I was diagnosed with AvPD and SAD and I was wondering if anyone has a horrible problem with eye contact and being touched?
I have never been able to make eye contact unless I absolutely felt like it was necessary so that I didn't seem rude.
I can't make eye contact with my dad no matter what and I can barely make eye contact with my mom.

I also have a hard time dealing with being touched. When someone accidentally touches me, I literally cringe. I then feel like I need to go wash whatever part they touched me. I can't be touched by my dad because it just feels horrible! If he touches me, I feel like I'm going to cry. I'm okay with my mom touching me SOMETIMES, but she doesn't want to touch me because she has issues of her own.
I just hate being touched so much. Hugs and hand shaking are horrifying for me.
I want to get over this, but at the same time I just really don't want to ever be touched.

Hello Ashley! I never received a formal diagnosis but like yourself I have avoidant tendencies. I was prescribed medication for anxiety in the past which resulted in an unhealthy habit first followed by a period of distressful and long withdrawal phase later. It was not my habit to look into people's eyes at all, my gaze would normally never get any higher than people's lips. I also have a dislike for hugs, but not from everybody. I love to hug and cuddle my children (especially when they were younger and cuddly), I find delight in hugging and kissing my partner and I tolerate my parents' hugs too. But I do remember people commenting on my avoidance of physical contact in the past, some friends and my mum used to make remarks.

It can get better if you set your mind to it, but at the same time not everybody shows affection with the same physical intensity. There is so and so much that we can change ourselves. Once we reach the point we are comfortable with, I find it more convenient and easier to just describe the way I am and see who is going to stick around anyway. You are not alone x