Avoidant personality disorder

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

So recently, I realized that I suffered from this disorder called AvPD, Avoidant personality disorder. (Link)
It really stuck me deep, seeing my entire living habits just laid out in front of me, Granted, it's not an official diagnosis, but the hallmarks are all there:

Zero Self Esteem
Socially Inept
Lonely
Extreme Self Loathing (Hell, the fact that I'm posting all this on a Internet Forum shows how much of that I have)

Now, I know how reliable these self diagnosis's are, but the fact I'm even doubting my ability to even get that right just hammers home the point.

Now, I do attend counselling, but not until after the holidays so I was just wondering if anyone has or knew someone with this disorder, just anything really to help put my mind at ease.

Post in thread, PM, whatever.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I have it, and I didn't know I had it until a couple of years ago.

It all made sense after I was told what I was dealing with was that, and it made my life easier since I thought I was going nuts. In some weird way anyways. Personally, I just picked up tricks to just deal with it since I'm not on meds or anything to help with the anxiety. Talking with a counselor will help even though since you have different problems than I do with mine, so I would listen to whatever he/she says and see if it will work with whatever is going on in your life.

It's not fun, and it's something you're just gonna have to deal with, unfortunately. I hope whatever I said helps, and my inbox in always open.

God speed, man!

 

[MasochisticAvenger]

I'm not saying you definitely don't have it, but I would recommend getting an official diagnosis before going any further. It's really easy with self-diagnosis to come up with all sorts of diseases/disorders you may not have. It's best you know exactly what you're dealing with, so you can work out the best way to deal with it.

 

[JoshGod]

That hits home for me, I'm not sure if I had this, but it sounds just like what I went through for the majority of my first nineteen years of life. What helped me was getting away from the cause of my issues, for me my family screwed me over, but getting away from them got me to realise that not all people are pricks which caused me to want to get better at socialising, so perhaps think about what has made you feel this way and think how to overcome it. Please do take my words with consideration as I was never diagnosed.
Good luck you sexy beast!

 

[FightingFork]

I thought I had this too...but it turns out I was depressed and introverted instead (combined, the symptoms can be identical).

Personality disorders are different from most mental disorders in that they usually start manifesting at a young age and continuously stay with the person. So if you haven't been like this for as long as you can remember, it's probably not Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD).

Personality disorders are also much more uncommon than depression and anxiety disorders (which often occur together), so while it's not impossible that you have AvPD, it's less likely than the alternatives.

As with all personality disorders, AvPD is a...more serious diagnosis than depression. Personalities disorders are more persistent than others, and treatment focuses mainly on symptom management and skill development.

Either way, you've already taken the first step to getting better. It probably won't be easy, but it is doable. I wish you the best of luck.