APD vs social anxiety disorder.

I know I have either one of them, but since APD is an Axis II disorder, there wouldn't really be a sudden onset and that seems to be the case with me. I was shy and introverted as a child and as a teen. I thought I would grow out of it but i never did. Then I got treatment for an eating disorder and was prescribed Prozac and I found that it has helped tremendously! I now work part-time as a shoes saleswoman and I even got a raise and that never happens to me. I would never be able to keep this job without taking the Prozac. I am also doing a lot better in school too. I speak up more and talk with my peers more. I never would have known I would have had this if I wouldnt have taken Abnormal Psychology class. (I knew something was wrong because I was so socially awkward). Is APD comorbid with any other disorders-- especially eating disorders? I also seem to present some symptoms of borderline personality disorder (emotional, impulsive, fear of abandonment etc) but not so much the anger and stormy relationships. I have heard that there is a personality disorder that is not in the DSM-IV yet that is called avoidant-borderline mixed personality. I could have that, but there is not very much information on it. We learned in class that antidepressants DO help with APD and I'm so glad that I've hit two birds with one stone!

Oh yes. I forgot to ask. Is it common for people with AvPD to self-medicate with alcohol? I know I used to and it is the only way I would have met my boyfriend.

I dont know if its common to self medicate with alcohol. It seems a growing temptation to me though and a worry. I dont think there was any alcoholism in my family but if there was I think I would be far worse off than I am by now.

Chronic drug use/abuse can be a symptom of AvPD (and a lot of other problems as well), so yes, I think avoidants can self-medicate with alcohol. I myself was basically self-medicatting with weed until I realized what I was doing and why and realized it was making my social problems worse.

I would steer clear of the self-medication. Drugs can have their benefits but self-medicating with them always leads to disaster. Alchohol can be great as a social lubricant but it won't do you well in the long run to get plastered every night. Speaking from personal experience. Not from alcohol, but the ganja. One of the reasons I started smoking all the time was it eased me up around people somewhat and helped me talk to them when I was peaking. But I got things all wrong, I regret getting into it heavily.

I also recently started taking prozac. Helps a little with my ability to talk to people, but it has killed my baseline discomfort around people almost completely and has helped with my anxiety. I think it needs more time to work it's magic though for the depression.

I think APD can be comorbid with other disorders, especially since a lot of the symptoms and traits overlap. Depression or dysthimia seems like an obvious one as it cant be to enjoyable to keep yourself in self-imposed isolation. Often one problem leads to others, I don't really know enough about the comorbidity with eating disorders or Borderline. I fit some of the borderline traits as well but I don't think I have it.