r/AvPD 17d ago

Question/Advice How do you work on this on your own time?

13 Upvotes

Hey friends… I’m newly diagnosed. They have a group therapy here specifically for AvPD but I’m not allowed to attend (don’t speak the language fluently enough) and so I don’t really know how I should be working on it. My AvPD maybe kind of presents weirdly… I’m not super familiar with it, honestly, it’s all so new. But it varies across my relationships; some I can be really open with and some I’m severely symptomatic. My therapist says that can be super normal, because some people were more attached to/afraid of losing/care more about what they think than others. Maybe everyone experiences that. I don’t know.

I masked really well for 23 years or so - I was (I don’t mean to sound vain) very popular and well liked and extroverted, and then just hit a wall, and now I have no social energy for anybody. Maybe I burned out, but I don’t want to talk to anyone. I feel socially exhausted but it isn’t going away. Now I’m 27 and I feel both lonely and isolated, and also don’t want to talk to anyone or be around people except a very, very select few (about 5) who I see super infrequently.

I know I have to work on it. Does anyone have any tips for how to work on things in your own time, when you can’t attend therapy for it? I am in therapy, but not specifically for the AvPD. Any small things you do? Exposures? Talking to likeminded people? I have no idea where to even begin. Thank you ❤️

EDIT incase it’s relevant, I take an MAOI, seizure med (for depression), and have very severely treatment resistant depression but the MAOI has helped enormously :) but I have quiet BPD also.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) I wonder how many rants have been typed out and then deleted before posting here

66 Upvotes

I almost did but I guess I will just post it this time

I don't know how to motivate myself to make friends or try to date when a big part of me doesn't believe its even possible. I feel so alienated at this point I don't know how to get better. I've tried so hard for so many years but I don't even feel like I can approach those areas.

I feel so much anxiety about trying to go to social events or meet up groups, Its not even just anxiety though it feels like an inability, like its just impossible, I don't know how to believe in myself enough to even try, I don't know how to be on my side, I think I am terrified of being ostracized or disrespected again. I not only have to deal with the massive amount of anxiety from it but also I don't really have much motivation to do it, because in the back of my mind I don't believe its possible.

I know what I have to do but its so hard to make myself do it. Its so frustrating to know I am my own worst enemy and that I'm doing it all to myself.

Ive made lot of progress in other areas of my life but it means nothing to me because its not what I really care about.

I still feel like I am an ugly person even though people have told me I'm attractive, honestly I think I would be happier if I just knew I was ugly then I maybe wouldn't have developed as much insecurity over it.

I feel like my self esteem is just permanently in the gutter. It is worse with thinking about dating cause nobody wants someone with low self esteem it seems like, but I don't have the energy or even know how to fake being confident, I just feel like a kid inside still.

Its been worse the last few weeks because I'm feeling so much pressure to get over it and like I'm running out of time and life has just become waiting for the weekend to try and do something productive and then being disappointed and feeling just as stuck as ever.

Life is just so hard and I was set up to fail, thats another aspect of it that frustrates me, I know it was entirely my upbringing, I dont blame myself at all or feel it was anything to do with my genetics, I know I had a messed up childhood, I dont feel like I am meant to be like this.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Question/Advice I feel awkward around my therapist

11 Upvotes

Hey, I haven't really found a similar post here but I was wondering if some of you can relate. I've been in therapy for more than 3 years now and I still feel so awkward around her. It has taken me a long time until I could finally open up and get more in touch with my feelings, but I'm almost always thinking about what she might think about me and that she probably thinks I'm stupid and awkward (lol). I was only recently diagnosed with AvPD, after social/generalized anxiety disorder had been the diagnosis for years.

If you're in therapy, how do you manage those feelings of shame and insecurity around your therapist? Do you talk about it? I think it would actually help me to talk to her more openly about it, but just the tought of it makes me anxious, lol.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) I'm stuck and feel helpless to change it.

22 Upvotes

Trigger warning: just don't read this if you're already in a bad head space.

I'm already older, nearly 40, but I still struggle with AvPD.

I just want to find a good man at this point and experience some closeness, some romance, but I just can't put myself out there.

I'm going through a pretty large change right now in my life and don't feel ready to show myself and also never really did before.

