diagnosis

Pax!
I have two questions:
When did you (or was it someone else?) first suspect that you could have AvPD?
What did people say when you told them about your worries?

.i was officially diagnosed by my Psychologist like 6 years ago , its a very long journey before we comes to that diagnosis

Wen i tell people about my worries usually they have the same answer .."Irrational"

I know I have had all the symptoms most of my life. I just diagnosed myself after reading a description at wikipedia. Oh, Lord, another disorder to go along with the others. why do we have to be so screwed up!?

I've had symptoms all my life.

That it's irrational and I shouldn't worry about what people think. Haven't told many people, though.

I suspected it around the time I turned 21 yet I still felt like a teenager emotionally. I found the AvPD symptoms online and thought it might explain my issues but I left it at that. Soon I was in therapy with depression and that's where I was diagnosed by my psychiatrist with Avoidant and Dependant PD's. I remember feeling relieved

As to people's reactions - they mostly said that 'everyone has issues' and didn't take my diagnosis seriously. I felt hurt because I always had felt so misunderstood. But now, some 4 year later they are more understanding.