapy (or any relationship) the moment it gets difficult or painful or uncomfortable, and being able to stick it out with a decent T is the key factor in its working. Actually that applies across the board, not just in AvPD

Sorry for the lecture, it's just that I've only really just started with this T (20 sessions so far at twice a week) and am really over the moon at how positively it's going, so I'm a bit of an advocate for therapy at the moment.

On that note though, as my check in for the day, I'm really pissed off that I got a flat tyre today which meant I couldn't make my therapy session. While I'm not exactly attached, I still really wanted to see my T. Got to wait till Thursday now . Lol maybe I should be posting in the therapy forum. I never seem to have time at the moment to get to all the forums in which I'd like to post.

[two sons]

Hi everyone,
I have started this email numerous times - maybe this time I will not delete it! Sorry I have not been more active here. I really mean to post, but it's hard to crawl out of this old shell.

I also see a clinical psychologist weekly and I am totally dependent on those sessions and it really upsets my routine when tdoc has to cancel for some reason.

I absolutely dread this Thursday when I have my first appointment with a new pdoc. I know I am very difficult for these pdoc's and it just makes me feel bad to rehash all this craziness again with a new person.

[Lamplighter]

Glad you could bring yourself to post Two Sons! You have my sympathies re starting with a new Pdoc and having to tell your story all from scratch. I hope s/he is a good one and makes you feel comfortable and understood.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Torn Mind

IATE If they are people you already know, would that not make it easier to relate to them (as opposed to total strangers with whom you have to be more on guard because they're an unknown quantity?)

I take it you're not a fan of therapy then? Up until my latest T I'd have agreed with you - especially on the didn't understand front. What has helped I think, is the fact that I'm now seeing an experienced clinical psychologist whereas all the Ts before that were just bog standard not terribly widely experienced or deep counsellor-style therapists (though they liked to call themselves psychotherapists.)

I have read that CBT and other behaviourally based approaches are quite useful for AvPD - personally CBT is anathema to me with its emphasis on 'challenging'. What's helping me is the fact that my T is focusing on the relationship between us, trying to establish trust first (a very tall order that one!), and though she is trained in CBT modalities, she's adapting her approach to suit what I need and not vice versa. Really it's a question of shopping around until you find the right 'fit'. It's also a question of being committed to healing - being avoidant makes it a bit too easy to quit therapy (or any relationship) the moment it gets difficult or painful or uncomfortable, and being able to stick it out with a decent T is the key factor in its working. Actually that applies across the board, not just in AvPD

Sorry for the lecture, it's just that I've only really just started with this T (20 sessions so far at twice a week) and am really over the moon at how positively it's going, so I'm a bit of an advocate for therapy at the moment.

On that note though, as my check in for the day, I'm really pissed off that I got a flat tyre today which meant I couldn't make my therapy session. While I'm not exactly attached, I still really wanted to see my T. Got to wait till Thursday now . Lol maybe I should be posting in the therapy forum. I never seem to have time at the moment to get to all the forums in which I'd like to post.

I'm just as nervous, if not more so around people I know, with the exceptions of a few. I think it's because they know things about me.

Sorry, I'm not going to be convinced that therapy will ever work, but it's good that it's working for you.

Originally Posted by two sons

Hi everyone,
I have started this email numerous times - maybe this time I will not delete it! Sorry I have not been more active here. I really mean to post, but it's hard to crawl out of this old shell.

I also see a clinical psychologist weekly and I am totally dependent on those sessions and it really upsets my routine when tdoc has to cancel for some reason.

I absolutely dread this Thursday when I have my first appointment with a new pdoc. I know I am very difficult for these pdoc's and it just makes me feel bad to rehash all this craziness again with a new person.

I feel for you there too...I don't think I could open up to anyone again, even though I will eventually to get my meds, but yeah...

I hope it goes well for you on Thursday.

And don't worry if you don't feel like posting, to be honest I haven't really been feeling like posting lately either.

In fact, I feel pretty bad. I feel so comfortable about being by myself that I feel uncomfortable and panicky when I'm around other people, especially if I know them and we're in a small space. As in someone is in my "personal space".

I'm having so many problems not self-harming.

My psychiatrist gave me a new med to try that supposed to help regulate the oscillations of my emotions so I don't get too low or high. Obviously it takes a while to kick in.

Mehhhh....