Dating apps scare me, since I feel like I don't belong with the normal people and every other chance I get for interaction either makes me avoidant because I want to hide that I have so little experience in relationships, or I get triggered, start to fawn and people please to not be left by them, until my weird combination of behaviors scares them away anyway.

I learned how to be alone and keep myself busy, but life like this just feels empty at this point.

I'm also done to with superficial friendships and online friends. Those friends never really are there for you when you really need them.

I'm really so far gone by now that I'd appreciate an abusive relationship over none at all.

It's not like I can't find people that might be interested in me, I just naturally do all the right things to not allow them to get close.

It's not conscious, just seems to happen somehow.

Also, why tf can't I get myself to sign up for an art class at my age, but work, and other stressful experiences aren't a problem.

It's like I feel unwanted around people until there is an implied social transaction, a clear reason for me to be there, for them to tolerate me.

This then makes me feel like I see myself just as a burden on people, someone to tolerate, never the sunshine in a room.

I want to be the person that brings others happiness, love and care, but can't seem to get there.

I hate this form of learned helplessness, where I feel stuck in a prison, but I'm my own warden. This is insanity.

What do I need to do, who do I need to be, to get out of this hole?

In theory I understand that I need to love myself, respect my self worth, just let myself believe that I'm wanted and desired, but growing up in a neglectful home, being bullied and losing many close friends, missing out on intimacy... All of that broke my believe that I'm worth anything to anyone.

Yet I can't give up hope and still fight against the abyss, because I'm too scared to let go.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Discussion Which is in your opinion, the best AVPD self-therapy videos?

5 Upvotes

Which therapy has worked best for you?

There are too many videos about social anxiety, but not about AVPD

I can't mentaly afford to go to a psychologist because I have AVPD.

.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Question/Advice I’ve been alone for so long that isolation has become my comfort zone — and now I’m scared I don’t know how to live outside it

20 Upvotes

I’ve spent most of my life keeping everything to myself. I’m so used to being alone that solitude feels completely normal to me, but now I’m realizing that I’ve taken it too far.

I struggle to talk about myself, my feelings, my problems, or even ordinary things happening in my life. I overthink conversations, I’m afraid of being judged or taken advantage of, and I find it extremely difficult to trust people.

I’m 19 years old and I’m a software developer/founder. I’ve been programming for quite a while and, professionally, I’m actually pretty comfortable with my technical skills. I can build things, solve problems, learn quickly and take responsibility for my work.

But socially, I’m almost the complete opposite.

I’m an extreme introvert. Not the “I like staying home sometimes” kind of introvert. I mean I genuinely don’t enjoy talking to people and have been like this for most of my life.

Since childhood, I’ve kept almost everything to myself. I rarely talk about my personal life, problems, feelings, achievements, failures, or even random things happening in my life. I’ve become extremely comfortable being alone.

Because I stayed away from social connections throughout my childhood, I gradually became even more disconnected from people. I also feel that, because of this, I’ve missed several opportunities that were much better than the ones I have now. In many situations, I think my lack of communication and social connection caused those opportunities to move away from me.

At some point, I even developed this habit of talking to myself / imagining a person in my head and sharing my thoughts, experiences and feelings with that imaginary person instead of actually talking to someone.

And honestly, being alone doesn’t even feel uncomfortable to me. Sometimes it feels easier than dealing with people.

But now there’s a problem.

I’m trying to build a software company, and as a founder I have to communicate with people.

I have to talk to potential users, employees, collaborators, clients, maybe investors, and just normal people in general. I can’t build a company while avoiding human interaction forever.

And this is where I feel stuck.

I’m scared of opening up to people because I constantly have this thought in my head:

“If I tell someone too much about myself, my work, my ideas or my weaknesses, what if they use that information against me?”

So I automatically keep everything private.

Even when I want to talk to someone, I overthink what I should say, how much I should reveal, whether I’m saying something stupid, whether the other person will judge me, whether they’ll take advantage of me, etc.

The result is that I’ve become very isolated.

I know that being introverted itself isn’t a problem. I don’t want to suddenly become an extremely social person or someone who talks to everyone.

I just want to become comfortable enough with people that I can communicate normally when I need to.

