Avoidant Personality Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder?

Flax

Active member
After thinking I have social anxiety disorder all year I discovered I almost perfectly fit the description of avoidant personality disorder. I was reading this site and I felt like it was talking about me ( http://open-mind.org/SP/Articles/1c.htm ). I wonder if anyone in these forums fit this disorder more than social anxiety disorder? I was totally stunned by how accurate it was.
 

steve111

Active member
Great find. Now that you know what you are suffering from, you can start eliminating it from your life.

As you saw on that page, the causes are all linked to thought/perception. THe good thing about this is that you can cure yourself and not be a slave to medication like SSRI's and such.
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
As a rule, people with social phobia are afraid of superficial contact with others (for example, greeting someone they don't know yet) while those with avoidant disorder are afraid of intimate relationships. Also, the panic symptoms present in SP (dizzyness, sweating etc) are absent in APD. Of course, many people suffer from both conditions.

For example, someone with SP may behave in an extroverted way in an internet forum, since the reason for his fear (social situations) is absent. Someone with APD might not even be shy (though many are) while being unable to create more profound relationships.
 

lonelycody

Active member
It was an interesting read. Alot of the symptions are similiar so it's harder to work out what which one you are.
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
geeez I dont know whether to laugh or cry at some peoples comments.......first time, why dont you find a comedian forum or someting similiar....you probably would be more welcome there....

And yes, I too am a avoidance personality to a tee...
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
first time's interesting post does indicate mild to moderate sociopathy, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in order to be able to understand what exactly is his diagnostic, though I already have my guess. Keep on, O' sagacious one!
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
I have diagnosed 'first time' with extreme idiocy, of the pseudo-clever subtype. A sad, sad case, this. Incurable and terminal, I'm afraid.
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
funny u said that, it was what i was diagnosed with,,,,,,,,,,,,you r so clever............gee......mee.....keee......fee.......
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
OK, first time, here's a dare for you: go find a cancer forum and post your sick, jeering comments on it. You will? Then you really are sick and need psychiatric help. You won't? Then you really are a coward. Yep, that just about sums you up: a sick coward.

BTW, I'll want proof of your cancer-taunting, so don't forget to post the link to it here. I won't be holding my breath though - call the bluff of a coward like you and your yellow streak will soon be obvious to all.
 

tecknohed

Active member
To Flax (and whoever else takes this stuff seriously- & if you dont then I'd rather you dont read my messages- try jumping from a very high place instead :twisted:),

I have myself thought much about this. Unfortunitely the link you posted is down but I've read many theories which are probably similar. (If you could email me a copy on Wordpad I'd be gratefull).

The conclusion I've come to is quite simple. It's like a scale. With, say, Shyness at the lower end, the SA, then SP, then APD right up to complex diagnosis with schizoid symptoms. :? This can also explain why some people seem to have a mixture of diagnosis (or labels - guest, above). It's because we slide along the scale from day-to-day, week-to-week. Hence why people feel they suffer from more than one specific condition.

I myself have been told that my SP has been so hard to treat 'cause of my APD. This only makes sense to me because of the way I seem to go from periods of extreme APD (agoraphobia-like symptoms, a hate for others, compulsive fear of germs [from others], backwards/forwards emotions around being close with my girlfriend, probably OCD too) right through to smiling at the attractive checkout girl whilst buying a newspaper - which makes my feel shy yet good too, especially if she smiles back 8) . That sort of shyness is of course normal & even happens when I've been at my best.

Most of the time I seem to grasp on to the SP part of this scale, maybe 60-70% along. Thats not to be confused with feeling 60-70% well, as I can 'feel well' at the top end of the scale, when I haven't left the flat or spoken to anyone, or even slept for several days - chatting to myself about the big bad world whilst the flat gets smellier & smellier 'cause I'm too afraid to put the rubbish out! LOL 8O

So its back & forth along the scale, much the same as in bipolar in depression, not that I'm comparing the severity in any way, just the similarity.

