Any Extroverted AVPDers??

I am completely and absolutely Introverted~

Ugh I feel I am KINDA extroverted with some people in my family and my best friend. Apart from them I am really introverted, specially when trying to reach out to new people. I can talk and joke with some people if I have known them for a while, but it's SO MUCH HARDER with people I don't know unless they try reaching out to me first... and even then I'm still pretty introverted.

limelight wrote: Just wondering if any of you guys get really talkative once you meet a person you feel comfortable with.

I get that way around pretty girls.

I won't say I'm extroverted, but I used to score 100% on those introversion tests and now I'm close to the center of the intro/extrovert scale.


According Kantor there are definitely extroverted avies. He had to introduce new categories (not yet accepted by the psychiatric community AFAIK) for them though, so I am not sure if anyone with "classical" AvPD could also be extroverted.

I think most classical avies would find the thought of being or labeled an extrovert offensive.

I'm fairly extroverted. I can hold a conversation with just about anyone. It's really nothing more than a defense mechanism I've built up over the years, and is dependent on the relationship being very superficial, which makes it easier for me to cut ties and run when I feel like I'm about to be rejected. I still have crushing self doubts, still overanalyze and undervalue myself and still remain unable to form lasting relationships outside of family, but I don't think anyone I know would characterize me as "shy" or "introverted". In fact they'd probably say I was pretty outgoing, albeit distant and something of a loner.

I can fake it quite well. Sometimes I can, but it's extremely draining.

I work in tourism/hospitality and most days I can "pretend" quite well, however if I'm feeling really triggered by things or just anxious for some reason, it's near on impossible. In my job I have to be able to make small talk with customers, which makes me very uncomfortable. I discuss safe-ish topics with them...their holiday, where they're from, where they're off to next, the weather, and try to stick to that. I get extremely uncomfortable if they want to do something like know my name or anything else remotely personal. The people I work with do see through my act, but they also know what's going on to a degree. I have been told I come across as being quite abrupt with visitors at time- it's not intentional, but it's me not knowing how to talk/deal with them or trying to keep them from asking about personal information.

Occasionally, if I meet someone with some sort of similar interests as me, I can hold a conversation with them, but otherwise, I'm rather distant. Relationships are just totally beyond me. If it wasn't for having to deal with people at work, I'd just hide away from everyone though.

I can fake it quite well. Sometimes I can, but it's extremely draining.

That's how it is with me. Actually, when I'm "in the moment" and forget to care that I'm being judged, I can be totally extroverted. For example, I'm a really good teacher. Not good at socializing with other teachers, however, so I'd never get a job doing it.

My introversion is a form of self-protection, I think. Though I definitely prefer to have fewer people around. But then, when there a fewer people, I feel like I'm more likely to be noticed/judged. Quite the vicious cycle, there.

I think "drained" would be a good way to describe how I feel after "playing the role" for too long too. Which is why I can't make friends; the role is too draining to keep up for that long, and if I show the real me (in my mind) they won't like me, so I retreat.

Also, when I'm in the role I feel fake, non-descript and glib. Like a car salesman. It's actually kind of dispiriting, but it's a powerful defensive tool for an avoidant to have.

well, I was isolated because I chose to. Otherwise, I remember always wanting to be in plays and shows when I was a little girl, then, in teenage years, I had initiatives in organising parties several times. It was like I couldn't help myself but do that, although I almost always chosen to be alone, because people had hurt me.

Now if I don't get out at least once a week, I get depressed. I need to talk to people, to be with people. I do public speaking.

However, my shrink always said I was an introvert.

Yeah ! Me ! Probably thanks to ADD though...

In certain situations really need a kick in the ass to be though. In groups for example, can be pretty shy...

Nah, I would describe myself as pretty consistently introverted. An exception for when I get hypomanic though, but that doesn't happen that often. I would be very talkative with my one friend that I had before, I was pretty comfortable around her. But that's really been the only person that I was able to be "loud" with.

- EGD.