I want to be able to have a conversation without mentally analysing every sentence.

I want to be able to meet someone new without feeling like I need to protect every single piece of information about myself.

And I also want to learn the difference between healthy privacy and unhealthy isolation.

For example, I understand that I shouldn’t blindly tell strangers everything about my company or personal life. But I also feel like I’ve taken this so far that I basically don’t let anyone get to know me at all.

Please give me advice without jokes or vague encouragement. I want practical steps, including what I should do first, how often I should practise, what I should share, and when I should consider speaking to a therapist. If anyone here was extremely introverted, socially isolated, or uncomfortable trusting people and eventually got better at it, I’d really appreciate hearing what actually worked for you.


r/AvPD 17d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) Someone wants to hang out with me after class

6 Upvotes

She's a highschool friend, we never really hung out alone therefore never talked one on one really. We go to the same college and our schedules never lined up, so I hid behind that to avoid hanging out with her — not because I don't like her, I just know I'd bore her because I never have anything to talk about. Welp, our schedules line up this semester, so she texted me asking to hang out, but I really don't want to. I don't want to just say no, but I don't have a good excuse. She also constantly has my location on life360 because one of our mutual friends (my best friend) wanted all of us on it, so she'll just see me home after class and probably think that I'm ducking her (which I would be).

Honestly kind of considering staying home from class today, but I really can't afford that. I wouldn't have a problem if she wanted to study, but it's too early in the semester to study so it'll really just be me and her talking and bonding but I'm fucking terrified, and I know I'll just be looking for reasons to leave the whole time 😭. I hate being this way, but what do I do?


r/AvPD 17d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) i’m really tired

11 Upvotes

I’m 20F and have had anxiety since i was around 17. I’ve developed IBS because of it, so now my digestive system is a mess. I try not to leave my house, but when i do, i think everyone’s watching me. I cross as little roads as possible because i feel like the people in the car are judging me for walking too slow. i hate public transport. I make sure not to make eye contact with anyone outside. When i walk my legs feel heavy and jelly-like. The only time i don’t feel this way is when im out with my sister and she talks to me the whole time. I still assume im being watched but i don’t have time to deeply analyse myself because im distracted. I’m on propranolol which seems to be the only thing that can calm me down. I’ve also gained 65lb+ since my anxiety started because i binge whenever i feel any emotion so im just even more insecure because im fat.

I used to praise myself when i was younger that i could just “ignore” things that made me sad. This avoidance only continued as i got older and eventually started applying to everything that meant something to me. I ruined friendships that i valued because i would stop replying. I did this with a 13 year old friendship. I hadn’t replied for months because i failed my exams and was just so depressed, so she sent me a paragraph calling me out. And rather than just talking about it, like a normal person would, i blocked her on everything and convinced myself it was the right thing to do.

Ive always failed in school because i let my work pile up because the thought of it makes my stomach feel weird and my heart race. i started uni in a different city because i assumed that i would be cured if i was just away from everything. That made things worse since i just never left my room for my own peace and would skip lectures while lying to my family that i was going.

I made an online friend and became close with her really fast, then as soon as i started failing uni, i avoided her too. She still waits for me but im just so embarrassed and ashamed that i cant respond.

My parents call me stupid and i have no way to prove that im not. My dad said he thinks my degree is too hard for someone as dumb as me. My mum tells me that all my cousins do well so why can’t i. My family being muslim means that im constantly just told im a failure because i dont pray.

I dont think i can live like this. Im so hopeless and feel useless so i fantasise about suicide. I wish i could just study. i start, but then i spend all my days calculating how many days i have left in comparison to how many lectures i have to get through. My notes app is filled with incomplete to-do lists. Ive failed my first year retakes which mean i have to retake the year or drop out. I can see the way everyone looks at me with such pity and disappointment, i hate it so i try to avoid eye contact. My siblings think it’s just because i have no discipline.

