Comment Re:Article (Score 1) 156
I know of Avoidant Personality Disorder and know I fit the diagnostic criteria, but aside from reading a few overviews I haven't researched it at all. I may have dismissed it prematurely, but it seemed like an arbitrary category that didn't carry any guidance for understanding or treating the condition. That probably reflects my bias: it seems to me that many psychiatric classifications are intuitive and convenient, but not supported by any theoretical or clinical justification. They're just invented to provide mental and linguistic frames of reference in an area where we can't discern any natural structure.
On the other hand, everything you said in your second paragraph except two things (testing friends' loyalty and making excuses to avoid going places with friends) is true of me, too, so maybe Avoidant Personality Disorder is a distinct disorder and not just an abritrary piece carved out of the pie. I should read more about it. Can you point me to anything?
Speaking of pointing people to places, get thee to a therapist, stat. You'll be glad you did. I got lucky and got a congenial one on the first try, but it's common and completely accepted to shop around a bit. If you have any doubts or questions about this, please ask. We can take the conversation to another channel if you want.