Why is there hardly any AVPD info/forums?

I'd assume because avoidants avoid social places, that there would be tons of communities online for us. We all probably use the computer a lot due to our lack of a social life. I can find tons of borderline personality forums, and there are about 2 AVPD forums which are often deserted.

I go on youtube and find TONS of videos made about the other personality disorders. I can find only a select handful of videos on AVPD. I don't understand why this disorder isn't as 'popular' as the other ones. Up until a while ago, I've never even HEARD of this disorder. I've heard of multiple personality for a long time, I've heard of borderline as well ...especially since "Girl Interrupted".

We are even rejected and ignored by the other personality disorder communities. I find this incredibly ironic...almost worth laughing about really. We can't seem to catch a break from being the outcast in every damn situation.

I first learned about avpd when I found avoidants.livejournal.com. It hasn't been very active lately though. I think you need an account to read most of the posts.

I don't think it has anything to do with AvPD not being popular or rejected by other PD communities. There aren't really that many communities dedicated to all PDs (mostly it is something like mental health in general or a forum for a specific PD), and I doubt a place like that would just say, "All PDs except for AvPD, please." Since PD communities are usually built around one PD, it just has to be started someone, often either with the disorder or by someone who knows someone with it. In the case with AvPD, they don't have a lot of friends and they often may be afraid to make such a move themselves.

You also need to consider that the many PDs you hear talked about a lot Narcissistic, Histrionic, Borderline, etc. are disorders where the person with the PD often affects or hurts many people around them, so these communities often have a large membership of people who've know someone with the PD and want support, they may even be the dominate membership. Multiple Personality Disorder, despite the name, is actually not a personality disorder, but a dissociative disorder. For this reason it is now called "Dissociative Identity Disorder." Other PDs like Obsessive-Compulsive PD (not the same as the very well known Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), Dependent, Schizoid, Schizotypal, etc. I think are just about as difficult to find communities for. Such disorders in general are not as well known as other ones.

Borderline also happens to be much more well known than a lot of other PDs, because it was rather famous for being very difficult to treat, like most PDs, so a lot of research was done about it. It by far dominates the psychological literature, because psychologists find it so difficult to understand. As a result of all this, just a lot more people get diagnosed by their therapist with Borderline (and friends and family members are more likely to know about it and make their own "diagnosis"). It also used to be pretty common for therapists to diagnose a patient with Borderline simply because the patient was "difficult" and the therapist saw no progress. Lately, DBT has shown a lot of succes with BPD, so hopefully things will change both with BPD and other PDs, now that this shows PDs can be treated, despite what some therapists might prefer to think.

*A shy hello from a fellow AvPD sufferer*

I've also noticed this tendency and while I think Tujjen has made some incredibly insightful and 100% true comments on why this is, I think one part of the answer is really very simple - we're avoidant. Now, I may be speaking just for myself, but I find online communication difficult too. Not as difficult as the "real" kind but still... I only answer to threads that can't possibly reveal anything about me, I never start theards about my own problems. I'm blushing and I'm afraid while writing this reply, because it will go out there, people will see it, judge it, maybe comment on something I've said. I have quite some trouble viewing threads where I've posted, I have a history of avoiding PMs for days, because who knows what's in there. For me, embarrasement, rejection, criticism, trivializing of my problems, etc are just as real (possibilities) online as they are offline. And I feel out of place, that I don't belong here, that I'm not wanted here. "Here" can be any place online or out there... So maybe this is part of the reason - social rejection, hurt, etc can happen online too.

BlueJ. wrote:*A shy hello from a fellow AvPD sufferer*

I've also noticed this tendency and while I think Tujjen has made some incredibly insightful and 100% true comments on why this is, I think one part of the answer is really very simple - we're avoidant. Now, I may be speaking just for myself, but I find online communication difficult too. Not as difficult as the "real" kind but still... I only answer to threads that can't possibly reveal anything about me, I never start theards about my own problems. I'm blushing and I'm afraid while writing this reply, because it will go out there, people will see it, judge it, maybe comment on something I've said. I have quite some trouble viewing threads where I've posted, I have a history of avoiding PMs for days, because who knows what's in there. For me, embarrasement, rejection, criticism, trivializing of my problems, etc are just as real (possibilities) online as they are offline. And I feel out of place, that I don't belong here, that I'm not wanted here. "Here" can be any place online or out there... So maybe this is part of the reason - social rejection, hurt, etc can happen online too.

^ Yes. That's exactly how I feel. The feeling of being unwanted and judged online stops me from replying to many threads...even when i have something to say.
Also like Tujjen said aviodants could be hesitant to open a community/forum or whatever...even talk much about themselves...That might be the reason why it's not as publicized as some other PDs.