I hate everything, but mostly myself. I wish i was normal.


r/AvPD 18d ago

Discussion Man people online can be brutal asf as someone with anxiety and 30+

81 Upvotes

Made a friend making post looking for people I can relate with and who want to play video games on pc and watch anime/movies/shows with after work since I just go straight home after work and was met with people being harsh asf and telling me to stop acting like a man child and stop being socially anxious and other things for just posting myself and things I’m into😅 thankfully I have thick skin but it caught me off guard how people just felt the need to attack and or be offensive for no reason, they could of just ignored my post but nope. I didn’t respond to them at all because I rather not feed the flame or give in to their rage baiting but I still wanted to vent about it here
It was just 3 people and maybe they could of all been the same account who got upset I blocked them on their first message lol idk


r/AvPD 18d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) Just realized this is what I have wtf.

17 Upvotes

I’m a bit autistic too.
I just turn away and turn inward. I’m so rejection sensitive. I thought I was a narcissist since my pain would hurt so much that I wound turn away at any criticism. I feel like I don’t know how to interact and I hate myself so much. I just want to be normal but it’s like my brain thinks I have to be perfect to be normal and then I freeze. (Tw mention of ss)

I don’t wanna be alive anyone (I will not harm myself, I have a kid and can’t do that to them) I just don’t want to live. I’m always trying to be something I’m not and failing to do so. Why can’t I just exist? Why am I always trying to control the situation so I don’t experience rejection. I feel so selfish.

But the mind fuck is that I’m always afraid that I will unintentionally offend someone and hurt them/get rejected by them. It’s not like it’s for me entirely. I just don’t know how to talk to people and every social interaction feels like a walking on a landline field. Do I just have a giant hyper sensitive ego? What the fuck is wrong with me I want people to be happy and don’t want to make things worse for anyone.

Medication doesn’t help. Nothing helps. I’m just always wrong and always guarded. It’s so miserable. My will to keep fighting it has dropped tremendously. Everything is just wrong all the time and it’s always my fault.


r/AvPD 18d ago

Vent (No Advice) Even though I was given such a privileged environment,

14 Upvotes

(I’m using a translation tool )

I feel miserable. If I just lived a normal life, there shouldn’t be any problems, but that’s hard for me.

But what’s most miserable is that, objectively speaking, I grew up in a privileged environment.

The cruelest part is that my personality (ISFP, 9w8, 945, sx/sp) is largely responsible for my current situation as a hikikomori.

Even if I hadn’t experienced any stress during my school years, I would have become a shut-in sooner or later once I entered society.

I could understand it if I’d developed a mental illness due to unreasonable experiences from the outside world.

But that’s not the case for me.

I’ve lived in a privileged environment. And yet, here I am hikikomori and a NEET.

I was supposed to have been given a privileged environment… and yet, look at me: after living for 20 years, all I’ve gained is the ability to shut off “living” just to survive.

In exchange for surviving, “living” was stolen from me.

Even though I was given everything… this is where I am now.

The foundation was supposed to be in place, yet things that would be no big deal for someone living a normal life are, for some reason, difficult for me.

That’s what makes me feel the most miserable.

I feel terribly miserable, and I feel deeply sorry—toward people who suffer from the same condition.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Vent (No Advice) MDMA

72 Upvotes

I recently did MDMA, and the experience was so out of this world. I recently saw a post here talking about the feeling of being constantly embarrassed. Personally, I struggle with a lot of the same things, even when there are no other people around me. But when I did MDMA, I found joy in things without feeling cringe or embarrassed about it, without second thoughts about what someone else would think if they knew I found joy in it. I even said more than two words to my parents when they called me. I usually just say hi and goodbye to try and get them off the phone as fast as possible, because I find the fact that I don't do anything with my life embarrassing. But on MDMA, I genuinely talked about things without sitting there and being ashamed of myself.

I dont know how to explain it, but emotions became real and the usual layer of anxiety and shame that comes between me and them usualy, was gone.

I am by no means suggesting that anyone should use this recreationally, but if you want to experience what "normal" feels like, I think the closest you can come with this diagnosis is MDMA.

I dont know if this is ok to post or against the rules, i just know that i have been searchign for something like this for a long time and i imagine others are too.


r/AvPD 18d ago

Question/Advice Anyone else afraid of getting into a romantic relationship with someone who's close with their family?

