I'm no doctor, I am not going to sit here and tell you 'hey this is you'. I will tell you, this is me. For better or worse. It's something I struggle with constantly, but it is something I'm working on. It's a slow process and a lot of people with AvPD and social phobias such as this, do not deal well with people as a whole. I am not entirely sure why I'm posting this but maybe, for those that actually want to get to know me a little better... it'll help you understand a bit about who I am.
People with AvPD often consider themselves to be socially inept or personally unappealing, and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed, humiliated, rejected, or disliked.
AvPD is usually first noticed in early adulthood, and is associated with perceived or actual rejection by parents or peers during childhood.
People with AvPD are preoccupied with their own shortcomings and form relationships with others only if they believe they will not be rejected. Loss and rejection are so painful that these individuals will choose to be lonely rather than risk trying to connect with others.
Hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection
Self-imposed social isolation
Extreme shyness or social anxiety in social situations, though feels a strong desire for close relationships
Avoids physical contact because it has been associated with an unpleasant or painful stimulus
Avoids interpersonal relationships
Feelings of inadequacy
Severe low self-esteem
Self-loathing
Mistrust of others
Emotional distancing related to intimacy
Highly self-conscious
Self-critical about their problems relating to others
Problems in occupational functioning
Lonely self-perception
Feeling inferior to others
In some more extreme cases-- Agoraphobia
Utilizes fantasy as a form of escapism and to interrupt painful thoughts[4]
Susceptibility to substance abuse as a way of escapism.
It's easy to sit back and judge, say 'get over it' but until you've lived it... you really don't know.
