Avoidant personality disorder
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I believe I have this. One of the differences with SA, it seems, is that whereas an SA sufferer excessively monitors himself in a social situation, an AvPDer (?) will also monitor excessively other people's reactions.
"Research suggests that people with avoidant personality disorder, in common with social phobics, excessively monitor their own internal reactions when they are involved in social interaction. However, unlike social phobics they also excessively monitor the reactions of the people with whom they are interacting. The extreme tension created by this monitoring may account for the hesitant speech and taciturnity of many people with avoidant personality disorder. They are so preoccupied with monitoring themselves and others that producing fluent speech is difficult." --http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/avpd.php
"Research suggests that people with avoidant personality disorder, in common with social phobics, excessively monitor their own internal reactions when they are involved in social interaction. However, unlike social phobics they also excessively monitor the reactions of the people with whom they are interacting. The extreme tension created by this monitoring may account for the hesitant speech and taciturnity of many people with avoidant personality disorder. They are so preoccupied with monitoring themselves and others that producing fluent speech is difficult." --http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/avpd.php
Not only that but they are less likely to have the physical symptoms from anxiety.
Some people see it as a more extreme SA but I see it as as a less extreme disorder because people with AvPD generally want to socially strive for interaction whereas people with SA tend to be a lot more resentful of social situations although this is just my personal opinion. While SA can be more extreme, I only see that when it is mixed with multiple other disorders, mainly major depression. other wise I personally believe that AvPD has the advantage of being more willing to fight it. AvPD as I see it are people that have developed Avoidant behaviors whereas Social anxiety is where you have panic attack because of social situations. That’s where the anxiety of social anxiety comes in, when a better term for most of us at this board is social phobic we have fear of socialization, we are all socially phobic but relatively few of us have actual socially anxiety, at least thats how I see it. I know that is flawed, but that is how I stereotype us. But ultimately they are different and I think they both have the privilege to be on this board.
Edit : They both have problems with depression though
Some people see it as a more extreme SA but I see it as as a less extreme disorder because people with AvPD generally want to socially strive for interaction whereas people with SA tend to be a lot more resentful of social situations although this is just my personal opinion. While SA can be more extreme, I only see that when it is mixed with multiple other disorders, mainly major depression. other wise I personally believe that AvPD has the advantage of being more willing to fight it. AvPD as I see it are people that have developed Avoidant behaviors whereas Social anxiety is where you have panic attack because of social situations. That’s where the anxiety of social anxiety comes in, when a better term for most of us at this board is social phobic we have fear of socialization, we are all socially phobic but relatively few of us have actual socially anxiety, at least thats how I see it. I know that is flawed, but that is how I stereotype us. But ultimately they are different and I think they both have the privilege to be on this board.
Edit : They both have problems with depression though
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I seem to fit the DSM...my therapist thinks I would have it if I was older, but since I'm younger I don't qualify. I can see his reasoning--I'm still developing an adult personality. I think I have it though.
I can totally relate to the hesitant speech thing. I've never met anyone who talked like me before. I mean, it's irrational to speak softly cuz you're timid, or to speed up your speech when you're babbling nervously, but it's even more irrational to talk sooo slowly and hesitatingly. People can't seem to relate to it at all. In a lot of situations, it seems I react to anxiety and fear differently than people with only SAD.
I've got a different set of problems. I don't know about others with AvPD, but I don't have many panic symptoms. Avoidance and hypersensitivity are my big problems. I'm a giant boob with no self esteem that sabotages herself all the time.
I doubt I ever make a convincing argument that AvPD is a legitimate disorder or that it's different from SAD. And people could be right--maybe its just SA manifesting itself a little oddly.
I can totally relate to the hesitant speech thing. I've never met anyone who talked like me before. I mean, it's irrational to speak softly cuz you're timid, or to speed up your speech when you're babbling nervously, but it's even more irrational to talk sooo slowly and hesitatingly. People can't seem to relate to it at all. In a lot of situations, it seems I react to anxiety and fear differently than people with only SAD.
I've got a different set of problems. I don't know about others with AvPD, but I don't have many panic symptoms. Avoidance and hypersensitivity are my big problems. I'm a giant boob with no self esteem that sabotages herself all the time.
I doubt I ever make a convincing argument that AvPD is a legitimate disorder or that it's different from SAD. And people could be right--maybe its just SA manifesting itself a little oddly.
Here is a comparison of Avoidant Personality Disorder and Generalized Social Anxiety. I believe I would meet the criteria for APD, because I always feel that I don't fit into society, tend to avoid any kind of thing that involves social contact.
http://www.anxietyhelp.org/information/avpd_vs_sad.html
http://www.anxietyhelp.org/information/avpd_vs_sad.html
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Me: all of the above.
I actually had heard of and identified with this disorder before SA.
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Re: re: Avoidant personality disorder
Thanks for the link! After reading that I feel like I do have some of the Avoidant traits especially the hypersensitivity to criticism and fear of rejection, but ultimately I think I still fall into the SA camp.copper said:
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I think I'm more avoidant.
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Re: re: Avoidant personality disorder
Me too.LostInReverie said:
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Apparently it's a very significant thing relating to social anxiety. A sourced reference on wikipedia says 20-40% of social phobics have AvPD.custard25 said:
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