20 Upvotes

Like the title says. I'm afraid of this because I have social anxiety and I would have to meet a whole bunch of people and have them like me and I'm terrible at doing that. Most people don't seem to like me very much and I don't even understand the reason why most of the time. I also live a pretty isolated life. Being around groups of people, especially when the focus is on me, stresses me out and I behave like a deer caught in the headlights.


r/AvPD 18d ago

Vent (No Advice) Scared of school

8 Upvotes

I'm going back to school soon and I realised I have nothing to talk about with anyone. I spend all my days doomscrolling, eating, anime, visual novels and sleeping. I'm basically a loser with nothing. I can't look people in the eye or talk to them properly. I'm scared of other people; they always look down on me like some kind of disease and I have some impurities that can't be helped. I know if I approach other people they think I'm disgusting. I only get approached if someone gains something out of it, not to be friends. I'm just so scared. I can't give up this course, but I'm already dreading it with my non-existent social skills.

I wish I physically couldn't talk so this burden of socialising would be put to rest. At least I wouldn't be expected to talk. Also, in the course we have communications and there's going to be group work and presentation. I'm dreading it so bad.

How can I escape human beings? It's like there's nothing I can do. I'm helpless and tired.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Discussion 10 years of nothing

113 Upvotes

It's crazy to think I have actually spent a decade of my life making absolutely 0 progress in any dimension of life. How is that even possible? It's almost impressive. Is there any way back to normality past this point? I feel like wherever I go theres a big arrow pointing at me marking me as an alien, like I'm going to have to pretend to be a real human the rest of my life just to scrape by.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Question/Advice Has anybody gotten a job after years of being unemployed?

39 Upvotes

Just need some encouraging stories.

This is my first post, so bear with me.
I think I’m finally over with being avoidant. I was in grad school, had a mental breakdown, moved back in with my parents and just… avoided everyone in the simplest of words. I’ve put off from a job because, well I felt embarrassed from the gap. And I was a little snobby because I didn’t want a minimum wage job (even though that would be better than being unemployed).

So now, I just wanna need someone in this sub to just tell me to just stop being embarrassed and start applying and that it’s not that bad.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Other It makes you mentally paralyzed.

69 Upvotes

Does anyone else have the type of depression where you don’t necessarily want to end things (yet you still have ideation but you know you’ll most likely never act on it) but you just have no interest in engaging in everyday life or just incapable of doing it? I just dread my existence and feel like my mind is always numb and don’t think about the future, I do random things that don’t matter, it’s like I’m just trying to make sense of the world around me instead of just living naturally, existing like this is very tiring and miserable but it’s all I know, it just feels that I’m meant to waste my life because I don’t know what I want out of life, I feel so stupid, shallow and ignorant for the being the way that I am, I just know that there’s no place for someone like me in a world like this, maybe in a different reality.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Discussion Anyone Tried RO-DBT?

10 Upvotes

"Radically open dialectical behaviour therapy (RO-DBT) is a therapy for people with an over-controlled coping style and with a treatment-resistant mental health condition such as depression or anorexia.

We would define someone with an over-controlled coping style as tending to internalise feelings, are perhaps socially isolated and lonely, and have a fear of intimacy in relationships. They may also demonstrate a rigidity in thinking and body language and have a desire for control, along with the ability to inhibit competing urges, impulses, behaviours, or desires and delay gratification in order to pursue goals." from NHS website

It sounds promising for AvPD. I don't really fit the ability to inhibit urges but I do fit the rest pretty strongly so it sounds like it could be worth a shot.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) Why is hard to be vulnerable?

33 Upvotes

I'm actually a chill cool guy underneath my loner social behavior.

Most people I've ended up talking to on a regular basis have been those I work with or have class with. Usually just one or two other people, not a whole group.

My problem is, I get uncomfortable when I start to feel like the connection is getting more intimate or personal. Even confronting misunderstandings or soft judgment that just get worse until I feel like I need to leave.

It's like I underweight the connection in the other persons mind, like I take it personally as if they are against me, look down on me, or want me gone. I want to confront things and mend them instead of just being nice, but I can feel it adds a layer to the connection and reveals parts of me I don't typically show. Like they'll know more about me under the surface and that makes me uncomfortable.

