Not sure

sickofshadowz · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject: Not sure

Im not sure if I have agoraphobia or not because Im able to go out early in the morning to grocery shop but I do know I have avoidence personality. I panic whenever people are around and when they try to talk to me . Im wondering if there are any forums avoidence personality disorder or if anyone here may have it.
I have not had anyone over my house (relatives etc in years) I am 26 years old with a husband who is in denial and a very intelligent 7 year old son, I am looking for people who understand what im going through and will pen pal with me.

GettingThere · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:58 am Post subject:

Hello sickofshadowz and welcome to the forum.

Avoidant personality disorder is closely related to social phobia/social anxiety order with some people claiming them to be one and the same.
Before I came to know what was wrong with me I thought that I may have had agoraphobia myself. The two are pretty different though.
With your mentioning of avoidance behaviour I would think that you most likely have SP/SAD.

If you are becoming house bound because of your condition then you should seek out treatment.

_________________
Two men look through the same bars, one sees mud the other sees stars.

sickofshadowz · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:41 am Post subject:

I really dont agree with social phobia being the same as avoidence personality, this is why im trying to find a forum for avoidence . I am not relating to anyone . And also ive been diagnosed with panic disorder along with social phobia since the age of 19 and have been on and off meds since the age of 12 for depression I dont need anyone telling me what my problem is or what they think it might be, I just wanted to find a penpal -someone who can relate to having a real fear of people.

here is a link that describes some of the differences between social anxiety and avoident personality disorder.

http://f2.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/gGRRQr_gKRCCpwB-cOHJN_sS2W6jeT8zRZZQlBesO64ggS4hFVAsyNtj_JtSaEmuNUkn86fGbF59Teq1r-VPuI51RodApn-hVdeH/%2A%2A%2AAvoidant%20Personality%20Disorder%20VS..%20Social%20Anxiety%2A%2A%2A it can't be the same thing in my opinion but you can get both disorders at the same time.

MadCat · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

Sickofshadows: It's not the same! AvPD is more likely to be caused by a shift in personality during childhood. It sounds highly unlikey that SP can just warp into a personality disorder at any age.

there is a group on msn for AvPD

http://groups.msn.com/AvoidantPersonalityGroup

_________________
"Unreality can be as real as reality itself"

rfnatboy · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:43 am Post subject:

Ive always had a problem with meeting more than one person at a time .
With one person Im funny smart and charming . With multiple people Im withdrawn insecure and just not myself . Hope that helps .

Hellraising · Intermediate User Joined: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 260

I don't really get what Agoraphobia is. And avoidence personality? I don't know. I've been housebound for 9 months, is that avoident enough?

Hamble · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

I always thought agoraphobia was a fear of wide open spaces? A Fear of people and social interaction with them is called social phobia? And then I hear theres such a thing as Avoidance Personality Disorder? Avoiding what? If its social interaction then why lable it APD? its' just a certain factor of being socialy phobic? All these terms and labels, there's too many... my little brain can't keep up. Shocked

black_mamba · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:11 pm Post subject:

I didn't know what it meant either, a dictionary definition is a fear of open or public spaces. That explains a lot.

You are right though, too many labels, maybe even too much emphasis on diagnosis rather than cure.

Hellraising · Intermediate User Joined: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 260

Basically, I think that 'having avoident personality' is just a nicer way of saying 'being a coward'.

MadCat · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:58 am Post subject:

Oh nonono..not a coward

It's survival. people who have Avoidant personality disorder are less equiped to handle human interaction, so they avoid and often purposely cause themselves to get rid of anyone who tries to get near of them.

AvPD victims live in a world of self-hatred most the time.

To clear it up.

AvPD is a fear of people and the problem of relating to others. Social stuff is part of PEOPLE so it's avoided too, but primary the reason is to avoid contact with other people as they result in pain and hurt.

_________________
"Unreality can be as real as reality itself"