Though you may disagree completely. Whats you thoughts?
 

Predacon

Well-known member
I always thought having A Social Phobia and an avoident personality were more or less the same thing. Is there a differance?
 

tecknohed

Active member
Predacon said:
I always thought having A Social Phobia and an avoident personality were more or less the same thing. Is there a differance?

Hi Predacon!

I wrote in a recent post about a kind of scale of severity, with shyness being on one end (but certainly not to say Shyness is not a serious problem for many) and with the more severe Disorders, like APD nearer the other end. Thinking about this might help.

And then theres the following explination (or gabble). Maybe it might bring some light to your question(s):

As with many illnesses (or labels) its important (especially in the medical field) to distinguish between different diagnosis, and especially between a patient who feels a varying degree of 'avoidant personality', which you correctly point out is often a main feature in SP, and the patient with actual 'Avoidant Personality Disorder'. There's a difference - quite a big one. Just like the way anyone can feel depressed from time-to-time (loss of a loved one, a relationship break-up, etc...) even for prolonged periods - indeed, many people going through such a depressed state may well see thier GP for a med which may or may not help them (though it usually does). But actual 'Clinical Depression' is another ball game & whatever the cause will usually need some sort of intervention, preferably starting with medication (of course thats my opinion).

Also, just as having a socially avoidant personality is often a 'symptom' of SP, so is feeling 'socially anxious/phobic' often a 'symptom' of Avoidant Personality Disorder. And just to confuse things even more, someone can have more than one full-blown diagnosis co-existing together (i.e. APD, SP & OCD - "yes Hi, nice to meet you"). I also get seriously depressed at irregular intervals, though I've concluded, & my pdoc agrees that this is mostly as a consequence of when my Primary I'llnesses are at thier worst.

Though, at the end of the day, if a clear diagnosis is what you feel you need then you'll need to see a good pdoc, preferably a specialist in anxiety disorders. Forget any diagnosis a GP/family doctor might give - they're generally far too busy, under experienced or knowledgeable in this field (thats in no way a critisism - its just not part of thier job, or even something they have time to research). And you'll nearly always be given something resembling Seroxat which wont even touch the 'real' symptoms of SA/SP/APD - unless you're one of those rare lucky *$%#s of course.
:wink: :)

Thats how I understand things anyway. Hope I've helped with your question - and congratulations if you managed to stay awake through it all :!: :p
 

Predacon

Well-known member
That is interesting, i do have a very avoident personality and like to keep away from things that make me uncomfortable, but I've always it considered part of my social phobia.
 

Anonymous

Well-known member
Predacon said:
That is interesting, i do have a very avoident personality and like to keep away from things that make me uncomfortable, but I've always it considered part of my social phobia.

Well, I'm in no way 'diagnosing' you with anything - I'm not qualified. Though it sounds from what you've said that you have clear-cut Social Phobia (SP).

SP causes a lot of avoidance in most sufferers, often with periods of Agoraphobia-like symptoms (when you cant go outside) & it can co-exist with real Agoraphobia too. I feel real sorry for any such people.

Just a point about so-called social anxiety (SA) as a 'label', not important just my brain working o/time. :? I consider all of us here to suffer a degree of SA because the words/phrase 'social anxiety' is, in my opinion, the main (or one of the main) actual FEELINGS that is experienced in every level of this particular psychiatric illness (please dont get hung up on the phrase 'psychiatric illness' - thats just how I see it. It aint important, pitty some have to try to 'disect' my words - kevj).

Sorry bout that Predacon mate! Where was I? Yeah, SA is more of an 'end-product', whether you are normally a bit shy, have chronic SP or severe APD with Schizoid features. SA is that moment when it 'happens'.
You get 'socially anxious'. I dont see it as a diagnosis as such, though explaining how you feel with "I have really bad social anxiety at times" is acceptable. But the way 'I' see it is people dont 'HAVE' SA - SA is what you FEEL if you 'HAVE' SP, moderate/severe Shyness, or even 'Stage Frieght'.