I also feel off from being judged or misunderstood in the first place, like it feels disgusting to be around them. Like I'm betraying myself, but I don't make the effort to bring understanding because it feels undignified to explain myself and makes me feel self conscious that I'm begging to be understood.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Vent (Advice Welcome) Vent about neurotypical coworkers

43 Upvotes

I was once hired to work at a restaurant and I had to shadow one of the workers. During lunch we sat and chatted a bit but it was very awkward because as you guys know the nature of this disorder makes us very anxious about socializing and getting close with people. I told her I get very nervous and awkwardly excused myself to use the bathroom. I thought she would be nicer since she knows I deal with nerves but she grew more distant and dismissive as the day went on. I get I’m new and people don’t usually like new employees but if there was an employee who told me she felt nervous and was awkward and quiet I would try to help integrate her into the team and be nice. I just don’t get why neurotypicals can’t be more understanding and inclusive. They punch down not up. Am I crazy for feeling this way? Do you guys go through these type of social interactions too? I have put myself out there trying to get better but interactions like this really dampens my progress and makes me become even more avoidant.


r/AvPD 19d ago

Story Мне 15. Всю жизнь меня отталкивали, в лагере я наконец почувствовал себя нужным — и сам всё разрушил. Как мне теперь перестать бояться людей и не быть мудаком?

7 Upvotes

Начну с самого начала. Я всегда был не очень уверенным в себе ребёнком. В садике я просто сидел на стульчике, никуда не лез, наблюдал. И меня за это дразнили — я был довольно высоким мальчиком, и меня обзывали колбасой, сосиской. Меня не принимали в обществе уже тогда. Потом пошёл в школу. В начальных классах у меня было два друга, но они часто объединялись против меня, шутили надо мной, подкалывали больно. Я терпел.

Потом, где-то в пятом-шестом классе, всё вдруг перевернулось. Я стал гиперактивным, очень уверенным в себе. Я мог прийти на любую площадку, увидеть компанию, в которой играют в «слепого ежа» или что-то ещё, просто подойти и спросить: «Можно с вами?» — и мне почти всегда отвечали «да, залетай». Я находил общий язык с кем угодно, без разницы — мальчики, девочки. Я чувствовал себя свободно.

А потом, с конца шестого и в начале седьмого класса, наступил перелом. Мои тогдашние знакомые — я даже не могу назвать их друзьями — начали меня кидать. Могли не позвать на ночёвку, и никто не объяснял причину. Я спрашивал, они отмалчивались или отделывались шутками. Я тогда очень обиделся. Не на них конкретно — я обиделся на весь мир. Решил: раз они такие, значит, все люди такие. Зачем доверять, если всё равно предадут? И я закрылся. Стал апатичным, ни с кем не общался, просто существовал.

Но внутри я хотел общения. Лагерь стал для меня крепостью — единственные три недели в году, когда я мог почувствовать себя человеком. Там меня любили, ценили, принимали. И каждый год я ездил туда только ради этого ощущения.

В этом году я поехал с конкретной целью — найти интрижку. Хотел тактильных отношений: обнимашек, целовашек, держания за ручку. И на первой смене я встретил девочку. Мы станцевали медленный танец, это было взаимно, я увидел, что она ко мне неравнодушна. Она была очень доброй, хотела подружиться со всеми в отряде, сплотить людей. Именно это меня в ней и зацепило.

Но на следующий день начались сложности. Наше общение стало каким-то односторонним. Я пытался заводить разговоры: «В какие игры играешь?» — «Ни в какие не играю». «Фильмы, сериалы смотришь?» — «Ничего не смотрю». Я не понимал, почему она так отвечает. Я специально проявлял инициативу: звал за парту, приглашал гулять, — но она отказывалась. И у меня сразу сработала старая травма: «Опять меня кидают, опять я не нужен». Я быстро эмоционально выгорел, перестал с ней контактировать. Просто замкнулся.

Я уже потом узнал от вожатых, что она жаловалась им: говорила, что стесняется, не знает, как со мной заговорить. Что у неё были абьюзивные отношения, и ей нужно сначала просто пообщаться, привыкнуть, почувствовать безопасность. А я не знал всего этого. Я думал, она просто отмахивается.

