Sudden realization

Isn't that what every avoidant feels? There are actually a few overlapping symptoms in bpd and AvPD so it's no surprise someone with one disorder also has symptoms of the other one.

(by which I don't mean to say anything about your diagnosis, just speaking in general here)

* It is important to remember that everyone can exhibit some of these personality traits from time to time.
As written in the DSM-5

A good example of the differences between BPD and AvPD is within the different clusters.
Borderline is Cluster B and Avoidance is Cluster C... (there is plenty of links that can be found)

One thing I found interesting is that Borderline is one of the most widely studied personality disorders yet it seems to be the hardest to diagnose..

I disagree that BPD is the hardest to diagnose. The professionals I've talked to have all said that it's obvious to them when someone has it.

I think it's the hardest for people to accept their diagnosis, though. They fight it tooth and nail and try to come up with any other possibility.

Your point about "traits" is a good one to remember. Traits are basically coping mechanisms that become habit. One can change their habits, and new coping mechanisms can be learned.

This is the sixth time I've posted this. I wonder how long it will take me to delete it this time...

I agree with Snap, instead. I believe BPD is the hardest to diagnose. It took me 10 years to get there, despite my symptoms being quite obvious. I also asked about this in the BPD forum and it came out most people got the right diagnosis only after many years...

I said this before. I've been reading a lot about BPD and from what I read, many patients with borderline disorders have been misdiagnosed with many mental illness and disorders before getting the right diagnoses.
Some psychologists point out that one of the reason is bc of the nature of the disorder itself. You know, unstability. The symtoms also present themselves with a great unstability, so the patient may give an impression very different to the one, (s)he gives another day according to the mood swings.

Many patients who end up in a hospital for a suicidial attempt or because of eating disorders are diagnosed with depression or anorexia.

From what I have read, even when this disorder is pretty wellknown now and there have been lots of advances, it's a relatively new disorder. So, it's not strange that proffessionals make errors in the diagnosis.

I think it's easier to diagnose extreme cases but this disorder are in individuals in very different grades. A person with bpd is not the same to another with the same disorder.

Then, there are hidden symptoms that are hard to know by the psychiatrists when even the patient unknowns them and see them as normal.

Very few it has been done to know about AvPD but in my opinion, the view that has been offered about BPD has been very harmfull for the patients. So, It's not strage that professionals are very reluctant to give this diagnosis and in the same way, patients don't feel comfortable with the dianosis.

My therapist denied me that I had this disorder and my psychiatrist asked me to work on the issues I have and don't worry about diagnosing me.
I went there with the DSM's symtoms and I explained to him where I see myself reflected and he even got angry with me. He said that personality disorders are not found in the most cases, in a pure way.
So, I think I have a personality disorder mixed with trait from here and there.
It doesn't mind. I don't like labells.
I was very released when I was diagnosed with AvPD eight years ago bc since I was a child I didn't see myself like a normal person and it was a released to see that other people have something similar than me.

You realize that they changed the diagnosis criteria 2 years ago? They tightened the definition, and something like a third of people who had a diagnosis no longer qualify, so there's a pretty good chance you don't have it by the current guidelines. Same with Borderline - it could be that it took 10 years for the diagnosis because you didn't qualify under the old DSM, but now you do.

Why not try to live thinking you don't have a PD at all, if they can't tell you which one you have? Just assume you have poor coping skills, so learn new ones, and bad habits for dealing with people, again, learn new ones.

You say you don't like labels, but you're labeling yourself. Put a rubber band on your wrist and snap it every time you think, "oh, it's okay that I act this way because of my PD."

It takes time and effort and courage to change. If you don't have a diagnosis, don't decide you have one just because it's easier to continue to act the way you have rather than putting in the work to learn a better way.

I'm confused, I though this thread was about Nicky, why are we questioning Azul's diagnosis, what does that have to do with this topic?

The topic is, someone got a diagnosis and is fighting it, and a bunch of people talked about having similar experiences. Look through all the entries; lots people beside the first person talked about their struggles with accepting their diagnosis or lack there of. The thread became global rather than personal, and people gave feedback about each new example.

I think having a diagnosis can help clarify what's going on in your life. It can give you a starting point, and when you're confused and directionless it can be a comfort.

But if you don't have a diagnosis and decide you do anyway, or decide to ignore your doctor's diagnosis, then you are putting up a barrier to making any progress, because you're arbitrarily creating a false starting point. Instead of tackling your issues, first you have to tear away your misconceptions about yourself. I was trying to give suggestions on how to get unstuck from a false starting point so that work can begin.

I ask the same things of myself, too. Just today I asked someone (terrified of what the answer might be) if I use my diagnosis as a crutch.

Makes sense to me as I was also diagnosed with BPD but am more closely identifying with avoidant personality disorder