I guess I'm saying this 'cause it might help you understand your own issues better, Predacon.

Could it be that what you have is SP (of whatever severity - I know it varies greatly day-to-day) and that your SP makes you avoid certain things, maybe even most things?

Ask anyone with true Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) and they'll tell you it's far more complex than just avoidance. The 'label' certainly dont tell the whole story, just like the front cover of a magazine cant tell you 'everything' inside. I know thats not the best example but you get my meaning.

You really want to know what you 'have' Predacon? Find a good competent pdoc.

And you can always talk to me via email or messenger. As can anyone infact - you're all invited! Just email me first!
 

tecknohed

Active member
tecknohed said:
Predacon said:
That is interesting, i do have a very avoident personality and like to keep away from things that make me uncomfortable, but I've always it considered part of my social phobia.

Well, I'm in no way 'diagnosing' you with anything - I'm not qualified. Though it sounds from what you've said that you have clear-cut Social Phobia (SP).

SP causes a lot of avoidance in most sufferers, often with periods of Agoraphobia-like symptoms (when you cant go outside) & it can co-exist with real Agoraphobia too. I feel real sorry for any such people.

Just a point about so-called social anxiety (SA) as a 'label', not important just my brain working o/time. :? I consider all of us here to suffer a degree of SA because the words/phrase 'social anxiety' is, in my opinion, the main (or one of the main) actual FEELINGS that is experienced in every level of this particular psychiatric illness (please dont get hung up on the phrase 'psychiatric illness' - thats just how I see it. It aint important, pitty some have to try to 'disect' my words - kevj).

Sorry bout that Predacon mate! Where was I? Yeah, SA is more of an 'end-product', whether you are normally a bit shy, have chronic SP or severe APD with Schizoid features. SA is that moment when it 'happens'.
You get 'socially anxious'. I dont see it as a diagnosis as such, though explaining how you feel with "I have really bad social anxiety at times" is acceptable. But the way 'I' see it is people dont 'HAVE' SA - SA is what you FEEL if you 'HAVE' SP, moderate/severe Shyness, or even 'Stage Frieght'.

I guess I'm saying this 'cause it might help you understand your own issues better, Predacon.

Could it be that what you have is SP (of whatever severity - I know it varies greatly day-to-day) and that your SP makes you avoid certain things, maybe even most things?

Ask anyone with true Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) and they'll tell you it's far more complex than just avoidance. The 'label' certainly dont tell the whole story, just like the front cover of a magazine cant tell you 'everything' inside. I know thats not the best example but you get my meaning.

You really want to know what you 'have' Predacon? Find a good competent pdoc.

And you can always talk to me via email or messenger. As can anyone infact - you're all invited! Just email me first!

Sorry! The above was my post, I just forgot to sign in. Doh! :x
 

Nadine333

Well-known member
Re: Avoidant Personality Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder

Flax said:
After thinking I have social anxiety disorder all year I discovered I almost perfectly fit the description of avoidant personality disorder. I was reading this site and I felt like it was talking about me ( http://open-mind.org/SP/Articles/1c.htm ). I wonder if anyone in these forums fit this disorder more than social anxiety disorder? I was totally stunned by how accurate it was.

Hey there,

I would just like to say that I would be very interested in veiwing the link you gave, but for some reason its not opening up for me, could you give me some web directions and i will try it that way,

Many thanks

Nadine
 

Skog

Well-known member
Re: Avoidant Personality Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder

Nadine333 said:
I would just like to say that I would be very interested in veiwing the link you gave, but for some reason its not opening up for me, could you give me some web directions and i will try it that way.


I can't open that site, either.
Here's a site I have found very good.
http://www.tljones.co.uk/apd/apd.htm
 
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