You know you're AvPD when...

^^ dual bathroom master race

1. Spending all your free time at in your bedroom at home and the constant search for new things to distract yourself from coming to terms with yourself and dealing with "real life" outside.
2. Passively watching life pass you by (and then you become self-conscious about using clichés).
3. Acting according to roles you construct for yourself, because you don't know how to be or are afraid to be yourself around other people.
4. Never truly being able to just…let go (around other people).
5. Being insecure about being insecure.
6. Going (selectively) mute when things just get too overwhelming.
7. Meeting people you find really cool/interesting/relatable, but being to afraid to make a move. And then being really frustrated about not having any friends.
8. Ignoring phone calls and emails for months.
9. Alone time locked up in the bathroom at school.
10. Being aware of every single move you make.
11. Having difficulties making even simple decisions, because of all the factors that come into play or because of an inability to think "in the moment".

The list could go on forever...

This list is so much true. Every single stich point. Like that should be the official diagnostic criteria.

You desperately need glasses to see from afar but you don't wear them as to see peoples faces blurred, so it's easier to make eye contact and you don't clearly see their facial expressions when, for example, you're doing an oral presentation.

^ Can 100% relate to that. I finally got my glasses/contacts re-assessed and I can see properly again, but it means seeing myself and everyone else clearly. Oh man. And picklesandpeanuts - couldn't have said it better.

... When you finally get the nerve to e-mail a complaint to customer service because they messed up with their services, greatly accosting the customer but you're worried they got angry and replied back in a rude manner, even though it's their job to be complacent and helpful so you know that wouldn't happen. Yet you still avoid checking your inbox anyway, only to find out later they replied professionally as expected. Same thing with talking to CS over the phone.

...when after you read all the 43 pages of this thread, you can relate to everything but you still afraid to post.

...when it takes you one year to have enough courage to go deposite some curriculum into your village's stores.
... when you have an e-mail box full of never-read-message.
...when all your family know that if they want to talk to you, it's better to send text messages than call.
...when your four best friends are all on the internet.The only one you met IRL is now your girlfriend, and it's the only personne you can met IRL without freaking out.

When you feel like a piece of sh*t when you don't dare
but ALSO
When you feel like a piece of sh*it when you DID dare

ChameleonEffect wrote:You desperately need glasses to see from afar but you don't wear them as to see peoples faces blurred, so it's easier to make eye contact and you don't clearly see their facial expressions when, for example, you're doing an oral presentation.

That's exactly why I don't wear my glasses.

When you nearly choke to death at your desk because you've got a piece of cake stuck in your throat but you don't want to cough and draw attention to yourself.

When you always log out and log back in after each session, even though it'd be easier to just stay logged in. But the "stay invisible this session" or w/e button only works the first time you visit, and when you come back it says you're online for some strange, dumb reason. And we can't have anybody knowing you're online..