Treatment question

Okay, I have yet to be diagnosed and understand that self-diagnosis is not good generally, but the description of APD is about as close as I've seen to describing me. Like every part, not just a few but all of it. Anyway, I plan on talking to my doctor but obviously that is easier said than done. One of my problems involves drugs they might give me. I have been diagnosed with depression and I liked the depression given the drugs as an alternative. People say they helped me but I was not okay, things were very surreal. I stopped taking them and things became me again. I have been a heroin addict years back, successfully long over it and proud, but since then I have issues with taking a drug everyday to be a "normal" person. I just don't want to do it.

So my question is what would they likely give me for this? I have recently had life push me to accept I likely have APD but if not sonething else worthy of therapy. Its not going to be easy but my current coping methods are not enough to handle things. I'd like to know all i can before going to talk to anyone. Thats just my style. So if anyone knows what they would be given to someone with no history of therapy for this i really appreciate it. Or if it might be one of a few different ones that works too. Ive read about it but they usually seem to have a preference for what to try first. Thanks.

I am not officially diagnosed either but I have been to pyschs before for social anxiety and depression. I think they would most likely start off with an SSRI (any one of prozac, paxil, zoloft, etc.) then potentially consider adding other meds. But the main thing is that you DO NOT have to take them. You can tell them point blank that you don't want to - they will likely try to gently convince you to but you don't have to listen. So don't let that hold you back from going to get help or seeking a diagnosis.

I know what you mean about not wanting to take meds to be "normal"... I have taken SSRI's on and off over the years and currently I've been off of them for a long time.

I don't know what you were on before but taking on an SSRI shouldn't make you feel too weird unless you have an atypical reaction to a particular one, in which case you can stop and try a different one. If you up the dose quickly you can get mild "serotonin syndrome" which can make you temporarily feel kind of like what you are describing until your body gets used to the high dose, but that should not happen if you start with a low dose and slowly increase (which a good psych will do).

And if you want to avoid meds altogether I think therapy is actually the only thing that can really improve the core issues of AvPD anyways. And if that's not the problem then they can help you find what might describe you better. Maybe finding a good therapist/councilor would be best for you - they will be somewhat knowledgeable about common meds so you can talk to them about it a little if and when you decide you want to consider it.

If you have true manic episodes (BP I) you would probably know it, but if you think you experience hypomania then be sure to tell a pysch before you go on an SSRI. If you're not sure read about bipolar ii and cyclothymia on wikipedia. Basically hypomania would be an extended period (1-3 months maybe) where the depression and anxiety recedes and you feel extra confident, energized and motivated. It can be hard for pyschs to catch because it can mimic normal healthy behavior and might just seem like you are doing well for a month or two before getting depressed and anxious again. If you think that describes you at all, then an SSRI alone is known to potentially increase the rate of cycling between depressed/hypomanic states and induce mixed states (where you are very energetic but also depressed and agitated for example). Maybe that doesn't apply to you at all but I felt I should say it because nobody asked me about hypomania before giving me an SSRI...

I'm not diagnosed, but I find it's useful to read about things with AvPD because it fits my thoughts and emotions so well.

AvPD could possibly be helped with anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds. But it's a personality disorder, so it's more pervasive and requires more than just medication if you want to really work on it.