AVPD

It makes sense that watching this video would stir a lot of self-reflection. Let's keep in mind that Avoidant Personality Disorder is not common. Personality disorders overall are relatively uncommon and are diagnosed only when long-standing patterns are pervasive, inflexible, and significantly impair many areas of life over time. Many people relate to some of the traits without meeting criteria for the disorder. Some symptoms often associated with avoidant personality traits include: • Intense fear of criticism, rejection, or disapproval • Avoidance of social or interpersonal situations due to fear of embarrassment • Strong feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth • Reluctance to try new activities for fear of failure • Desire for connection paired with fear of closeness Relating to these symptoms does not mean you have a personality disorder. It’s very important not to identify yourself with a diagnosis based on videos or descriptions online. A diagnosis is simply a clinical tool. It’s a way for a therapist to group symptoms together so they can choose an appropriate treatment plan. It’s not a definition of who you are, and it’s not something you need in order to work on the difficulties you’re experiencing. Rather than focusing on labels, the most helpful step is to talk with your current therapist about the specific symptoms you recognize and how they show up in your life. You don’t need a new psychologist or to stop working with your therapist to do this. It’s also worth noting that many of these symptoms overlap with other, much more common and very treatable conditions, such as social anxiety. The goal isn’t to figure out what box you fit into. The goal is to identify what you’re struggling with and work on it in a way that helps you move forward.

Coming to terms with a newly realized mental health pattern feels so uncomfortable and yet you have the self awareness and reflection ability to connect those patterns when many do not; so that is a win. I’m not familiar with AVPD but I know when I was completing my neuropsych evaluation as part of my autism diagnosis I often felt like I needed to separate the parts but what I really needed was a care team and a way to help me keep track of appointments and therapy goals. I definitely think there’s a benefit to having more than one therapist. Especially if you’re actively working on ERP. I know insurance can be a whole other challenge but if it is possible for you to have multiple therapists and sign ROI documents for each provider so they can coordinate about therapy goals and diagnoses it can really help. Hang in there, it sounds like you’re really putting in the work for your mental health journey!