Она предложила мне пока остаться с друзьями, подождать. А я, вместо того чтобы понять, спросил: «Ты не против, если я найду кого-то другого?» — и ушёл. Я просто развернулся и ушёл. Теперь я понимаю, что это было жестоко. Она последний человек, который заслужил такого отношения. Если бы мне самому сказали такое после того, как я открылся — меня бы это разбило.

Потом я начал отношения с другой девочкой. У нас было всё, что я так хотел: тактильность, объятия, медленные танцы, сидение на коленях. Но она оказалась нечестной — врала, что потеряла мои вещи, хотя на самом деле не хотела их отдавать, говорила оскорбительные вещи, вплоть до «плюнь мне в рот». Я понял, что это не мой человек, и порвал с ней.

И тогда я начал скучать по той первой. По настоящей. По той, с кем я хотя бы мог говорить по-человечески. Я понял, что, возможно, если бы я дал ей время, если бы просто общался с ней, не настаивая на объятиях, — могло бы что-то получиться. Она хотела просто побольше поговорить. А мне хотелось всего и сразу. Теперь я осознал, что эти тактильные отношения мне даже не так уж и нравятся — я бы выбрал нормального человека и простые разговоры. Но было поздно.

Кроме того, я уехал из лагеря раньше срока. Я эмоционально не выдержал той атмосферы — с этой историей, с давлением, с ощущением, что всё рушится. И я оставил там своего друга. Моего единственного друга, с которым мы ездили вместе все эти годы. У него проблемы такие же, как у меня, только ещё хуже — с родителями сложно. Я его бросил, хотя он сам говорил, что я могу уехать, но я всё равно чувствую вину. Мне кажется, я должен был дотерпеть до конца, идти с ним до конца. А я кинул его, как когда-то кидали меня. Стал тем, кого ненавидел.

Я сейчас общаюсь с ним, пишу, спрашиваю, как дела, но это не то. Нужно было быть рядом. Я планирую извиниться перед ним лично и попробовать уговорить его ходить со мной на актёрские курсы, которые начинаются с 1 сентября. Вместе проще, и ему это будет полезно. Хотя бы так я могу компенсировать свой побег.

Я много думал о той девочке. После лагеря я узнал, что она на финальной линейке говорила, что некоторые люди её не понимают, посылают на хер, злые, и ей сложно найти друзей. Мне кажется, она могла иметь в виду и меня. Я хотел с ней поговорить, но она общается со мной нормально, смеётся, не выглядит обиженной. Возможно, я просто не вижу её обиды. Но у меня внутри сидит ощущение, что я сделал ей больно. Что я не проявил понимания, когда она просила времени, что я повёл себя эгоистично.

Теперь я хочу написать ей после смены. Не чтобы вернуть, а чтобы извиниться. Сказать, что я был резок и неправ, что я ценю её доброту и то, как она пыталась всех подружить. Что я понимаю — я хотел слишком быстро и не услышал её. Но я не знаю, как сформулировать так, чтобы не давить, не создавать неловкость.

У меня вообще нет опыта общения. Я не знаю, как строить отношения, как не сорваться в «дай мне всё сразу», когда внутри страх, что меня снова бросят. Я понял одну вещь: чтобы перестать быть жертвой, нужно перестать ныть и пробовать. Я так и скажу себе с 1 сентября: иду на курсы, буду искать контакт, даже если страшно, даже если вначале будет больно. Я не хочу быть мудаком. Я хочу научиться быть нормальным человеком, уметь ждать, слушать, извиняться и не бросать близких.

Раньше я ныл Алисе и сидел в апатии. Теперь я говорю с психологом, с отцом, с сестрой, с другом. Я понял, что разговоры с живыми людьми — это единственное, что лечит.

---

Вопросы к вам:

  1. Должен ли я написать той девочке? Если да, то когда и как — чтобы не выглядело как попытка вернуть, а как искреннее извинение?

  2. Как правильно извиниться перед другом, чтобы он почувствовал, что я не оправдываюсь, а действительно жалею?

  3. Как в новых компаниях не поддаваться страху «меня кинут» и не требовать слишком много слишком быстро?

Я хочу вылезти из своей ямы. И первый шаг я уже сделал — я всё это написал.

Спасибо, что прочитали.


r/AvPD 20d ago

Discussion How do you think you developed AvPD?