[two sons]

Hi everyone,
Well, I saw the new pdoc yesterday and it did not go well. I was so overwhelmed and anxious (after sitting in the waiting room) that I made an idiot out of myself. I sure wish my old pdoc was still here. It is so hard for me to talk to pdocs. New pdoc rx'd Prozac because I was able to communicate with her that I cannot afford Cymbalta anymore. Then I made the mistake of telling her about my suicidal thinking (tdoc tells me I fantasize about suicide and he is right) and pdoc thought I should go in the phosp! I said no way. Anyway, I did not do a good job of communicating with her other than telling her I am a no good, worthless, idiot.

Originally Posted by two sons

Hi everyone,
Well, I saw the new pdoc yesterday and it did not go well. I was so overwhelmed and anxious (after sitting in the waiting room) that I made an idiot out of myself. I sure wish my old pdoc was still here. It is so hard for me to talk to pdocs. New pdoc rx'd Prozac because I was able to communicate with her that I cannot afford Cymbalta anymore. Then I made the mistake of telling her about my suicidal thinking (tdoc tells me I fantasize about suicide and he is right) and pdoc thought I should go in the phosp! I said no way. Anyway, I did not do a good job of communicating with her other than telling her I am a no good, worthless, idiot.

I'm sorry it didn't go so well. I've been making an idiot of myself all week at school myself...

I don't like psychologists myself. The one I have now is at least one I feel I can trust...sort of. I feel really uncomfortable around her and I can't communicate with her either. It took until the last time I saw her to discuss my crazy mood swings (whether it's bipolar or a mood disorder etc.). It's unlikely that I'm bipolar, but I have some sort of mood disorder apparently...I think. She also told me what else I have and I don't remember if she mentioned AvPD. So I'm really confused...

[Puffyprue]

I am wondering anyone with AvPD has Control-Me syndrome?

[shortandcute]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...!!!!!!!!!!@#$%^&*(

[beatles1234]

Hello everyone, it took me a while to gain enough courage to post this (I have the same issue every time I go to post something). I've been feeling like crap recently, constantly tired no matter how much sleep I get and everything has been so overwhelming though today I feel slightly better.

[Blue Coral]

Update. Been feeling more anxious than normal. Not sure what's causing it, sure I've been stressed out lately but nothing that I haven't been through before many times. One day last week I felt so anxious I had to leave work, ugg, all that does is put me behind which causes more stress. I felt like screaming! I went home, went to bed, and tried to hide in sleep.

Groundhog said spring will come early. Good because I think some warm weather and lots of sunshine may help- anyway couldn't hurt

I have piano lessons in 30 minutes and I really don't want to go. My teacher is nice, but I'm considering just cancelling it and never going back and trying to teach myself to play piano instead because I'm too anxious to go. I cancelled last week because I had a "headache." But this week I'm just too tired and angry at myself for being this way. I haven't even been taking lessons for a month and I'm already wanting to quit.

[Fuzzybear]

anxious...
(Need to get piano tuned)

[loverofmedicine]

Feeling sad. Thinking I'm too defective for the career I'm trained in, and I've blown my opportunity for a temporary assignment. Hopeless, guilty because not disciplined enough.

[Lamplighter]

Been a while since I've been in this forum. Not really AvPD anymore, that was a dx yet another incompetent T decided to label me with, though I certainly fit some of the profile. I'd give a lot to have a proper dx that actually fitted, so tired of not knowing and not being able to make myself understood.

Anyway, just wanted to resurrect this thread in case anyone out there wanted a place to just post a few words.

[Lazermage]

Anxious about tomorrow, big group event where I have to attend to then
And I hope to stay away as far as I can so people don't always look at me like they do...

[A Red Panda]

Feeling overwhelmed by everyone and everything. Right now the things that had been causing me the most stress and anxiety - all the social things I've felt obligated to do after work... are still just as stressful but are currently less stressful than being at home with my houseguest.

[Fuzzybear]

Hmm yeah an incompetent T labelled me with this also. Growl

I smelt the roses today

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Been a while since I've been in this forum. Not really AvPD anymore, that was a dx yet another incompetent T decided to label me with, though I certainly fit some of the profile. I'd give a lot to have a proper dx that actually fitted, so tired of not knowing and not being able to make myself understood.

Anyway, just wanted to resurrect this thread in case anyone out there wanted a place to just post a few words.

[kecanoe]

What color roses, Fuzzy?

[Fuzzybear]

Pink roses