AvPD and depression.

I have observed that my AvPD symptoms increase a lot when I'm depressed, is it a common thing?

When I'm really depressed I can't force myself to pick up the phone or go outside alone. I can't communicate over the internet. Although I read some forums, I never post in them even if I feel like asking a question. I feel paranoid around strangers and I'm calm only with my significant other.

On the other hand, when I have recovered from depression it's not that bad at all. I'm still afraid to do something wrong in public, but using e-mail and phone doesn't lead to panic attacks anymore.
However, if I have to call a stranger (a doctor I haven't visited before for example) I am very cautious and usually ask my mum to do it for me. It is still almost impossible to get acquainted with someone or start a conversation.

Yes, I absolutely do. I've always felt the same way and it makes sense. I mean, if you're depressed you're self esteem is on the low point and all of your energy is drain as if your batteries were malfunctioning.

So...depression increases avpd...avpd provokes and increases depression...I know this can't go on ad infinitum, so where does it stop.

It's the opposite for me actually. When I get depressed I become very hostile, but in a passive way. I get into the mindset that I hate everyone and everything, and I generally just give up caring. On the plus side, I become very brave - probably because at that point I no longer care what happens to me.
I sort of want to feel like this forever, just because I get brave. I just don't want the depression that goes with it.

For me it sits somewhere in the middle.

When I am very happy, I worry less.
When I'm very depressed I don't give a damn.
But when I'm neither I tend to be very critical of myself.

But I never really lose control, always question my actions in one way or another.

Emily Ivy wrote:I have observed that my AvPD symptoms increase a lot when I'm depressed, is it a common thing?

I don't know if this is common but it definitely happens to me and I would suspect others as well. When depression sets in, it's like you lose the energy and the will to do anything. So it makes sense that you wouldn't even want to begin thinking about trying something you are deathly afraid of...possibly making your depression worse.

I think I'm dysthimic so it always seems to have an affect on me but sometimes I lapse into a deep deep depression. When that happens my schizoid and avoidant qualities go off the charts and I don't practically respond to people. Can't have any conversation other than short concise resonses that let me detach from the whole thing as fast as possible.

Strangely I can agree with everything said above.

I remember feeling hostile too. I thought that if it's so painful to live, then why I can't get into a car accident or something? I didn't care what happened around me, because when I'm deep into depression I want to die and hoping to get killed in accident was a regular thought for me. I doubt I can call it bravery.

Depression fuels my AvPD. AvPD fuels the depression. It feels like a vicious cycle. It's like I have razor blades in my soul. Sometimes, I wonder if I can ever feel happy again. I haven't truly felt happy since my childhood. I've had "flashes" of joy and happiness. But I've been withdrawn and clinically depressed for over seven years now. I wonder if it is possible to regain feeling happy or joyful?

sugarfoot wrote:It's the opposite for me actually. When I get depressed I become very hostile, but in a passive way. I get into the mindset that I hate everyone and everything, and I generally just give up caring. On the plus side, I become very brave - probably because at that point I no longer care what happens to me.
I sort of want to feel like this forever, just because I get brave. I just don't want the depression that goes with it.

yeah, its called When you have nothing to lose. I sort of like that state, its the only state when I'm not a whimp and coward. When I hit the bottom, I feel the worst and best together. But then I go back in normal state, and start to afraid of everything that might happen to me........my mind is terorizing me.

what we need is confidence, nor the other way around
and also knwoing that there's some people we despise and there's some people who despise us (for all i kow they can go ###$ themselves)

what is this rage engulfing me?
confidence means, being happy, when you're 'happy' (lol what the ###$ is that) you'r suddenly happy and you act like an idiot. (lmao)

this ######6 life...*nods*
preface: not very attractive to the ladies to go with such atttude, lol.
ah ###$ this $#%^. *kiss*

Anxiety strangulates love
Anxiety strangulates everything
and Anxiety isn't anything else that FEAR TO OURSELVES
(whether we're anxious cause we're becoming a sociopath, or we'r anxious cause we are AFRAID to be GENUINE) that's some $#%^ this fella can't answer at the moment.