Are these just irrational thoughts?
July 4th, 2010
Someone asked:
Ok, so I’m really worried I have AvPD, avoidant personality disorder. I have had anxiety for 2 years now and it’s been getting steadily worse. One thing I have read on AvPD was that: “While people with social anxiety may constantly monitor their own interpersonal relationships, those with AvPD will constantly monitor the reactions of those they are interacting with.”
I thought, maybe I do this. I’ll think about what people do and their ****** expressions, and I’ll think they don’t like me. Or, I’ll say something socially awkward, and a person will give a weird reaction, and I’ll be like “Did I say something really stupid?”
Now, because I keep thinking I have AvPD and perhaps because I keep thinking of this exact symptom which differentiates SAD and AvPD, I’ll start thinking lots of people around me might have AvPD too! Even though it’s pretty obvious they don’t.
The thing is, I don’t avoid social situations, I’m not totally anxious in front of crowds of people, I just feel uncomfortable and feel like ‘eyes are upon me’. I’ve never had an anxiety attack, but I get symptoms like confusion, racing thoughts, sweating, shortness of breath. I have quite a few close friends, friends that I think would stick up for me if it came to it. There are times when I can’t be myself because of the incessant thinking and these irrational thoughts. There’s a part of me that wants to tell me that I don’t have a mental illness: it’s all anxiety. But whenever that part of me starts coming out, and I’ll be able to be myself, the irratonal thoughts will come back and now the newest one is: “Do I have AvPD.” It’s like everything I do now relates to AvPD… I can’t stop thinking about it.
Ok, so I’m really worried I have AvPD, avoidant personality disorder. I have had anxiety for 2 years now and it’s been getting steadily worse. One thing I have read on AvPD was that: “While people with social anxiety may constantly monitor their own interpersonal relationships, those with AvPD will constantly monitor the reactions of those they are interacting with.”
I thought, maybe I do this. I’ll think about what people do and their ****** expressions, and I’ll think they don’t like me. Or, I’ll say something socially awkward, and a person will give a weird reaction, and I’ll be like “Did I say something really stupid?”
Now, because I keep thinking I have AvPD and perhaps because I keep thinking of this exact symptom which differentiates SAD and AvPD, I’ll start thinking lots of people around me might have AvPD too! Even though it’s pretty obvious they don’t.
The thing is, I don’t avoid social situations, I’m not totally anxious in front of crowds of people, I just feel uncomfortable and feel like ‘eyes are upon me’. I’ve never had an anxiety attack, but I get symptoms like confusion, racing thoughts, sweating, shortness of breath. I have quite a few close friends, friends that I think would stick up for me if it came to it. There are times when I can’t be myself because of the incessant thinking and these irrational thoughts. There’s a part of me that wants to tell me that I don’t have a mental illness: it’s all anxiety. But whenever that part of me starts coming out, and I’ll be able to be myself, the irratonal thoughts will come back and now the newest one is: “Do I have AvPD.” It’s like everything I do now relates to AvPD… I can’t stop thinking about it.
Are the above thoughts I described just irrational thoughts, including the ones where I view others actions and ask myself whether I’m wrong or act socially awkward? Or are these signs that I do have AvPD?
Please help!
Jay
Categories: Mental Health | Tags: Anxiety Attack, Social Anxiety, Social Situations | 2 Comments