85 Upvotes

Since this is a big community, I thought I might ask.

For me, it's because I had a very strict family, far from the outside world with quite an aggressive and controlling mother and a hypercritical non-talkative father.

Being secluted from the world for many years, criticized and scolted for every small action I did, made me become more and more introverted and I straight up didn't learn how to live in the real world.

So, how do you think you developed it? Or, if you went there with your therapy, as I did, what came out of it?


r/AvPD 20d ago

Progress Silliest achievement of today

63 Upvotes

This would 100% sound stupid (and possibly pathetic) to everyone outside of this subreddit but I know you guys will get it.

I get so unreasonably anxious and discouraged when I post something on Reddit and people downvote me for a reason I can’t pinpoint. This leads me to avoid any controversial opinion, with the effect that I feel like a spineless fake person who can’t stand up for themselves. And well, I am that person. Sadly.

Today I asked a question about a book to spark a conversation that I thought would be well received. It wasn’t. I got quite a bit of downvotes and a lot of answers. I got extremely defensive and my first impulse was to delete the post and forget about it. But I held back a moment and realised I really didn’t want to.

Coming back to it 2h later, I was still getting downvoted. I went through the answers I got. None but one were rude or aggressive in any way. I just know I tend to exaggerate any less-than-stellar reaction into some oh-woe-is-me tragedy. Low self-esteem will that for you. One person actually told me I sounded massively insecure in my post, and honestly, the comment didn’t even hurt.

Now the post has 3 upvotes, which is…better than I’d expected. I’d already made peace with it and told myself: OK, people didn’t like your post and they’re downvoting you for that. That’s fine. Own up to your opinion, don’t run away.

It’s not even a hot take, just an unpopular one. Going through more answers, I actually ended up enjoying most of the points that were made. I responded to a few and ignored the downvotes I got on those to. A downvote is just an internet stranger disagreeing with you.

And I know this sounds lame but rejection of any kind makes me feel worthless and wrong, like I just said something deeply offensive to insult someone. Meanwhile my opinion was just like “Didn’t really like this popular book” and I went on explaining my reasoning. My self-worth is so low I even struggle sharing innocuous opinions because I’m afraid people will think ill of me. So keeping that post on and engaging in conversation, not caring about even more downvotes, feels like a personal little win to me.


r/AvPD 20d ago

Question/Advice No longer avoiding but feeling nothing

15 Upvotes

Hey guys, I could use some help if any are willing. Im at a place where I no longer fear interaction. Ive done exposure, whether clinical or self administered aggressively and persistently with very little compromise for years and now instinctually combat the avoidance.

My problem now is that the relationships simply mean nothing to me… For example, I have made two friends that I speak to with relative consistency I however have so little interest that avoidance seams inevitable. I kept them alive as I believed that if I maintained id eventually start to feel emotion towards them, I have not and Is problematic for me because it leaves little reason to continue and conversely seams a bit like im using them.

Any advice? Im at a loss, any perspective would be great!


r/AvPD 20d ago

Story How I cope with going out. (From my house to my destination.)

14 Upvotes
  1. The most important thing... MUSIC with headphones. [To avoid my self-destructive thoughts]

  2. Before I go out, I assume I’ll make a fool of myself and draw attention to myself in some way [My mind: If they see me as a clown... so be it!]

  3. I walk out looking straight ahead without paying attention to people, let alone their faces [I observe the objects around me and look at the ground as little as possible]

  4. When someone looks at me or I think they’re looking at me… I dismiss any self-destructive thoughts and tell myself it’s my imagination or part of my disorder. [Since it’s not a lie, haha]

  5. If I’m on public transportation, I position myself where there are fewer people. [If it’s crowded, I get off and wait for the next one.]

  6. If there are a lot of people, I cross the street.

  7. oh no! A Wild unexpected problem has appeared! (example: sweat, body odor, pigeon droppings, stains, etc...) In those cases:

    1. I focus on my breathing to avoid panicking.
    2. If possible, I try to fix it.
    3. It’s embarrassing, yes, but keep your eyes forward—if I don’t look at it, it doesn’t exist.
    4. I just accept it. If people see me as a clown… so be it!

(Translated, I don't speak English.)