Hello,I'm new.

I don't now if it is common to introduce oneself in the beginning, but I guess I will just to that...
I'm 26 and from Germany (though currently living in the Netherlands). I think I have APD, but I don't have a professional diagnosis. I found out about the disorder some months ago, but discovered the forum only recently. I also have other issues, but these might be all related to APD somehow.
It's so good to see that I'm not alone. I hope to find some more info here and some nice people...

Guten Tag,

My opinion of AvPD is that it is a symptom of another, more broad, diagnosis. However, you seem to think that your other issues are all due to your AvPD, but I think that it is the reverse (i.e. - Your AvPD is due to the other issues). What are these other issues anyway? It is important for us to know.

Kevin

Hm,what could be more broad,then?
I used to have symptoms of social anxiety(but this got much better),I'm an emotional eater (when I was a teenager I binged several times a week,now I do that twice a year,when bad things happen to me) and I have mildly depressive episodes.
May impression is that all my other problems appear and disappear, but the AvPD is always there.
I found another description of Avoidants somewhere in this forum with some more typical traits and I just thought that's exactly me. Okay,probably it's not that simple.

darklight wrote:Hm,what could be more broad,then?

AvPD can be a symptom of Asperger's Syndrome, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Schizophrenia. I know that there are more too, but I cannot recall them at present. AvPD is just too simple to be a disorder in it's own right. I mean, having a diagnosis of AvPD doesn't exactly explain why you avoid people in the first place.

Kevin

Welcome.
@chucky-could you have avpd and be a schizoid?

How many of these would you tick?

Hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection: yes
Self-imposed social isolation: sometimes
Extreme shyness in social situations, though feels a strong desire for close relationships[6] I think it's not shyness,I talk a lot, but I can't get close to other people
Avoids interpersonal relationships yes for close relationships
Aversion to physical contact: to some extent yes, I never initiate physical contact
Feelings of inadequacy: yes
Severe low self-esteem: yes, although it's getting better
Self loathing: What's that exactly??
Mistrust of others: sometimes
Extreme shyness/timidity: no
Emotional distancing related to intimacy: yes
Highly self-conscious: yes
Self-critical about their problems relating to others: yes
Problems in occupational functioning: no
Lonely self-perception: yes
Feeling inferior to others: yes, but I'm working on it
Chronic substance abuse/dependence[7] no, sometimes alcohol
Investment in fixed fantasies: What's that?

So, only 9 times a clear yes. But there was a link to this other description posted somewhere on this forum. Being anti happy people and somewhat asexual. Does anyone remember where to find it??This one fitted better with me I think.
I don't care so much about the correct diagnosis at the moment. I can't get treatment anyway (due to health insurance issues). But at least I know now there are people out there who can relate to my problems. Makes me feel a little less weird.

No,I don't hate myself. Fixed fantasies maybe yes. I think it is possible that a person would love me by mistake because of not really knowing me. I usually feel inferior to others, but sometimes I feel better than others.
I guess I got that wrong with the anti-happy. I am sometimes happy and often sad. But I don't like people expressing their happiness in crowds (In my region Carneval is a big thing,which I really can't stand).

Altering self perceptions of high and low self esteem seems to make sense to me. Its like being unhappy with ones life and feeling helpless. So one can blame/dislike oneself or blame/dislike society. Can you relate to this?

Yes, absolutely. Sometimes I want to be more involved, but I'm just incapable, so have to blame myself. At other times, I don't want to be in that society and feel that I have nothing in common with the uncritical mass. It's typical for me to see everything either black or white. I want to get rid of that.

Yes, I have a tendency in viewing life in that way also. I find it hard to have balance and I am very inconsistant in regards to many things. Its funny, I was actually considering starting a thread on this but I was sceptical.I did'nt think anyone would relate to it.

Actually,I read a book about cognitive Therapy and there they described this as a common 'unadaptive thinking style' (sorry, I'm sure there is a better translation). Mainly in depression and bipolar disorder, but also OCD and BDD. So it's not specific for any disorder.

I guess in my case, I even know where it comes from. It could be learned, because I was either the best child in the world to my mother or she hated me. There was nothing in between. So, how could I think of myself as a normal and loveable person. Okay that's just my theory, I don't have evidence for that. And knowing where it comes from doesn't make it any better.