Avoidant PD is not the same as Personality Disorder w/Avoidant Features

I was dx'd last year with Personality Disorder NOS (not otherwise specified) w/avoidant features. In the reading I've done, research by those who deal with personality disorders, indicate that Avoidant PD is not the same as Personality Disorder w/Avoidant Features. How I interpret my dx is that I have a PD, but the traits I exhibit are not as severe as a full-blown Avoidant PD.

I could be wrong, but PC hasn't included PD NOS from the DSM-IV, which is still being used. So, I guess the point of my post is that those of you who are not dx'd yet, but think AvPD sounds like you, I would suggest you get an evaluation done by a qualified professional before you self-diagnose.

Lol, Try and convince the self diagnosed and traits crowd that!
I have been trying for years.

So, you're saying that those who self diagnose don't get evaluated? If so, I understand an eval costs a lot of $$ at some places, but anyone in my city can go to the local private university and be tested for free, even if you're not attending the university. Not being evaluated and self diagnosing is not a smart move. I guess there will be two of us trying to convince people to get evals!!

Most people who self-diagnose don't want to see a doctor. They become very adamant, clinging to the label for dear life.

According to studies, AvPD is nearly always not the actual diagnosis when someone tries to self-diagnose, because it's very hard to have perspective when self-reflecting, especially in times of crisis. There are traits that don't bother people that could clearly point to a different diagnosis - even a physical ailment - so people overlook or ignore them. They overstate the impact of their difficulties, because those are what stand out to them.

People understand that they have to take it with a grain of salt when they throw a list of symptoms into a search engine and WebMD spits out a list of physical diseases. I don't understand why they aren't as savvy when it is a mental disorder that pops up when they do a search.

I agree it is not a smart move to avoid evaluation, and here's why - if you don't have an actual diagnosis, then you'll never find effective treatment. You don't start a trip around the world by grabbing a shovel and digging a hole in your backyard.

I understand and respect why some people will resist therapy.

Issue I have is when the self diagnosed or those who might have a trait give expert opinions on a subject they don't have.

It's Hurtful that we have to live with a disorder that doesn't have allot of any helpful professional advice, it's insulting and triggering when those who don't have the disorder happily give expert views and opinions.

Good point about lack of self-reflecting abilities, esp. in times of crisis. And I agree that lack of a documented diagnosis seldom (never) leads to effective treatment. I'm miserable, being isolated and avoidant and feeling incapable of changing my situation. But, I have an experienced therapist, which gives me some hope that at least some of my frustration and misery at not being able to change my personality traits can be addressed and perhaps mediated to allow a happier future.

One other point I was thinking of when I stated avoiding evaluation wasn't a smart move is that personality disorders are serious. They aren't the common cold of mental disorders. It's in the best interest of the individual to be professionally diagnosed so that the person is not burdened with a diagnosis that could alter their entire life - though I would hope that no one would simply take the word of the individual and would require professional documentation.

I agree with all you said. On the brighter side, I read a psychiatric journal article last night re: treatment for personality disorders and the need for more research. The initial results of the research already done, however, are promising for attachment therapy (or psychodynamic therapy w/an emphasis on attachment theory). The article was published in 2015 out of Canada.

Good point. They tend to describe their personal symptoms and call them "avoidant" when in truth what they're talking about is completely the opposite of how people with AvPD act and react. It's really common for people to attribute symptoms of depression to avoidance, for instance. They are two separate things.

I hate seeing people self diagnosing mental health problems, don't often see people self diagnosing AvPD as much as you see people self diagnosing stuff like bipolar and BPD but it all frustrates me.

That said, apart from BPD, Bipolar, Depression and Anxiety, it is actually really hard to get assessed and diagnosed in the UK.. We don't need a diagnosis for insurance purposes and so proffessionals refuse to 'label' people as they thing it is not beneficial. I think its a load of rubbish, a label doesn't define someone but it can help them get the help they need. I was diagnosed as having both Schizoid and Avoidant Personality Disorders which came as a shock to me at the time and definitely wasn't self diagnosed.

I, too, was shocked when diagnosed with AvPD, Schizoid PD and Dependent PD. I thought I was depressed and dissociative. Which I was, those were diagnosed as well. But the PDs were not even on my radar screen.

As far as treatment goes, I see a t who does Brain-Spotting. It has actually helped with the PD. It's weird, but it works for me.

Yeah, I had a therapist who wanted to do something like that. Problem one - reliving traumas. Not interested. And listening to calming sounds - well, if I was thinking about my traumas while listening to them, all that would happen is the calming sounds would become Pavlovian triggers.

The same therapist also wanted me to try Reiki aka TOUCH therapy. Nope nope nope! She said she would give me a break and use heated rocks. On my bare back. To release my chakras. I didn't work with her very much longer after she came up with that one, and I understand she's stopped doing therapy completely now.

The touch therapy - *shudder* - that one's come up before in different forms. I had another therapist who was convinced my big breakthrough would happen if I let her give me a hug. Yeah, no.

I think most people with a diagnosis of AvPD had never even heard of it before their doctor told them about it. I hear that story over and over. People who think they have AvPD, it turns out, almost always have something else. I've only met one person who suspected he might have AvPD, went to a doctor for depression, and got an independent AvPD diagnosis. And he never brought AvPD up to the doctor before his diagnosis.

I agree with the poster of this thread, mainly in that a PD is not the same as having some traits. I was again diagnosed with depression, social phobia (that I overcame in a great grade), some avoidant traits and strong perfectionist traits.
Only wanted to add that it's funny how some people who are claiming for going to a professional for an accurate diagnoses, dare to diagnose other people who know online. I think that acts speak louder than words.