• Replies 38 replies
  • Subscribers 86 subscribers
  • Views 1339 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Avoidant personality disorder VS Autism

Autismman

Someone recently posted a link on another discussion regarding avoidant personality disorder and this got me thinking about myself and my own diagnosis of autism. I am on a quest for clarity and information to help benefit my own situation so my question is how many of you diagnosed with autism can also relate to the symptoms of this particular personality disorder? And if not why so? 


Avoidant personality disorder symptoms 

1.  Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.

2.  Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.

3.  Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed.

4.  Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.

5.  Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy.

6.  Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.

7.  Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing

Parents

  • Surely a lot of this is a reaction to being badly bullied, rejected and humiliated, if you've experienced these things then why would you not be afraid and avoidant? We learn not to stick our fingers in the fire because we get burnt, why should we not have the same reaction to being burnt by others cruelty? Why should we trust when that trust has been so badly abused? I'm not saying that social anxiety and AVPD aren't a problem, but a bit more understanding of why people become like this is needed and the causes addressed.

Reply

  • Surely a lot of this is a reaction to being badly bullied, rejected and humiliated, if you've experienced these things then why would you not be afraid and avoidant? We learn not to stick our fingers in the fire because we get burnt, why should we not have the same reaction to being burnt by others cruelty? Why should we trust when that trust has been so badly abused? I'm not saying that social anxiety and AVPD aren't a problem, but a bit more understanding of why people become like this is needed and the causes addressed.

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    I would imagine bullying plays a huge part in the emergence of personality disorders for some people. Some peoples experience might be on the more extreme side which causes them trauma and certain negative coping skills were gained in order to feel safe and secure again, ultimately I expect it’s about survival and protection of the ego at all costs. 

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    This is why I posted what I posted below. I think there is a big difference between being fearful of situations because of our life experiences and having these fears and feelings to the extreme as to in a personality disorder.

    Life experiences may well contribute to people having AVPD but I would imagine it's a lot more complicated and I'd say it's a minority that actually have it. It is defined by complete avoidance. I can't imagine that people with AVPD would be interacting on a forum such as this as this is a form of social interaction.

    For those of us with social anxiety who avoid a lot of social interaction an online forum can feel like a safer way to do it. And yes if imagine a lot of us who are socially anxious were badly bullied.

    This is where people need to be careful. There is a place for self diagnosis but the lines easily become blurred and it is easy to confuse conditions and symptoms.